Bible Word Study
שֶׁרֶשׁ
Sheresh · Sheresh, an Israelite
שֶׁרֶשׁ
Sheresh, an Israelite
Definition
Sheresh is a proper noun referring to an individual in the genealogy of the tribe of Manasseh. He is identified as a son of Machir and the father of Ulam and Rakem (1 Chronicles 7:16). The name appears only in this genealogical list, which traces the lineage of the Israelite tribes. As a personal name, it carries no other distinct meaning or sense beyond identifying this specific ancestor within the biblical record.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in 1 Chronicles 7:16 within a genealogical context. It functions solely as a proper name for a descendant of Manasseh, appearing in a list that establishes tribal heritage and continuity. There are no patterns of usage across different books or contexts, as it is a single-occurrence personal name.
Etymology
The name Sheresh is identical to the common Hebrew noun שֶׁרֵשׁ (sheresh, H8328), which means 'root.' It is derived from this root word, suggesting the individual was named after the concept of a root, likely symbolizing stability, origin, or foundational connection within a family line.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its appearance in a genealogy underscores the biblical emphasis on lineage, covenant continuity, and God's faithfulness to the tribes of Israel. Understanding that the name means 'root' can enrich the reading by highlighting how personal names in Scripture often carried meaningful connotations about identity or divine purpose within the community. In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive. Naming a child 'Root' (Sheresh) likely conveyed hopes for the child to be a firm foundation or a continuing source for the family line, reflecting agricultural imagery common to the society. This differs from modern naming conventions, which are less frequently tied to literal, descriptive meanings. As a proper noun, it has no direct synonyms. It is etymologically linked to the common noun: שֶׁרֵשׁ (sheresh, H8328) — meaning 'root,' the source word for the personal name.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]