Bible Word Study
צֶרֶת
Tsereth · Tsereth, an Israelite
צֶרֶת
Tsereth, an Israelite
Definition
Tsereth is a proper noun referring to an individual listed in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4:7. He is identified as one of the sons of Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, by his wife Naarah. The name appears only in this genealogical context, and no further narrative details about his life or deeds are provided in the biblical text. As a personal name, its significance is primarily genealogical, connecting him to the tribe of Judah.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:7. It functions solely as a personal name within a genealogical list. The context is the lineage of Judah, specifically detailing the descendants of Ashhur. There are no other usages or patterns, as it is a unique name for a single individual.
Etymology
The name Tsereth (צֶרֶת) is likely derived from the Hebrew root צָהַר (tsahar, H6671), which means 'to shine' or 'to be dazzling.' This root suggests meanings like 'splendor' or 'brightness.' As a personal name, it was probably given to signify a positive attribute, such as 'one who shines' or is distinguished, a common practice in Hebrew naming conventions.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful and conveyed hopes, characteristics, or circumstances. A name derived from a root meaning 'splendor' like Tsereth may have reflected parental aspirations for the child's prominence or virtue. Its inclusion in a chronicle's genealogy underscores the importance of familial lineage and tribal identity in preserving the history of God's people. Zereth (צֶרֶת, H6889) — This is simply an alternate English transliteration (KJV) of the same Hebrew word, Tsereth.
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]