← H5630 H5632 →

סָרִיס

𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎

çârîyç

H5631 noun

SILEX Entry

Root סרס to serve (in a royal court), (possibly) to emasculate

Definition

A court official, most commonly referring to a functionary serving in the palace administration, who may or may not have been physically castrated; commonly translated as 'eunuch', but more broadly including high-ranking attendants, officials, and ministers of state within royal courts. The term's meaning includes both literal eunuch (castrated male) and metaphorically, an official entrusted with significant administrative or custodial responsibilities.

Semantic Range

eunuch (castrated male court official), high-ranking palace official, minister of state, chamberlain, court servant, royal attendant, officer

Root / Etymology

The word סָרִיס derives from a root that is no longer used in biblical Hebrew; traditional etymology connects it to the idea of castration, but this is not certain, and the precise root is uncertain. The form is likely of Semitic origin and parallels terms for court officials known from Akkadian (ša-rēši, 'king's attendant').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite and broader Ancient Near Eastern contexts, סָרִיס was a technical term for high-ranking officials and court functionaries, who may or may not have been physically castrated. While in some periods, particularly under foreign empires (Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian), actual eunuchs filled such positions, the Israelite/Judahite use of the term expanded to include trusted court servants and officials regardless of physical condition. The best-known biblical figures so described include Potiphar (Genesis 37:36; though he was married, the use of the word here indicates status rather than literal castration), and the officials who served in the courts of Mesopotamian and Persian rulers, notably in the book of Daniel and Esther. English rendering as 'eunuch' can be misleading in biblical context, as the term often refers simply to a court official or minister. This term is sometimes paired with רַב־סָרִיס ('chief officer/head eunuch'), denoting higher rank. In post-exilic periods, especially under Persian rule, the function of סָרִיס became more closely affiliated with administrators and state officials who managed court affairs and even exercised considerable power.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or סָרִס; from an unused root meaning to castrate; a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state; chamberlain, eunuch, officer. Compare רַב־סָרִיס.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

סרס (s-r-s) — to serve in a royal court, to emasculate

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5631-02 הַ/סָּֽרִסִים֙ hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa of the eunuchs the royal court officials 12
H5631-06 סָרִ֖יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official 6
H5631-10 סְרִ֣יס seris HNcmsc eunuch royal-court official of 5
H5631-09 סָרִיסִֽים sarisim HNcmpa eunuchs royal court officials 3
H5631-07 סָרִיסָ֑י/ו sarisayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his eunuchs his palace officials 3
H5631-08 סָרִיסֵ֤י sarisey HNcmpc eunuchs court officials of 2
H5631-01 הַ/סָּרִ֔יס hasaris HTd/Ncmsa the eunuch the royal court-official 2
H5631-14 וְ/סָרִיסֵ֥י vesarisey HC/Ncmpc and the eunuchs and royal-court officials of 1
H5631-03 לַ/סָּֽרִיסִים֙ lasarisim HRd/Ncmpa to-the-eunuchs to the royal court officials 1
H5631-16 וְ/סָ֣רִסִ֔ים vesarisim HC/Ncmpa and eunuchs royal court officials 1

Occurrences in Scripture

42 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5631-10 Genesis 37:36 סְרִ֣יס seris HNcmsc officer royal-court official of
H5631-10 Genesis 39:1 סְרִ֨יס seris HNcmsc an officer royal-court official of
H5631-07 Genesis 40:2 סָרִיסָ֑י/ו sarisayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms officials his palace officials
H5631-11 Genesis 40:7 סְרִיסֵ֣י serisey HNcmpc officers court officials of
H5631-04 1 Samuel 8:15 לְ/סָרִיסָ֖י/ו lesarisayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms to his officers to his royal court-officials
H5631-06 1 Kings 22:9 סָרִ֖יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official
H5631-06 2 Kings 8:6 סָרִ֨יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official
H5631-09 2 Kings 9:32 סָרִיסִֽים sarisim HNcmpa eunuchs royal court officials
H5631-09 2 Kings 20:18 סָֽרִיסִ֔ים sarisim HNcmpa eunuchs royal court officials
H5631-01 2 Kings 23:11 הַ/סָּרִ֔יס hasaris HTd/Ncmsa the eunuch the royal court-official
← H5630 Hebrew Lexicon H5632 →