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סָרִיס

𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎

çârîyç

H5631 noun

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "eunuch" 26 occurrences

סָרִיס is most commonly and recognizably rendered in English as “eunuch” in biblical contexts and the Strong’s entry itself. That single, natural English noun captures both the primary literal sense (castrated court servant) and the broader, established sense (high-ranking palace official or chamberlain). Using “eunuch” gives clear, consistent wording across all forms while remaining faithful to typical translation practice; rarer senses can be clarified in context or notes when necessary.

Alternatives (16 occurrences):
"royal court official" (4x) "royal-court official of" (3x) "palace officials" (3x) "court officials" (2x) "court official" (2x) "court officials of" (1x) "court-officials" (1x)

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 recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

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

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

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5631-02 הַ/סָּרִיסִ֧ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa of the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs 12
H5631-06 סָרִ֖יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official royal court official 6
H5631-10 סְרִ֥יס seris HNcmsc eunuch royal-court official of royal-court official of 5
H5631-07 סָרִיסָ֗י/ו sarisayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his eunuchs his palace officials his palace officials 3
H5631-09 סָרִיסִֽים sarisim HNcmpa eunuchs royal court officials eunuchs 3
H5631-01 הַ/סָּרִ֔יס hasaris HTd/Ncmsa the eunuch the royal court-official the eunuch 2
H5631-08 סָרִיסֵ֤י sarisey HNcmpc eunuchs court officials of eunuchs of 2
H5631-03 לַ/סָּֽרִיסִים֙ lasarisim HRd/Ncmpa to-the-eunuchs to the royal court officials to the eunuchs 1
H5631-04 לְ/סָרִיסָ֖י/ו lesarisayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms to his officers to his royal court-officials to his court officials 1
H5631-05 מִ/סָּרִיסֵ֤י misarisey HR/Ncmpc one of the eunuchs court officials of of the court officials 1

Occurrences in Scripture

42 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5631-10 Genesis 37:36 סְרִ֣יס seris HNcmsc officer royal-court official of royal-court official of
H5631-10 Genesis 39:1 סְרִ֨יס seris HNcmsc an officer royal-court official of royal-court official of
H5631-07 Genesis 40:2 סָרִיסָ֑י/ו sarisayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms officials his palace officials his palace officials
H5631-11 Genesis 40:7 סְרִיסֵ֣י serisey HNcmpc officers court officials of court officials of
H5631-04 1 Samuel 8:15 לְ/סָרִיסָ֖י/ו lesarisayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms to his officers to his royal court-officials to his court officials
H5631-06 1 Kings 22:9 סָרִ֖יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official court official
H5631-06 2 Kings 8:6 סָרִ֨יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official royal court official
H5631-09 2 Kings 9:32 סָרִיסִֽים sarisim HNcmpa eunuchs royal court officials eunuchs
H5631-09 2 Kings 20:18 סָֽרִיסִ֔ים sarisim HNcmpa eunuchs royal court officials eunuchs
H5631-01 2 Kings 23:11 הַ/סָּרִ֔יס hasaris HTd/Ncmsa the eunuch the royal court-official the eunuch
H5631-13 2 Kings 24:12 וְ/סָֽרִיסָ֑י/ו vesarisayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and his eunuchs and his court-officials and his court-officials
H5631-07 2 Kings 24:15 סָרִיסָ֗י/ו sarisayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his eunuchs his palace officials his palace officials
H5631-06 2 Kings 25:19 סָרִ֨יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official royal court official
H5631-09 Isaiah 39:7 סָרִיסִ֔ים sarisim HNcmpa eunuchs royal court officials eunuchs
H5631-01 Isaiah 56:3 הַ/סָּרִ֔יס hasaris HTd/Ncmsa the-eunuch the royal court-official the eunuch
H5631-03 Isaiah 56:4 לַ/סָּֽרִיסִים֙ lasarisim HRd/Ncmpa to-the-eunuchs to the royal court officials to the eunuchs
H5631-12 Jeremiah 29:2 וְ/הַ/סָּרִיסִ֜ים vehasarisim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the eunuchs and the palace officials and the palace officials
H5631-02 Jeremiah 34:19 הַ/סָּֽרִסִים֙ hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-06 Jeremiah 38:7 סָרִ֗יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official court official
H5631-16 Jeremiah 41:16 וְ/סָ֣רִסִ֔ים vesarisim HC/Ncmpa and eunuchs royal court officials and eunuchs
H5631-06 Jeremiah 52:25 סָרִ֨יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official royal court official
H5631-02 Esther 1:10 הַ/סָּ֣רִיסִ֔ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-02 Esther 1:12 הַ/סָּרִיסִ֑ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-02 Esther 1:15 הַ/סָּרִיסִֽים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-10 Esther 2:3 סְרִ֥יס seris HNcmsc eunuch royal-court official of eunuch of
H5631-10 Esther 2:14 סְרִ֥יס seris HNcmsc eunuch royal-court official of royal-court official of
H5631-10 Esther 2:15 סְרִיס seris HNcmsc eunuch royal-court official of eunuch of
H5631-08 Esther 2:21 סָרִיסֵ֤י sarisey HNcmpc eunuchs court officials of eunuchs of
H5631-15 Esther 4:4 וְ/סָרִיסֶ֨י/הָ֙ vesariseyha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and her eunuchs and her court officials and her eunuchs
H5631-05 Esther 4:5 מִ/סָּרִיסֵ֤י misarisey HR/Ncmpc one of the eunuchs court officials of of the court officials
H5631-08 Esther 6:2 סָרִיסֵ֣י sarisey HNcmpc eunuchs court officials of eunuchs of
H5631-14 Esther 6:14 וְ/סָרִיסֵ֥י vesarisey HC/Ncmpc and the eunuchs and royal-court officials of and the eunuchs of
H5631-02 Esther 7:9 הַ/סָּרִיסִ֜ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-07 Daniel 1:3 סָרִיסָ֑י/ו sarisayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms of his eunuchs his palace officials his eunuchs
H5631-02 Daniel 1:7 הַ/סָּרִיסִ֖ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa of the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-02 Daniel 1:8 הַ/סָּרִיסִ֔ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa of the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-02 Daniel 1:9 הַ/סָּרִיסִֽים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa of the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-02 Daniel 1:10 הַ/סָּרִיסִים֙ hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa of the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-02 Daniel 1:11 הַ/סָּֽרִיסִ֔ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa of the eunuchs the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-02 Daniel 1:18 הַ/סָּרִיסִ֔ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa of the eunuchs the royal court officials of the eunuchs
H5631-02 1 Chronicles 28:1 הַ/סָּרִיסִ֧ים hasarisim HTd/Ncmpa and the mighty men the royal court officials the eunuchs
H5631-06 2 Chronicles 18:8 סָרִ֖יס saris HNcmsa eunuch royal court official royal court official
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