סָרַף
𐤎𐤓𐤐
çâraph
H5635 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To burn, incinerate or consume by fire; used literally of burning objects or bodies, or metaphorically of destruction by fire. The primary sense is the action of burning with fire, particularly to consume completely or render something destroyed or purified by fire.
Semantic Range
to burn (literally), to incinerate, to consume by fire, to cremate, to destroy with flame; in extended or metaphorical usage: to utterly destroy, to purify by fire
Root / Etymology
Root: ס־ר־ף (סָרַף). Derived from the common Semitic root meaning 'to burn' or 'consume by fire'; compare cognate roots in other Semitic languages (e.g., Ugaritic srp, Arabic saraqa 'to burn'). The root meaning is 'to burn,' and the verb in Hebrew primarily expresses the act of burning thoroughly or consuming by fire.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, סָרַף is most often used to describe the literal act of burning objects, such as idols or incense (e.g., Deut 7:5, 2 Kgs 23:6), or in some cases corpses (such as 1 Sam 31:12, referring to the bodies of Saul and his sons). The word can also be found describing the burning of individuals as a judicial penalty (Lev 20:14; 21:9), indicating complete destruction. In some contexts, the verb can be used figuratively for utter destruction (e.g., cities or objects completely destroyed by fire). The association of this verb with particular kinship privileges—namely, who is responsible for burning a body—arises from later interpretive traditions, not from the core meaning of the verb itself. The noun derivatives (e.g., שָׂרָף, 'seraph,' referring to fiery beings, or burning ones) reflect the idea of intense burning. In later Hebrew usage, the primary meaning remains 'to burn' or 'to incinerate,' though the word can also indicate ritual or judicial burning. Modern English translations sometimes narrow the meaning to specific acts like 'to cremate' or 'to set fire,' but the Hebrew term is broader and includes both ritual, punitive, and general burning. The verb never connotes 'to be near of kin' except in the context of who is permitted to perform burning, a nuance not present in the verb itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to cremate, i.e. to be (near) of kin (such being privileged to kindle the pyre); burn.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סרף (s-r-p) — to burn, to consume by fire, to incinerate
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5635-01 |
וּ/מְסָרְפ֗/וֹ | umesarefo | HC/Vprmsc/Sp3ms |
and-his-burner | and his burning-one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5635-01 |
Amos 6:10 | וּ/מְסָרְפ֗/וֹ | umesarefo | HC/Vprmsc/Sp3ms |
and-his-burner | and his burning-one |