שָׂכִיר (H7916) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂכִיר

𐤔𐤊𐤉𐤓

sâkîyr

H7916 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שכר to hire, to reward, to pay wages

Definition

A wage-earner; an individual who is hired to perform labor or services in exchange for pay, often on a temporary or contractual basis. In the Hebrew Bible, this term primarily denotes a person who works for wages, typically as a laborer or domestic worker, and is distinct from enslaved persons or long-term bonded servants. The semantic range includes hired laborer, hireling, and temporary worker, particularly in contexts where the relationship is non-permanent and compensation is expected at the conclusion of service.

Semantic Range

hired worker, hireling, wage laborer, temporary servant, contracted laborer

Root / Etymology

From the root שכר (in Hebrew script: שכר), meaning 'to hire, to reward, to pay wages.' The term שָׂכִיר is a denominative noun form indicating someone who is the recipient of hiring or wages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term שָׂכִיר is primarily used in legal, economic, and narrative contexts regarding labor arrangements in ancient Israelite society. Its usage contrasts with עֶבֶד ('ebed; 'slave, servant'), which often denotes a person bound in a long-term service relationship, sometimes inherited or coercive. By contrast, שָׂכִיר refers to free persons employed for pay, usually for a set duration (day, season, or year). Torah legislation (e.g., Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15) stipulates fair and timely payment for a שָׂכִיר, reflecting social concern for economically vulnerable laborers. Standard English translations typically render שָׂכִיר as 'hired worker,' 'hireling,' or 'hired servant,' though the nuances of status, legal rights, and social expectation may not be fully captured. In later periods, the distinction between temporary and long-term servitude continued to be reflected in related Semitic languages, but the biblical usage is specific to free, wage-based labor rather than bonded or hereditary servitude.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׂכַר; a man at wages by the day or year; hired (man, servant), hireling.

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Root Family

שכר (s-k-r) — to hire, to pay wages, to reward

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3485	יִשָּׂשכָר	in Reward-bringer
H4909	מַשְׂכֹּרֶת	your compensation
H7910	שִׁכּוֹר	drunken one
H7917	שְׂכִירָה	the hire-wage
H7937	שָׁכַר	I will intoxicate
H7939	שָׂכָר	in his compensation
H7940	שָׂכָר	wage-payment
H7941	שֵׁכָר	the intoxicating drink
H7942	שִׁכְּרוֹן	Drunkenness-townward
H7943	שִׁכָּרוֹן	to intoxication

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7916-03`	שָׂכִ֣יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	hireling	wage-hired man	9
`H7916-07`	וְ/שָׂכִ֖יר	vesakhir	`HC/Aamsa`	or hired servant	hired worker	2
`H7916-01`	כְּ/שָׂכִ֥יר	kesakhir	`HR/Aamsa`	as a hired worker	as a wage-earner	2
`H7916-04`	שְׂכִרֶ֤י/הָ	sekhireyha	`HAampc/Sp3fs`	her mercenaries	her hired workers	1
`H7916-05`	וּ֝/כְ/שָׂכִ֗יר	ukhesakhir	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and-like-a-hired-man	and like a wage-worker	1
`H7916-06`	וְ/לִ/שְׂכִֽירְ/ךָ֙	velisekhirekha	`HC/R/Aamsc/Sp2ms`	and for your hired worker	your hired worker	1
`H7916-02`	כִּ/שְׂכִ֥יר	kisekhir	`HR/Aamsc`	like a hired servant	as a wage-worker	1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7916-07`	Exodus 12:45	וְ/שָׂכִ֖יר	vesakhir	`HC/Aamsa`	or hired servant	hired worker
`H7916-03`	Exodus 22:14	שָׂכִ֣יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	hired	wage-hired man
`H7916-03`	Leviticus 19:13	שָׂכִ֛יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	hired-worker	wage-hired man
`H7916-07`	Leviticus 22:10	וְ/שָׂכִ֖יר	vesakhir	`HC/Ncmsa`	or hired servant	hired worker
`H7916-06`	Leviticus 25:6	וְ/לִ/שְׂכִֽירְ/ךָ֙	velisekhirekha	`HC/R/Aamsc/Sp2ms`	and for your hired worker	your hired worker
`H7916-01`	Leviticus 25:40	כְּ/שָׂכִ֥יר	kesakhir	`HR/Aamsa`	as a hired worker	as a wage-earner
`H7916-03`	Leviticus 25:50	שָׂכִ֖יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	a hired servant	wage-hired man
`H7916-02`	Leviticus 25:53	כִּ/שְׂכִ֥יר	kisekhir	`HR/Aamsc`	like a hired servant	as a wage-worker
`H7916-03`	Deuteronomy 15:18	שָׂכִ֔יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	hired man	wage-hired man
`H7916-03`	Deuteronomy 24:14	שָׂכִ֖יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	hired servant	wage-hired man
`H7916-03`	Isaiah 16:14	שָׂכִ֔יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	hireling	wage-hired man
`H7916-03`	Isaiah 21:16	שָׂכִ֔יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	of a hired worker	wage-hired man
`H7916-04`	Jeremiah 46:21	שְׂכִרֶ֤י/הָ	sekhireyha	`HAampc/Sp3fs`	her mercenaries	her hired workers
`H7916-03`	Malachi 3:5	שָׂ֠כִיר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	hireling	wage-hired man
`H7916-03`	Job 7:1	שָׂכִ֣יר	sakhir	`HAamsa`	hireling	wage-hired man
`H7916-05`	Job 7:2	וּ֝/כְ/שָׂכִ֗יר	ukhesakhir	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and-like-a-hired-man	and like a wage-worker
`H7916-01`	Job 14:6	כְּ/שָׂכִ֥יר	kesakhir	`HR/Aamsa`	like a hired man	as a wage-earner

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