שַׁעֲרַיִם
𐤔𐤏𐤓𐤉𐤌
Shaarayim
H8189 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Sha'arayim is a toponym, likely meaning 'Two Gates' or 'Double Gate', denoting a specific location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The primary meaning of the word is as a place name; in its literal formation, it signifies 'gates (dual)', which may refer to a town distinguished by having two gates or associated with a notable gateway.
Semantic Range
place name (Sha'arayim); dual form for 'two gates,' town distinguished by double gates, toponym for a Judahite site in the Shephelah
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁ־ע־ר (שׁער) meaning 'gate' or 'portal'. The form שַׁעֲרַיִם is in the dual, indicating 'two gates' or 'pair of gates'. As a place name, it likely functioned either literally (a site with two gates) or idiomatically (a settlement of strategic importance at entry points).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Sha'arayim appears as a geographic location in the Shephelah region, within the territory assigned to Judah (Josh 15:36; 1 Sam 17:52). The dual form is notable; most towns have singular names, so this may mark Sha'arayim as a settlement at a crossroad or a fortified site with more than one entryway—potentially implying strategic, administrative, or defensive significance. The meaning is consistently toponymic, and later English translations (e.g., KJV 'Shaaraim') simply transliterate the name. The identification of the ancient site remains debated among archaeologists but does not materially affect the lexical sense of the term. Its use is confined to the place name and does not convey a broader common noun sense in these contexts. The English tradition of rendering Israelite place names with '-im' endings as plural or dual is not always strictly observed; in this case, the dual is transparent in Hebrew but not always reflected in translation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
dual of שַׁעַר; double gates; Shaarajim, a place in Palestine; Shaaraim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁער (sh-ʿ-r) — gate, entryway, portal
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7778 | שׁוֹעֵר | the gate-guard |
| H8179 | שַׁעַר | in the gate |
| H8180 | שַׁעַר | reckoned measures |
| H8182 | שֹׁעָר | the detestable ones |
| H8186 | שַׁעֲרוּרָה | appalling outrage |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8189-03 |
וְ/שַׁעֲרַ֨יִם֙ | veshaarayim | HC/Np |
and Shaaraim | and Two Gates | and Shaarayim | 1 |
H8189-02 |
וּֽ/בְ/שַׁעֲרָ֑יִם | uveshaarayim | HC/R/Np |
and in Shaaraim | and in Two-Gates | and in Shaarayim | 1 |
H8189-01 |
שַׁעֲרַ֔יִם | shaarayim | HNp |
Shaaraim | Two Gates | Shaarayim | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8189-03 |
Joshua 15:36 | וְ/שַׁעֲרַ֨יִם֙ | veshaarayim | HC/Np |
and Shaaraim | and Two Gates | and Shaarayim |
H8189-01 |
1 Samuel 17:52 | שַׁעֲרַ֔יִם | shaarayim | HNp |
Shaaraim | Two Gates | Shaarayim |
H8189-02 |
1 Chronicles 4:31 | וּֽ/בְ/שַׁעֲרָ֑יִם | uveshaarayim | HC/R/Np |
and in Shaaraim | and in Two-Gates | and in Shaarayim |