שָׂרָה
𐤔𐤓𐤄
Sarah
H8283 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name, feminine: Sarah — the principal wife of Abraham, and mother of Isaac. The name is presented in the narrative as meaning 'princess' or 'noblewoman,' suggestive of high status or leadership, likely derived from the root meaning 'to rule' or 'to act as a leader.' Semantic range: serves exclusively as a female personal name in biblical contexts, and when explained etymologically, it suggests attributes of nobility, authority, or rulership.
Semantic Range
personal name (Sarah), noblewoman, princess, woman of high status, matriarch
Root / Etymology
Root: שׂרר (śrr, 'to rule, to have power, to govern, to act as leader'). The name שָׂרָה (Sârâh) is the feminine form corresponding to the masculine word שַׂר (śar, 'prince, chief, leader'). The meaning may imply 'princess' or 'noblewoman,' consistent with the root's sense of leadership or authority.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the patriarchal narratives of Genesis, שָׂרָה (Sarah) is the matriarch who, along with Abraham, is foundational to the ancestry of the Israelites. Her earlier name, שָׂרָי (Sarai), may be a related variant or dialectal form, later divinely changed to שָׂרָה with an explicit explanation ('princess'; Gen 17:15-16). The text emphasizes her importance and distinguished position. The meaning of her name is presented narratively as 'princess,' though the etymological connection to rulership is general rather than strictly dynastic. In later periods, the name retained its association with matriarchal status and dignity. Unlike modern English usage, the biblical form does not carry religious connotations associated with the designation 'Jew'—Sarah is always an ethnic Israelite matriarch. Although the English KJV and other translations use 'Sarah,' the Hebrew originally connotes status and leadership, not merely a personal identifier. See also: שַׂר (śar), the general term for 'prince' or a person of authority, and שָׂרָי (Sarai), her earlier name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as שָׂרָה; Sarah, Abraham's wife; Sarah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂרר (ś-r-r) — to rule, to act as leader, to have power, to govern
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5493 | סוּר | Princess |
| H5620 | סַר | Princess |
| H5627 | סָרָה | Princess |
| H8269 | שַׂר | the ruler |
| H8272 | שַׁרְאֶצֶר | ruling-chief |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8283-02 |
שָׂרָ֖ה | sarah | HNp |
Sarah | Princess | 29 |
H8283-01 |
לְ/שָׂרָ֣ה | lesarah | HR/Np |
for Sarah | to Princess Sarah | 4 |
H8283-04 |
וְ/שָׂרָ֥ה | vesarah | HC/Np |
and Sarah | and Princess | 3 |
H8283-03 |
וּ/לְ/שָׂרָ֥ה | ulesarah | HC/R/Np |
and Sarah | and to Sarah | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
38 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8283-02 |
Genesis 17:15 | שָׂרָ֖ה | sarah | HNp |
Sarah | Princess |
H8283-02 |
Genesis 17:17 | שָׂרָ֔ה | sarah | HNp |
Sarah | Princess |
H8283-02 |
Genesis 17:19 | שָׂרָ֣ה | sarah | HNp |
Sarah | Princess |
H8283-02 |
Genesis 17:21 | שָׂרָה֙ | sarah | HNp |
Sarah | Princess |
H8283-02 |
Genesis 18:6 | שָׂרָ֑ה | sarah | HNp |
Sarah | Princess |
H8283-02 |
Genesis 18:9 | שָׂרָ֣ה | sarah | HNp |
Sarah | Princess |
H8283-01 |
Genesis 18:10 | לְ/שָׂרָ֣ה | lesarah | HR/Np |
for Sarah | to Princess Sarah |
H8283-04 |
Genesis 18:10 | וְ/שָׂרָ֥ה | vesarah | HC/Np |
And Sarah | and Princess |
H8283-04 |
Genesis 18:11 | וְ/שָׂרָה֙ | vesarah | HC/Np |
and Sarah | and Princess |
H8283-01 |
Genesis 18:11 | לְ/שָׂרָ֔ה | lesarah | HR/Np |
with Sarah | to Princess Sarah |