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שָׁרַק

𐤔𐤓𐤒

shâraq

H8319 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To produce a sharp, shrill sound, especially by whistling or hissing, typically used of a person or deity signaling for others (such as people or animals), or, in a figurative sense, signaling attention or drawing notice, often with a negative or ominous connotation. The verb can also describe the sound of derision, scorn, or mockery. In biblical contexts, it is sometimes used to convey the idea of summoning (as in calling or beckoning with a whistle) or expressing contempt.

Semantic Range

to whistle (as to summon people or animals); to hiss (expressing derision/mockery); to call or beckon by whistling; to express contempt or astonishment; to signal (especially in prophetic literature)

Root / Etymology

From the root שרק, which denotes making a sharp, piercing sound. The word derives from the basic idea of an attention-getting noise, especially that made by a person's lips or by a reed instrument. There is no evidence of connection with non-Semitic roots, and its formation is consistent with other Hebrew roots of onomatopoeic origin (imitative of the sound they describe).

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁרַק appears primarily in prophetic and poetic literature, usually in contexts involving a gesture of summoning (Isaiah 5:26; Zechariah 10:8, where YHWH whistles to gather people, especially exiles) or a sound of derision and astonishment (1 Kings 9:8; Jeremiah 19:8; Lamentations 2:15, where onlookers hiss in scorn at ruins or calamity). In some later periods, whistling and hissing became associated with expressing contempt at something ruinous or to indicate astonishment at disaster. The nuances range from summoning/calling (as of animals, people) to expressing scorn or mockery after destruction. Modern English translations use a variety of terms (whistle, hiss, scorn, etc.), but single English words rarely capture the breadth of this verb's semantic range in Hebrew. Note: in earlier periods, the sound likely functioned as an everyday call for animals (as in Zech 10:8), whereas the scornful 'hiss' sense appears especially in contexts of judgment or desolation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn); hiss.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שׁרק (mashrôwqîy) — to whistle, make a shrill sound

Root שׁרק to produce a sharp/sudden sound, to whistle, to hiss
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4953 מַשְׁרוֹקִי the whistling pipe
H8321 שֹׂרֵק select grapevine
H8322 שְׁרֵקָה a hissing sound

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8319-04 וְ/יִשְׁרֹ֖ק veyisheroq HC/Vqi3ms and will hiss and he will whistle and he will whistle 4
H8319-02 שָׁרְק֖וּ sharequ HVqp3cp they hissed they whistled they hissed 3
H8319-03 וְ/שָׁרָ֑ק vesharaq HC/Vqp3ms and-he-will-whistle and he whistled and will hiss 2
H8319-05 יִשְׁרֹ֤ק yisheroq HVqi3ms will hiss he will whistle he will whistle 2
H8319-01 אֶשְׁרְקָ֥ה eshereqah HVqi1cs I will whistle I will whistle I will whistle 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8319-03 1 Kings 9:8 וְ/שָׁרָ֑ק vesharaq HC/Vqp3ms and-will-hiss and he whistled and will hiss
H8319-03 Isaiah 5:26 וְ/שָׁ֥רַק vesharaq HC/Vqq3ms and-he-will-whistle and he whistled and he will whistle
H8319-05 Isaiah 7:18 יִשְׁרֹ֤ק yisheroq HVqi3ms will whistle he will whistle it will whistle
H8319-04 Jeremiah 19:8 וְ/יִשְׁרֹ֖ק veyisheroq HC/Vqi3ms and will hiss and he will whistle and it will whistle
H8319-04 Jeremiah 49:17 וְ/יִשְׁרֹ֖ק veyisheroq HC/Vqi3ms and will hiss and he will whistle and he will whistle
H8319-04 Jeremiah 50:13 וְ/יִשְׁרֹ֖ק veyisheroq HC/Vqi3ms and will hiss and he will whistle and he will hiss
H8319-02 Ezekiel 27:36 שָׁרְק֖וּ sharequ HVqp3cp hiss they whistled they hissed
H8319-05 Zephaniah 2:15 יִשְׁרֹ֖ק yisheroq HVqi3ms will hiss he will whistle he will whistle
H8319-01 Zechariah 10:8 אֶשְׁרְקָ֥ה eshereqah HVqi1cs I will whistle I will whistle I will whistle
H8319-04 Job 27:23 וְ/יִשְׁרֹ֥ק veyisheroq HC/Vqi3ms and he hisses and he will whistle and he will whistle
H8319-02 Lamentations 2:15 שָֽׁרְקוּ֙ sharequ HVqp3cp they hissed they whistled they hissed
H8319-02 Lamentations 2:16 שָֽׁרְקוּ֙ sharequ HVqp3cp they hissed they whistled they hissed
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