← H8321 H8323 →

שְׁרֵקָה

𐤔𐤓𐤒𐤄

shᵉrêqâh

H8322 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁרק to whistle, to hiss, to make a sharp sound

Definition

A sharp, high-pitched sound such as a whistling or hissing, especially as an expression of scorn, astonishment, or derision. The term denotes a sound produced either by drawing air with the lips or by using other means as a sign of contempt, mockery, or amazement in response to calamity or devastation.

Semantic Range

whistling (as a sound), hissing (as a gesture or response), act of derision, act of scornful astonishment; sound used to express public shame or ridicule

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁרַק (šāraq), which primarily means 'to whistle' or 'to hiss'. The noun שְׁרֵקָה (shᵉrêqâh) is formed as an abstract noun denoting the act, sound, or result of whistling or hissing. The root conveys the notion of a piercing vocal sound but in this nominal form, the emphasis is on the act as a response to events or conditions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שְׁרֵקָה occurs primarily in prophetic literature (e.g., 1 Kings 9:8; Jeremiah 19:8; 2 Chronicles 7:21) to describe the reaction of onlookers who witness the ruin or devastation of a site—often a once-glorious city or sanctuary—such as in divine judgment. In these contexts, the act of whistling or hissing signals shock, derision, or scorn from others who pass by. This response is closely linked to themes of shame and public humiliation in the biblical setting. The term is related to but distinct from שָׂרָק (sāraq, meaning 'select grape'—a different root) and from other words for vocal or nonverbal derision. English translations often render the word as 'astonishment,' 'desolation,' or 'hissing,' but this can obscure the vivid audiological and public nature of the act. Later Aramaic and rabbinic literature preserve the notion of whistling/hissing as expressions of disrespect or supernatural warning, but in biblical texts, the focus is public spectacle and shame.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁרַק; a derision; hissing.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שרק (š-r-q) — to whistle, to hiss, to make a sharp piercing sound

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4953 מַשְׁרוֹקִי the whistling pipe
H8292 שְׁרוּקָה whistlings of
H8319 שָׁרַק I will whistle

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8322-04 וְ/לִ/שְׁרֵקָ֑ה velishereqah HC/R/Ncfsa and a hissing and for a hissing-whistle 4
H8322-01 לִ/שְׁרֵקָ֥ה lishereqah HR/Ncfsa a hissing a hissing sound 2
H8322-02 שְׁרִיק֣וֹת sheriqot HNcfpc hissing hissings of 1
H8322-03 וּ/שְׁרֵקָ֖ה ushereqah HC/Ncfsa and a hissing and a derisive hissing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8322-02 Jeremiah 18:16 שְׁרִיק֣וֹת sheriqot HNcfpc hissing hissings of
H8322-04 Jeremiah 19:8 וְ/לִ/שְׁרֵקָ֑ה velishereqah HC/R/Ncfsa and for a hissing and for a hissing-whistle
H8322-04 Jeremiah 25:9 וְ/לִ/שְׁרֵקָ֔ה velishereqah HC/R/Ncfsa and a hissing and for a hissing-whistle
H8322-01 Jeremiah 25:18 לִ/שְׁרֵקָ֥ה lishereqah HR/Ncfsa for-hissing a hissing sound
H8322-04 Jeremiah 29:18 וְ/לִ/שְׁרֵקָ֣ה velishereqah HC/R/Ncfsa and-for-a-hissing and for a hissing-whistle
H8322-03 Jeremiah 51:37 וּ/שְׁרֵקָ֖ה ushereqah HC/Ncfsa and a hissing and a derisive hissing
H8322-01 Micah 6:16 לִ/שְׁרֵקָ֔ה lishereqah HR/Ncfsa a hissing a hissing sound
H8322-04 2 Chronicles 29:8 וְ/לִ/שְׁרֵקָ֔ה velishereqah HC/R/Ncfsa and-to-hissing and for a hissing-whistle
← H8321 Hebrew Lexicon H8323 →