שֹׁרֶר
𐤔𐤓𐤓
shôrer
H8326 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Navel, specifically the anatomical center point of the abdomen (the umbilicus), understood both in literal physical terms and as a poetic image for the body's centrality, vitality, or inner being. The term can also extend to refer to the umbilical cord itself, and rarely is used metaphorically for an article covering or enclosing the waist, such as a bodice, based on the concept of being encircled or bound at the waist.
Semantic Range
navel, umbilical cord, center of the body; (by extension) girdle, bodice (enclosure or covering for the waist)
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁרַר (sharar), 'to be firm, to be tightly bound, to be strong.' The noun שֹׁרֶר (shorer) is a nominal formation denoting 'navel,' possibly drawing from the concept of firmness or centrality within the body. The semantic shift from the root's idea of tightness or strength likely gave rise to its association with the umbilical cord (which is firmly tied or twisted), and further to the navel as the visible remnant on the abdomen.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שֹׁרֶר is attested only in poetic contexts, most notably in the Song of Songs (Song 7:3[2]), where it describes the beloved's navel as part of a series of aesthetic praises. The word functions both literally and as an expression of inner vitality or centrality. By extension, associations with clothing ('bodice') are rare and not prominent in biblical usage; such readings derive from the broader sense of 'something that encircles the waist' but are not the primary Old Testament usage. The term's primary sense in Israelite literature is anatomical, distinguishing it from related terms like טַבּוּר (tabbur), which is also rendered 'navel' but is more commonly used in later Hebrew. English translations like 'navel' generally capture the primary meaning, but often miss the underlying metaphorical associations with centrality and vitality present in ancient Near Eastern thought. In ancient Israelite culture, the navel was associated with health, nourishment, and the generative center (both physically and symbolically), which informed its poetic usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁרַר in the sense of twisting (compare שֹׁר); the umbilical cord, i.e. (by extension) a bodice; navel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁרר (sh-r-r) — firmness, tight binding, strength
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8270 | שֹׁר | your umbilical cord |
| H8307 | שְׁרִירוּת | in hardened self-will of |
| H8324 | שָׁרַר | to my opponents |
| H8350 | שָׁשַׁר | intense red pigment |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8326-01 |
שָׁרְרֵ/ךְ֙ | sharerekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your navel | your navel | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8326-01 |
Song of Songs 7:3 | שָׁרְרֵ/ךְ֙ | sharerekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your navel | your navel |