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שָׁרַשׁ

𐤔𐤓𐤔

shârash

H8327 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁרשׁ to root, to strike root, to become established, to uproot, to eradicate

Definition

To take root, put down roots, or strike root (in the literal sense of a plant's roots growing into soil); by extension, to become firmly established or settled (of people, ideas, or institutions); to uproot or tear out roots (in the Piel and Hiphil stems, often with the sense of eradication or removal).

Semantic Range

to strike root, to take root, to become established or settled, to become firmly rooted, to cause to root, to uproot, to root out, to eradicate, to destroy utterly

Root / Etymology

Root: שׁרשׁ (ש-ר-ש). The root fundamentally denotes the concept of 'rooting'—both in the literal botanical sense and metaphorically for being firmly established. The verb שָׁרַשׁ is built directly on this root and expresses both the act of taking root and, in causative or intensive stems, the act of uprooting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁרַשׁ most frequently occurs in prophetic and poetic literature, such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and the Psalms. In the Qal stem, it refers primarily to the action of taking root, often as a metaphor for flourishing or becoming securely established, especially for peoples or nations (e.g., Isaiah 27:6). In the Piel and Hiphil stems, it denotes the act of uprooting or exterminating, typically as an image of removal, destruction, or judgment (e.g., Psalm 52:7; Job 31:8). The noun forms שֹׁרֶשׁ (shoresh, 'root') and related derivatives provide a network of terms centering on rootedness and origin. The metaphorical use to describe individuals, groups, or ideas as either deeply rooted (secure) or uprooted (destroyed) is significant in the biblical text. English translations such as 'root,' 'take root,' or 'uproot' generally reflect the correct meaning, but the depth of the metaphor—of stability, permanence, or total eradication—can be flattened in translation. Use of this root in post-biblical Hebrew continues the metaphorical range, especially in literary and liturgical contexts. No evidence suggests changes in meaning across the major periods of biblical Hebrew, but the metaphor takes on particular poignancy in exilic and post-exilic literature concerning restoration or destruction of the people, land, or traditions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to root, i.e. strike into the soil, or (by implication) to pluck from it; (take, cause to take) root (out).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁרשׁ (sh-r-sh) — rooting, striking root, becoming established, uprooting, eradication

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8328 שֶׁרֶשׁ from his roots
H8329 שֶׁרֶשׁ Root
H8333 שַׁרְשְׁרָה in the interlinked chains

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8327-03 שֹׁרֵ֥שׁ shoresh HVmp3ms take root root 1
H8327-05 וַ/תַּשְׁרֵ֥שׁ vatasheresh HC/Vhw3fs and it took root and she caused to take root 1
H8327-07 יַשְׁרֵ֣שׁ yasheresh HVhi3ms will take root he will root out 1
H8327-08 יְשֹׁרָֽשׁוּ yeshorashu HVPi3mp uproot they will be uprooted 1
H8327-04 תְשָׁרֵֽשׁ tesharesh HVpi3fs it-uproots she will uproot 1
H8327-02 שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ shorashu HVMp3cp they have taken root they were uprooted 1
H8327-01 מַשְׁרִ֑ישׁ masherish HVhrmsa taking root causing to take root 1
H8327-06 וְ/שֵֽׁרֶשְׁ/ךָ֨ veshereshekha HC/Vpq3ms/Sp2ms and your roots and he uprooted you 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8327-07 Isaiah 27:6 יַשְׁרֵ֣שׁ yasheresh HVhi3ms will take root he will root out
H8327-03 Isaiah 40:24 שֹׁרֵ֥שׁ shoresh HVmp3ms take root root
H8327-02 Jeremiah 12:2 שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ shorashu HVMp3cp they have taken root they were uprooted
H8327-06 Psalms 52:7 וְ/שֵֽׁרֶשְׁ/ךָ֨ veshereshekha HC/Vpq3ms/Sp2ms and your roots and he uprooted you
H8327-05 Psalms 80:10 וַ/תַּשְׁרֵ֥שׁ vatasheresh HC/Vhw3fs and it took root and she caused to take root
H8327-01 Job 5:3 מַשְׁרִ֑ישׁ masherish HVhrmsa taking root causing to take root
H8327-08 Job 31:8 יְשֹׁרָֽשׁוּ yeshorashu HVPi3mp uproot they will be uprooted
H8327-04 Job 31:12 תְשָׁרֵֽשׁ tesharesh HVpi3fs it-uproots she will uproot
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