שֹׁרֶשׁ
𐤔𐤓𐤔
shôresh
H8330 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A root, especially that of a plant or tree; by extension, a figurative basis, source, or underlying cause of something. The word is commonly used for physical roots (as in vegetation), but also appears in extended metaphoric senses, such as an origin, foundational element, or source of a people, lineage, or quality. While it is used both literally and figuratively, its core meaning is that of a subterranean root system that nourishes and supports growth.
Semantic Range
root of a plant, subterranean stem, source, basis, origin, lineage, cause, foundational element (literal and metaphorical uses); root of a people or family; cause or origin of a trait or situation; underlying principle
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root שׁ-ר-שׁ, which in its verbal forms means 'to root, to take root, to put forth roots.' The noun שֹׁרֶשׁ directly nominalizes the root concept, referring to that which is rooted or serves as the generating basis. It parallels the Aramaic שֶׁרֶשׁ with a similar meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֹׁרֶשׁ is used throughout the Hebrew Bible both in the context of vegetation—such as describing plant roots exposed or remaining (e.g., Job 14:8; Isaiah 11:1)—and in metaphorical expressions for origin, foundation, or basis, including the origin of nations or the enduring legacy of an individual or group (e.g., Isaiah 11:10). In exilic and post-exilic texts, it can symbolize both hope (a surviving root from which new growth can spring) and judgment (the uprooting or withering of roots as a sign of destruction). Later translations sometimes render שֹׁרֶשׁ as 'root' in both literal and figurative contexts, but the metaphorical breadth includes ancestry, foundation, and root cause. The distinction between שֹׁרֶשׁ (root, as in a starting-point or foundation) and related terms like גֶּזַע (trunk, stem) illuminates nuances in biblical imagery—where שֹׁרֶשׁ is below the ground and invisible, functioning as source and sustenance, while גֶּזַע is above ground. Standard English translations capture the basic denotation, but may flatten the fuller metaphorical range found in Hebrew usage. In Second Temple and later Hebrew literature, the figurative sense expands (root of wickedness, root of Jesse), shaping later interpretive traditions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שֶׁרֶשׁ; {a root (literally or figuratively)}; root.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שרש (š-r-š) — to root, to take root, to become firmly established
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8327 | שָׁרַשׁ | causing to take root |
| H8331 | שַׁרְשָׁה | root-linked chains of |
| H8332 | שְׁרֹשׁוּ | for forced uprooting |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8330-01 |
שָׁרְשׁ֨וֹ/הִי֙ | shareshohi | ANcmpc/Sp3ms |
its roots | his roots | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8330-01 |
Daniel 4:12 | שָׁרְשׁ֨וֹ/הִי֙ | shareshohi | ANcmpc/Sp3ms |
its roots | his roots |
H8330-01 |
Daniel 4:20 | שָׁרְשׁ֨וֹ/הִי֙ | shareshohi | ANcmpc/Sp3ms |
its-roots | his roots |
H8330-01 |
Daniel 4:23 | שָׁרְשׁ֨וֹ/הִי֙ | shareshohi | ANcmpc/Sp3ms |
roots-its | his roots |