שָׁרֵת
𐤔𐤓𐤕
shârêth
H8335 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An act of serving, ministering, or performing duties, especially in a sacred context. Refers most commonly to religious, ceremonial service within a sanctuary or temple setting, but can also denote general service performed in an official capacity.
Semantic Range
sacred service, ministering in the sanctuary or Temple, liturgical duties, formal liturgical service, officiating, religiously officiating
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁרת, which primarily means 'to serve' or 'to minister'. שָׁרֵת is a noun form (infinitive noun/infinitive absolute) denoting the act or state of serving, especially in the context of formal, often cultic, service.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שָׁרֵת is used to describe acts of ritual service particularly in the context of the Israelite sanctuary, including both Levitical and priestly functions. In pre-exilic texts, this noun typically refers to the duties Levites and priests performed in the Tabernacle or Temple — maintaining sanctuary operations, assisting sacrifices, and performing other liturgical functions. Over time, as the religious center moved from Tabernacle to permanent Temple, the term's sphere remained largely cultic. The word is not used for general or civil service, nor for acts of worship by lay Israelites. Unlike related terms such as עָבַד (to work, to serve, often more broadly, including forced labor or general service) or מְשָׁרֵת (servant, attendant), שָׁרֵת emphasizes formal, official ministry in a sacred setting. In some translation traditions, the sense of 'ministering' or 'ministry' becomes associated with priestly service, which has influenced English renderings, but 'service' in the original context is more precise. The noun is relatively rare and chiefly found in texts related to cultic procedures. Later Jewish tradition may broaden the concept, but in biblical usage it remains tied to sanctuary duties.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
infinitive of שָׁרַת; service (in the Temple); minister(-ry).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שרת (š-r-t) — to serve, to minister, to attend
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8334 | שָׁרַת | in their ministering |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8335-01 |
הַ/שָּׁרֵ֜ת | hasharet | HTd/Ncmsa |
the service | the ministering service | 1 |
H8335-02 |
שָׁרֵ֔ת | sharet | HNcmsa |
service | sacred ministering | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8335-01 |
Numbers 4:12 | הַ/שָּׁרֵ֜ת | hasharet | HTd/Ncmsa |
the service | the ministering service |
H8335-02 |
2 Chronicles 24:14 | שָׁרֵ֔ת | sharet | HNcmsa |
service | sacred ministering |