הַ/שֶּׁ֖רֶץ

𐤄/𐤔𐤓𐤑

hasherets

swarming thing

from שָׁרַץ; a swarm, i.e. active mass of minute animals; creep(-ing thing), move(-ing creature).

H8318

Genesis 7:21 · Word #11

Lexicon H8318

Lemmaשֶׁרֶץ
Lemma (Paleo)𐤔𐤓𐤑
Transliterationsherets
Strong'sH8318
In-contextswarming thing

Morphology HTd/Ncmsa All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Subtype c — Common — Common noun
Gender m — Masculine — Masculine
Number s — Singular — Singular
State a — Absolute — The noun stands independently

SIBI-P1 H8318-01

the swarming-creature

Rootשרץ (š-r-ṣ)
Core Meaningsto swarm, teem, multiply abundantly, move in masses
Semantic Rangeswarming creature, teeming animal, creeping thing, small ground animal, collective mass of moving creatures
Conceptual SignificanceUsed prominently in the creation account (Genesis 1) and in purity laws (Leviticus 11), שֶׁרֶץ highlights the abundance of life that "teems" in waters and on land, while also marking categories of creatures considered ritually impure. It emphasizes both prolific vitality and boundary distinctions within Israel’s holiness framework.
Morphological NotesCommon masculine singular noun in the absolute state with prefixed definite article (הַ). No pronominal suffix. From the verbal root שרץ (Qal: to swarm/teem).
Rendering RationaleThe noun שֶׁרֶץ derives from the root שרץ, "to swarm" or "to teem," and denotes a creature characterized by swarming movement. The form is masculine singular absolute with the definite article ("the"), so "the swarming-creature" preserves both the singular masculine form and the root idea of teeming motion.

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root שרץ (to swarm, teem, multiply abundantly, move in masses)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
H8317-01 hashorets the swarming one
hashoretset the swarming (feminine singular)
H8317-02 sharetsu they swarmed
H8318-02 sherets a swarming creature
H8317-03 shiretsu you men swarmed abundantly
H8317-04 vesharats and he swarmed
H8317-05 vesharetsu and they swarmed
H8317-06 yisheretsu they shall swarm

Word Usage (15 occurrences of H8318)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
Genesis 1:20 שֶׁ֖רֶץ sherets a swarm
Genesis 7:21 הַ/שֶּׁ֖רֶץ hasherets swarming thing
Leviticus 5:2 שֶׁ֣רֶץ sherets swarming thing