הַ/שֶּׁ֖רֶץ
𐤄/𐤔𐤓𐤑
hasherets
creeping thing
from שָׁרַץ; a swarm, i.e. active mass of minute animals; creep(-ing thing), move(-ing creature).
Leviticus 11:43 · Word #6
Lexicon H8318
| Lemma | שֶׁרֶץ |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤔𐤓𐤑 |
| Transliteration | sherets |
| Strong's | H8318 |
| In-context | creeping 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 H8318-03
the swarming-creature
| Root | שרץ (š-r-ṣ) |
| Core Meanings | to swarm, teem, multiply abundantly, move in masses |
| Semantic Range | swarming creature, teeming animal, creeping thing, small ground animal, collective mass of moving creatures |
| Conceptual Significance | Used 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 Notes | Common 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 Rationale | The 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 |
|---|---|---|
H8318-01 |
basherets | in the swarming-mass |
H8318-02 |
hasharets | the swarming mass |
H8317-01 |
hashorets | the swarming one |
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 |