שְׂאֹר (H7603) — Hebrew Lexicon

שְׂאֹר

𐤔𐤀𐤓

sᵉʼôr

H7603 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A substance that causes dough to ferment and rise, typically leaven or sourdough starter; in biblical contexts, refers both to the fermenting agent itself and, occasionally, to baked remnants kept for future use as a starter; not restricted to a chemical component but denotes any agent used in dough to initiate fermentation.

Semantic Range

leaven, fermenting agent, sourdough starter, old dough kept to initiate fermentation, substance that causes dough to rise

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root שְׁאַר (sha'ar), potentially meaning 'to remain' or 'to be left over,' though the connection to שְׂאֹר is debated and may point to the idea of a remnant or something left for use in causing fermentation. The root meaning 'to remain' fits the practice of reserving a piece of leavened dough to start fermentation in new dough. Etymology uncertain beyond the general sense of something 'left behind' that enables continued production.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שְׂאֹר is uniformly used to describe leaven or a leavening agent, distinguished from חָמֵץ (ḥametz, 'leavened bread' or 'that which is leavened'), which refers to the resulting product. שְׂאֹר appears especially in legal and ritual contexts, such as the prohibition against its presence or consumption during the festival of Matzot (Unleavened Bread, Exodus 12:15, 19; 13:7; Leviticus 2:11; Deuteronomy 16:4). It does not refer specifically to yeast as later understood, but rather to any fermenting agent, typically an old piece of dough kept for its rising properties. The term remains unchanged from patriarchal to post-exilic texts, retaining its practical and ritual usage across periods. English 'leaven' translates the term only partially; modern readers may miss the reference to an ongoing starter-remnant tradition. Greek translations use ζύμη (zymē), which carries a comparable sense. Later translations may anachronistically use 'yeast' to align with modern scientific understanding, but biblical use is broader, encapsulating any fermenting portion.

Translation Consistency

primary "leaven" 5 occurrences

Leaven best covers the typical biblical meaning — the fermenting agent or old dough used to make dough rise. It is the natural, common English noun (and verb) used in translations, fits the full semantic range (leaven, leavening, sourdough starter), and is more general and familiar than alternatives like “starter” or the gerund “leavening.”

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁאַר; barm or yeast-cake (as swelling by fermentation); leaven.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שאר (Sheerah) — to remain, to be left over

Root שאר to remain, to be left over

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7606	שְׁאָר	in remainder-of
H7607	שְׁאֵר	for his flesh
H7608	שַׁאֲרָה	female blood-kin
H7609	שֶׁאֱרָה	Sheerah-her
H7611	שְׁאֵרִית	the surviving remainder

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7603-01`	שְׂאֹ֛ר	seor	`HNcmsa`	leaven	leavening remnant	leavening remnant	5

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7603-01`	Exodus 12:15	שְּׂאֹ֖ר	seor	`HNcmsa`	leaven	leavening remnant	leavening remnant
`H7603-01`	Exodus 12:19	שְׂאֹ֕ר	seor	`HNcmsa`	leaven	leavening remnant	leavening remnant
`H7603-01`	Exodus 13:7	שְׂאֹ֖ר	seor	`HNcmsa`	leaven	leavening remnant	leavening remnant
`H7603-01`	Leviticus 2:11	שְׂאֹר֙	seor	`HNcmsa`	leaven	leavening remnant	leavening remnant
`H7603-01`	Deuteronomy 16:4	שְׂאֹ֛ר	seor	`HNcmsa`	leaven	leavening remnant	leavening remnant

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