שָׂכָר
𐤔𐤊𐤓
Sakhar
H7940 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Sâkâr (שָׂכָר) functions both as a common noun and as a personal name. As a noun, it primarily denotes 'payment,' 'reward,' or 'compensation' given in exchange for labor, services, or merit. It can refer to wages for work, a reward offered for specific behaviors, or figuratively, to recompense (positive or negative) for deeds. As a proper name, Sâkâr designates at least two individual Israelites in biblical genealogies, likely drawing from the sense of receiving reward or compensation.
Semantic Range
wages, reward, recompense, hire, payment, compensation, personal name (Sâkâr)
Root / Etymology
From the root שׂכר, meaning 'to hire, to reward, to compensate.' The noun is a direct derivation from this root, signifying something given as payment. As a personal name, it is likely derived via a noun-forming pattern, expressing either hoped-for reward or commemorating recompense.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שָׂכָר primarily refers to the remuneration a person receives for services rendered (Genesis 30:28; Leviticus 19:13) and can extend to include spiritual or moral recompense for action (e.g., reward from YHWH, cf. Psalm 127:3). Its sense can be both material and abstract, depending on context. Distinct from related terms such as אֶתְנָן (ʼetnan), which is often used specifically for harlot's wages, שָׂכָר covers general compensation and reward, not limited to contractual labor. As a personal name, Sâkâr appears in tribal genealogies (1 Chronicles 7:1, 7:3) without further narrative elaboration. In translation, 'reward' or 'wages' is often used, but care must be taken—modern readers might narrow its scope to contractual employment, whereas the biblical range includes both literal payment and broader notions of reward or recompense. Usage is consistent from the patriarchal narrative through post-exilic writings, maintaining core associations with remuneration but open to theological extension in prophetic or wisdom texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as שָׂכָר; recompense; Sakar, the name of two Israelites; Sacar.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שכר (ś-k-r) — to hire, to rent, to reward
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3485 | יִשָּׂשכָר | in Reward-bringer |
| H4909 | מַשְׂכֹּרֶת | your compensation |
| H7910 | שִׁכּוֹר | drunken one |
| H7916 | שָׂכִיר | as a wage-earner |
| H7917 | שְׂכִירָה | the hire-wage |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7940-01 |
שָׂכָ֛ר | sakhar | HNp |
Sacar | wage-payment | 1 |
H7940-02 |
וְ/שָׂכָ֣ר | vesakhar | HC/Np |
and Sachar | and payment | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7940-01 |
1 Chronicles 11:35 | שָׂכָ֛ר | sakhar | HNp |
Sacar | wage-payment |
H7940-02 |
1 Chronicles 26:4 | וְ/שָׂכָ֣ר | vesakhar | HC/Np |
and Sachar | and payment |