Σάῤῥα
Sárrha
G4564 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: the personal name 'Sarah' (Σάῤῥα), used to refer to the wife of Abraham. Denotes a specific individual recognized as a matriarch in biblical tradition. The name itself carries the sense of 'noblewoman,' 'princess,' or 'woman of rank,' reflecting status and dignity. In both the Septuagint and New Testament, the Greek form is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew שָׂרָה (Sarah), used exclusively for Abraham's wife, with no generic noun usage in Greek literature.
Semantic Range
Sarah (wife of Abraham), noblewoman, princess (by etymological sense but not as a Greek common noun)
Root / Etymology
Greek Σάῤῥα is a direct transliteration of Hebrew שָׂרָה (Sarah). The root שַׂר (śar) in Hebrew conveys the ideas of 'prince' or 'ruler,' and the –ָה (ah) ending feminizes the noun, indicating 'princess' or 'noblewoman.' The Greek word itself does not have an independent etymology or meaning outside this transliteration.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Σάῤῥα appears in the Septuagint as the standard rendering of the Hebrew Sarah, signifying Abraham's wife. In the LXX Genesis account, her name is changed from Σάρα (Sara) to Σάῤῥα (Sarra) to match the change from שָׂרָי (Sarai) to שָׂרָה (Sarah) in Genesis 17:15. This spelling persists into the New Testament (cf. Romans 4:19, Hebrews 11:11, 1 Peter 3:6), always identifying Abraham's wife and never functioning as a common noun or title. English translations typically render Σάῤῥα as 'Sarah' or 'Sara,' a direct carryover of the personal name; the underlying sense of 'princess' or 'noblewoman' is generally unexpressed in translation. The Greek name does not refer to any identity, group, or status apart from the historical individual. There is no semantic development of the term in Greek literature, as its usage is limited exclusively to scriptural references to Abraham's wife.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (שָׂרָה); Sarra (i.e. Sarah), the wife of Abraham:--Sara, Sarah.
Root Family
Σαρ- (Sárrha) — proper name, noblewoman, princess
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4564-01 |
Σάρρᾳ | sarra | N DAT F SG |
Sarah | to Sarah | Sarrha | 3 |
G4564-02 |
Σάρρας | sarras | N GEN F SG |
Sarah's | of Sarah | Sarrha | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4564-02 |
Romans 4:19 | Σάρρας | sarras | N GEN F SG |
Sarah's | of Sarah | Sarrha |
G4564-01 |
Romans 9:9 | Σάρρᾳ | sarra | N DAT F SG |
Sarah | to Sarah | Sarrha |
G4564-01 |
Hebrews 11:11 | Σάρρᾳ | sarra | N NOM F SG |
Sarah | to Sarah | Sarrha |
G4564-01 |
1 Peter 3:6 | Σάρρα | sarra | N NOM F SG |
Sarah | to Sarah | Sarrha |