מִשְׂרָה
𐤌𐤔𐤓𐤄
misrâh
H4951 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A domain or sphere of rule; dominion, authority, governance. Refers generally to the exercise of rule or the extent of a ruler's control, often used in contexts of royal or high governmental administration. The term emphasizes the abstract concept of governing power or the expanse over which authority is exercised, not just the position or the person of the ruler.
Semantic Range
dominion, sphere of rule, authority, governance, domain of official responsibility, government, administrative power
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׂרָה (שׂ־ר־ה), which denotes ruling or exercising authority. מִשְׂרָה is a noun formation indicating the state or domain of rule, derived from verbal and nominal uses of the root associated with princeship or governance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִשְׂרָה occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Isaiah 22:21), and is used to describe the domain or function of a governmental office, specifically the attributes or scope associated with one in power. The term is related to the root שָׂר (sar), meaning 'chief' or 'prince,' but מִשְׂרָה refers not to the individual but the concept or extent of their authority. In later periods, related forms may refer simply to 'government' or 'administration,' but in the biblical context, it functions more as 'dominion' or 'domain of authority.' English translations may render it as 'government,' 'dominion,' or 'rule,' but 'empire' may be an overstatement for most biblical usages, as it does not always refer to a large territory or state, but rather to the governing function or scope of an official. Distinct from similar terms like מַלְכוּת (malkhut, 'kingdom, kingship') and שָׂרָה (sarah, 'rulership,' also proper name), which emphasize either sovereignty, personal rule, or the officebearer. The term's limited but formal use in biblical texts reflects administrative and hierarchical concerns of Israelite society, especially in royal or high official contexts. Later uses in post-biblical Hebrew broaden in application but retain the sense of organized governance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׂרָה; empire; government.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂרה (ś-r-h) — to rule, to govern, to exercise authority, to prevail
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3481 | יִשְׂרְאֵלִי | the Israelite |
| H8280 | שָׂרָה | you persevered and prevailed |
| H8281 | שָׁרָה | I wrestled with you |
| H8304 | שְׂרָיָה | to YHWH-has-prevailed |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4951-01 |
הַ/מִּשְׂרָ֖ה | hamiserah | HTd/Ncfsa |
and the government | the dominion | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4951-01 |
Isaiah 9:5 | הַ/מִּשְׂרָ֖ה | hamiserah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the-government | the dominion |
H4951-01 |
Isaiah 9:6 | הַ/מִּשְׂרָ֜ה | hamiserah | HTd/Ncfsa |
and the government | the dominion |