סִרָה
𐤎𐤓𐤄
Sirah
H5626 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Sirah, the name of a specific locality associated with a well or cistern, mentioned solely in the context of the narrative concerning Abner's departure from Hebron (2 Samuel 3:26). The term itself refers to the place known as 'the well/cistern of Sirah.' It functions exclusively as a toponym in the Hebrew Bible, with no broader lexical usage beyond this named site.
Semantic Range
proper name of a place (Sirah); location of a cistern; landmark associated with departure or turning aside
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root סוּר (sur), 'to turn aside, depart,' and related to סִיר (sir), 'pot, cooking vessel,' but in this context most likely signifies a constructed or enclosed place for collecting water (cistern) or a landmark associated with departure. The precise link between the form סִרָה and the root is uncertain, but the nomenclature suggests a site noted for its cistern.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name סִרָה appears only in 2 Samuel 3:26, describing the point from which Abner was summoned back to Hebron. The association with a well or cistern is explicit in the narrative ('bor Sirah' – 'the cistern of Sirah'), underscoring its function as an identifiable landmark outside Hebron. English translations traditionally render it simply as 'the well of Sirah'; however, the underlying term refers to the proper name of the location, not a common noun for a type of well. Sirah is not attested elsewhere in the biblical corpus or in extrabiblical sources, and its exact location remains unidentified in modern scholarship. There is no direct connection to later terms for 'Jew' or Judean identity, and the word is not reused in later periods with new meanings. The related term סִיר (H5518) is a common noun for 'pot' or 'cauldron,' but this is contextually distinct from סִרָה.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from סוּר; departure; Sirah, a cistern so-called; Sirah. See also סִיר.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סור (s-w-r) — turn aside, depart, remove
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3249 | יָסוּר | my departing ones |
| H5493 | סוּר | turned-aside one |
| H5494 | סוּר | turned-aside ones |
| H5495 | סוּר | Sur Gate |
| H5518 | סִיר | in the cooking-pot |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5626-01 |
הַסִּרָ֑ה | hasirah | HNp |
of Sirah | the Sirah Cistern | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5626-01 |
2 Samuel 3:26 | הַסִּרָ֑ה | hasirah | HNp |
of Sirah | the Sirah Cistern |