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סָרַח

𐤎𐤓𐤇

çârach

H5628 verb

SILEX Entry

Root סרח to spread, extend, stretch, overflow

Definition

To spread out, extend, or overflow—often used metaphorically for excess, going beyond bounds, or expanding. In narrative and poetic contexts, it can refer to stretching, excess, or even figuratively to banishment or deviation. The sense of 'banish' or 'cast out' derives from the notion of being pushed beyond an accepted limit or sphere.

Semantic Range

to spread out, to stretch, to overflow, to extend, to go beyond bounds, to be excessive, to be cast out, to be banished

Root / Etymology

Root: סרח. The core meaning is 'to spread out, stretch, extend.' The verb is built directly from the root, with derived forms in both qal and piel. The connection between 'extending' and senses of 'excess' or 'banishment' arises from the idea of going or stretching beyond appropriate limits.

Historical & Contextual Notes

'סָרַח' is found in diverse contexts. In some passages, it describes garments trailing or spreading out (Exodus 28:32: 'its hem shall not be torn, לֹא יִסָּרַח'); in others, it is used in more abstract or negative senses, pointing to something excessive or out of bounds, as in 'exceed, overflow.' The qal form tends toward the physical sense of spreading, while piel usages show intensification (to do to excess, to transgress a boundary), and the passive can sometimes imply being cast out (usually in late poetic texts). The verb is not particularly common and occurs in both narrative and poetic language. Notably, the sense of 'banish' or 'cast out' is a metaphorical extension, and is not the primary sense, but it occurs in later, especially poetic, texts. The English translation 'to banish' likely reflects the semantic development in later Hebrew or context-driven translations. The core idea remains movement beyond acceptable limits, whether positive (expansive) or negative (excluded). It should not be confused with other verbs for 'drive out' or 'remove.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to extend (even to excess); exceeding, hand, spread, stretch self, banish.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סרח (s-r-ḥ) — spread, extend, stretch, overflow

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5629 סֶרַח and surplus
H8294 שֶׂרַח Serach

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5628-03 סְרוּחֵ֤י seruchey HVqsmpc with flowing spread-out ones of 1
H5628-04 סְרוּחִֽים seruchim HVqsmpa of those who sprawl spread-out ones 1
H5628-01 נִסְרְחָ֖ה niserechah HVNp3fs removed she was spread out 1
H5628-06 תִּסְרַ֕ח tiserach HVqi3fs shall hang she will spread out 1
H5628-05 סֹרַ֜חַת sorachat HVqrfsa spreading spreading one 1
H5628-02 סָר֜וּחַ sarucha HVqsmsa hanging over stretched-out 1
H5628-07 וּ/סְרֻחִ֖ים useruchim HC/Vqsmpa and stretch themselves spread-out ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5628-06 Exodus 26:12 תִּסְרַ֕ח tiserach HVqi3fs shall hang she will spread out
H5628-02 Exodus 26:13 סָר֜וּחַ sarucha HVqsmsa hanging over stretched-out
H5628-01 Jeremiah 49:7 נִסְרְחָ֖ה niserechah HVNp3fs removed she was spread out
H5628-05 Ezekiel 17:6 סֹרַ֜חַת sorachat HVqrfsa spreading spreading one
H5628-03 Ezekiel 23:15 סְרוּחֵ֤י seruchey HVqsmpc with flowing spread-out ones of
H5628-07 Amos 6:4 וּ/סְרֻחִ֖ים useruchim HC/Vqsmpa and stretch themselves spread-out ones
H5628-04 Amos 6:7 סְרוּחִֽים seruchim HVqsmpa of those who sprawl spread-out ones
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