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שְׂאֹר

𐤔𐤀𐤓

sᵉʼôr

H7603 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שאר to remain, to be left over

Definition

A substance that causes dough to ferment and rise, typically leaven or sourdough starter; in biblical contexts, refers both to the fermenting agent itself and, occasionally, to baked remnants kept for future use as a starter; not restricted to a chemical component but denotes any agent used in dough to initiate fermentation.

Semantic Range

leaven, fermenting agent, sourdough starter, old dough kept to initiate fermentation, substance that causes dough to rise

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root שְׁאַר (sha'ar), potentially meaning 'to remain' or 'to be left over,' though the connection to שְׂאֹר is debated and may point to the idea of a remnant or something left for use in causing fermentation. The root meaning 'to remain' fits the practice of reserving a piece of leavened dough to start fermentation in new dough. Etymology uncertain beyond the general sense of something 'left behind' that enables continued production.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שְׂאֹר is uniformly used to describe leaven or a leavening agent, distinguished from חָמֵץ (ḥametz, 'leavened bread' or 'that which is leavened'), which refers to the resulting product. שְׂאֹר appears especially in legal and ritual contexts, such as the prohibition against its presence or consumption during the festival of Matzot (Unleavened Bread, Exodus 12:15, 19; 13:7; Leviticus 2:11; Deuteronomy 16:4). It does not refer specifically to yeast as later understood, but rather to any fermenting agent, typically an old piece of dough kept for its rising properties. The term remains unchanged from patriarchal to post-exilic texts, retaining its practical and ritual usage across periods. English 'leaven' translates the term only partially; modern readers may miss the reference to an ongoing starter-remnant tradition. Greek translations use ζύμη (zymē), which carries a comparable sense. Later translations may anachronistically use 'yeast' to align with modern scientific understanding, but biblical use is broader, encapsulating any fermenting portion.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁאַר; barm or yeast-cake (as swelling by fermentation); leaven.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שאר (š-ʾ-r) — to remain, to be left over, remnant

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4863 מִשְׁאֶרֶת their kneading-troughs
H7604 שָׁאַר the remaining one
H7606 שְׁאָר in remainder-of
H7607 שְׁאֵר for his flesh
H7608 שַׁאֲרָה female blood-kin

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7603-01 שְּׂאֹ֖ר seor HNcmsa leaven leavening remnant 5

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7603-01 Exodus 12:15 שְּׂאֹ֖ר seor HNcmsa leaven leavening remnant
H7603-01 Exodus 12:19 שְׂאֹ֕ר seor HNcmsa leaven leavening remnant
H7603-01 Exodus 13:7 שְׂאֹ֖ר seor HNcmsa leaven leavening remnant
H7603-01 Leviticus 2:11 שְׂאֹר֙ seor HNcmsa leaven leavening remnant
H7603-01 Deuteronomy 16:4 שְׂאֹ֛ר seor HNcmsa leaven leavening remnant
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