שַׁאֲרָה
𐤔𐤀𐤓𐤄
shaʼărâh
H7608 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A female blood relative, particularly a woman of close kinship such as a sister, daughter, or female member of the extended family. The term specifically refers to a woman related by blood, distinguished from kinship by marriage or other forms of household association. Depending on context, it can denote a female who is one's flesh-and-blood relative, often in connection with laws or regulations concerning marriage or sexual relations.
Semantic Range
female blood relative, female kinswoman, female of one's own flesh, close female kin
Root / Etymology
From the root שְׁאֵר (she'er), meaning 'flesh' or 'blood-relative, kin.' The form שַׁאֲרָה is a feminine noun form derived from the root, signifying a female member of one's own flesh or kin group.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, שַׁאֲרָה occurs primarily in contexts concerning familial relationships, especially where legal, social, and sexual prohibitions are addressed (such as Levitical regulations). The word is not a generic term for all female relatives, but implies a close kinship—particularly blood ties that have specific legal and social relevance in ancient Israelite society. It is distinct from nouns for affinal kin (by marriage) or general terms for 'woman.' English translations may render it as 'kinswoman,' 'female relative,' or sometimes in restricted contexts as 'wife,' but the primary sense is blood-relative. In later periods, the scope of meaning may remain stable in legal and genealogical contexts. The term correlates with שְׁאֵר ('flesh, kin, close kin') but specifically marks the feminine aspect. Not to be confused with general terms for familial or household members. In English Bible translations, shifts sometimes occur where the nuance of blood relation is lost in favor of broader terms. The word does not reference modern ethnic, religious, or juridical identities beyond the framework of ancient Israelite kinship, and must be distinguished from post-biblical or anachronistic usages of 'Jew' or similar terms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of שְׁאֵר; female kindred by blood; near kinswomen.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שאר (š-ʾ-r) — flesh, blood-kinship, to be related by flesh
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4863 | מִשְׁאֶרֶת | their kneading-troughs |
| H7603 | שְׂאֹר | leavening remnant |
| H7604 | שָׁאַר | the remaining one |
| H7606 | שְׁאָר | in remainder-of |
| H7607 | שְׁאֵר | for his flesh |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7608-01 |
שַׁאֲרָ֥ה | shaarah | HNcfsa |
her relatives | female blood-kin | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7608-01 |
Leviticus 18:17 | שַׁאֲרָ֥ה | shaarah | HNcfsa |
her relatives | female blood-kin |