← H8178 H8180 →

שַׁעַר

𐤔𐤏𐤓

shaʻar

H8179 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁער to think, to estimate, to reckon

Definition

A physical structure providing an entry or passage point, most commonly a gate or gateway in a city wall, courtyard, temple precinct, or palace; by extension, the area around such an entry, including the adjacent plaza or public space where judicial, commercial, or political activities often took place. In some contexts, serves metonymically for the local authority, court, or elders assembled at the gate.

Semantic Range

gate (city, temple, palace), gateway, entrance, gate-area as a public meeting place, city authority or elders by metonymy, point of transition or access

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁער (ש-ע-ר), which carries the idea of thinking, calculating, or reckoning in verbal use (to estimate, calculate, think). As a noun, the root yields the tangible meaning of 'gate' or 'gateway,' perceived as a point of reckoning, transition or access. The relationship between the verb and noun forms is not always direct, but the shared root suggests a conceptual link between entering (counting in) and the act of thinking or determining.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שַׁעַר is the standard term for a physical gate, especially one marking the entrance to a walled settlement, temple compound, or major building. In the patriarchal and monarchic periods, city gates (and by extension the area just inside or outside) functioned as focal points for civic life—serving for official gatherings, legal proceedings, and trade. This term is distinct from פֶּתַח (petach, 'doorway' or 'entrance') and דֶּלֶת (delet, 'door'), which generally refer to domestic settings or smaller entryways, not to major communal or public gates. English translations rarely reflect the full metonymic or social significance of שַׁעַר; in biblical texts it often denotes not only the structure but also the social, judicial, or governmental activities associated with it. In later periods, especially post-exilic and Second Temple contexts, gates remain important urban landmarks and community centers. Septuagint translations may use πύλη (pylē) or πύργος (pyrgos, 'tower') depending on context. The English 'gate' is generally accurate for the structural meaning but can lose the sociopolitical connotations embedded in certain passages.

Translation Consistency

primary "gate" 261 occurrences

שַׁעַר most commonly denotes a physical city/temple/palace gate or the gate-area used as a public meeting place; 'gate' is the natural, common English word that covers the physical structure and the frequent metonymic use (the council/elders at the gate). It is also the most frequent rendering in existing translations, making it the best consistent choice.

Alternatives (114 occurrences):
"gateway of" (111x) "gateways" (2x) "cities" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שער (š-ʿ-r) — thinking, estimating, reckoning; point of entry or access

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7604 שָׁאַר gate of
H7778 שׁוֹעֵר the gatekeepers
H8163 שָׂעִיר shaggy he-goats of
H8176 שָׁעַר gate of
H8185 שַׂעֲרָה from strands of hair

Word Forms

40 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8179-19 שַׁ֥עַר shaar HNcmsc gate gateway of gateway of 112
H8179-09 הַ/שַּׁ֜עַר hashaar HTd/Ncmsa of the gate the gate the gate 59
H8179-03 בְּ/שַֽׁעַר beshaar HR/Ncmsc at the gate in the gate of in the gate of 28
H8179-20 שַׁעֲרֵ֣י shaarey HNcmpc gates gates of gates of 16
H8179-08 בִּ/שְׁעָרֶֽי/ךָ bisheareykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms in your gates in your gates in your gates 16
H8179-01 בַּ/שָּׁ֑עַר bashaar HRd/Ncmsa in the gate in the gate in the gate 15
H8179-26 שְׁעָרֶ֑י/ךָ sheareykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your gates your gates your gates 11
H8179-11 הַ/שְּׁעָרִ֑ים hashearim HTd/Ncmpa of the gates the gates the gates 11
H8179-15 לְ/שַׁ֣עַר leshaar HR/Ncmsc to the gate to the gateway to the gate 10
H8179-04 בְּ/שַׁעֲרֵ֣י beshaarey HR/Ncmpc in the gates in gates of in gates of 9

Occurrences in Scripture

375 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8179-03 Genesis 19:1 בְּ/שַֽׁעַר beshaar HR/Ncmsc in the gate in the gate of in the gate of
H8179-19 Genesis 22:17 שַׁ֥עַר shaar HNcmsc the gate gateway of gateway of
H8179-19 Genesis 23:10 שַֽׁעַר shaar HNcmsc the gate of gateway of gateway of
H8179-19 Genesis 23:18 שַֽׁעַר shaar HNcmsc at the gate gateway of gateway of
H8179-19 Genesis 24:60 שַׁ֥עַר shaar HNcmsc the gate gateway of gateway of
H8179-19 Genesis 28:17 שַׁ֥עַר shaar HNcmsc gate gateway of gateway of
H8179-19 Genesis 34:20 שַׁ֣עַר shaar HNcmsc the gate gateway of gateway of
H8179-19 Genesis 34:24 שַׁ֣עַר shaar HNcmsc of the gate gateway of gateway of
H8179-19 Genesis 34:24 שַׁ֥עַר shaar-2 HNcmsc of the gate gateway of gateway of
H8179-08 Exodus 20:10 בִּ/שְׁעָרֶֽי/ךָ bisheareykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms in-gates-your in your gates in your gates
← H8178 Hebrew Lexicon H8180 →