שַׂר

𐤔𐤓

sar

H8269 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׂרר to rule, to govern, to exercise authority

Definition

A leader, official, or chief; one who has authority or exercises command within a social, political, or military context. The term is broadly used for persons of rank or responsibility, often denoting an official of high status but applicable from the highest princes to lesser officials depending on context. Semantic range includes ruler, noble, official, commander, leader, or chief.

Semantic Range

official, chief, leader, prince, commander, noble, steward, officer, governor, person of rank, overseer, ruler

Root / Etymology

From the root שׂרר (to rule, to exert dominion, to govern). The noun שַׂר is a substantive denoting one who embodies or exercises authority, often but not exclusively in political or military roles.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite texts (patriarchal through early monarchy), שַׂר refers broadly to leading figures, including tribal heads, military commanders, and key officials at court. In later monarchy and exilic/post-exilic writings, the term acquires more specialized bureaucratic meanings—officials of administration, military officers, provincial governors. Unlike the term מֶלֶךְ (king), שַׂר does not inherently imply sovereignty but delegated or assigned authority, whether over people (e.g., officers, princes) or specific domains or responsibilities (e.g., horticulural stewards, temple officers). In Persian and Hellenistic periods, שַׂר refers to officials of various ranks under imperial administration. Septuagint translations often render שַׂר as ἄρχων (archōn) or στρατηγός (stratēgos) depending on context. English 'prince', 'leader', or 'official' sometimes narrowly construes usage; the Hebrew term is more flexible and socially embedded. In some poetic and prophetic texts, שַׂר can apply figuratively to supernatural or angelic beings understood as rulers or 'princes' of nations (e.g., Daniel 10:13).

Translation Consistency

primary "chief" 404 occurrences

“Chief” is the most natural, widely used English equivalent across the semantic range (leader, ruler, commander, official, prince). It matches the majority of existing renderings for שַׂר (highest frequency in the data), conveys rank and authority without forcing a specific office (prince/commander/official), and will read naturally when inflected (chiefs, the chief, chief's).

Alternatives (17 occurrences):
"rulers" (6x) "commanders of" (3x) "princes" (3x) "ruling officials" (1x) "commanders" (1x) "leaders" (1x) "leader" (1x) "commander" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.

Bantu Hebrew

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

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Root Family

שׂרר (ś-r-r) — to rule, to govern, to exercise authority

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5493 סוּר Princess
H5620 סַר Princess
H5627 סָרָה Princess
H8272 שַׁרְאֶצֶר ruling-chief
H8280 שָׂרָה Princess

Word Forms

36 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8269-17 שָׂרֵ֣י sarey HNcmpc captains chiefs of chiefs of 132
H8269-12 שַׂר sar HNcmsc commander ruling-chief of chief of 85
H8269-03 הַ/שָּׂרִ֖ים hasarim HTd/Ncmpa the princes the rulers the chiefs 33
H8269-31 וְ/שָׂרֵ֥י vesarey HC/Ncmpc and captains of and chiefs of and chiefs of 32
H8269-21 שָׂרִ֗ים sarim HNcmpa princes ruling officials chief officials 21
H8269-25 וְ/הַ/שָּׂרִ֤ים vehasarim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the princes and the ruling-officials and the chiefs 14
H8269-02 הַ/שָּׂ֑ר hasar HTd/Ncmsa the chief the ruler the chief 14
H8269-15 שָׂרָ֑י/ו sarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his princes his officials his chiefs 12
H8269-30 וְ/שָׂרָ֣י/ו vesarayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and his princes and his officials and his chiefs 11
H8269-18 שָׂרֶ֖י/הָ sareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her princes her rulers her chiefs 10

Occurrences in Scripture

421 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8269-17 Genesis 12:15 שָׂרֵ֣י sarey HNcmpc princes chiefs of chiefs of
H8269-12 Genesis 21:22 שַׂר sar HNcmsc commander ruling-chief of chief of
H8269-12 Genesis 21:32 שַׂר sar HNcmsc the commander ruling-chief of chief of
H8269-12 Genesis 26:26 שַׂר sar HNcmsc commander ruling-chief of chief of
H8269-12 Genesis 37:36 שַׂ֖ר sar HNcmsc chief ruling-chief of chief of
H8269-12 Genesis 39:1 שַׂ֤ר sar HNcmsc chief ruling-chief of chief of
H8269-12 Genesis 39:21 שַׂ֥ר sar HNcmsc the chief ruling-chief of chief of
H8269-12 Genesis 39:22 שַׂ֤ר sar HNcmsc the chief ruling-chief of chief of
H8269-12 Genesis 39:23 שַׂ֣ר sar HNcmsc keeper ruling-chief of chief of
H8269-12 Genesis 40:2 שַׂ֣ר sar HNcmsc chief ruling-chief of chief of