שֹׁר
𐤔𐤓
shôr
H8270 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cord, band, or sinew, with primary reference in biblical usage to the umbilical cord (navel), and by extension, any strong band or cord of the body; metaphorically, the point or locus of strength, center, or connection. The term commonly designates the navel as the physical and sometimes symbolic center of the body, but its meaning extends to other strong cords or sinews within the human form or, in rare figurative usage, to bands or centers of strength in general.
Semantic Range
navel, umbilical cord, strong cord or band (of the body), center or locus of strength (figurative)
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root שׁרר (שרר), meaning 'to be firm, strengthen, be strong.' The word שֹׁר derives from the sense of something strong, tense, or bound tightly — a cord or sinew. Its most concrete application is the umbilical cord, but etymologically it encompasses any strong, binding band within the body.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֹׁר appears only a handful of times in the Hebrew Bible, notably in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Song of Songs 7:3; Proverbs 3:8) where it specifically denotes the 'navel' or umbilical cord. In these contexts, it refers concretely to the physical navel and, more broadly, symbolically as the center of life or strength. In ancient Israelite culture, the navel had associations with nourishment, vitality, and sometimes fertility, given its role as the source of sustenance in the womb. The metaphorical use of שֹׁר as a locus or symbol of strength is linked to the root meaning of firmness or strength. It contrasts with other Hebrew terms for body parts, such as חֵלֶב (fat, often a seat of strength or health) and עָצֶם (bone, foundational strength). In post-biblical Hebrew, this word is rare. Standard English translations typically render שֹׁר as 'navel,' which is accurate for most biblical contexts but may understate the word's connotation of being the strong connecting cord. The KJV's rendering of 'navel' is generally appropriate, but the figurative or broader sense of connection and strength at times goes underappreciated in translation. The term endured with limited semantic extension throughout the biblical period and did not significantly shift in post-exilic or later periods. Its use remains poetic and somewhat technical rather than becoming a general anatomical term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁרַר; (compare שָׁרִיר); a string (as twisted ), i.e. (specifically) the umbilical cord (also figuratively, as the centre of strength); navel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שרר (š-r-r) — to be firm, to bind strongly, to make strong
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5371 | נֵרְגַּל שַׁרְאֶצֶר | ruling-official |
| H5493 | סוּר | ruling chief |
| H5620 | סַר | ruling-official |
| H8269 | שַׂר | among rulers |
| H8285 | שֵׁרָה | and the wrist-bands |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8270-02 |
שָׁרֵּ֔/ךְ | sharekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your navel cord | your umbilical cord | 1 |
H8270-01 |
לְ/שָׁרֶּ֑/ךָ | lesharekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
to your body | to your navel-cord | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8270-02 |
Ezekiel 16:4 | שָׁרֵּ֔/ךְ | sharekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your navel cord | your umbilical cord |
H8270-01 |
Proverbs 3:8 | לְ/שָׁרֶּ֑/ךָ | lesharekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
to your body | to your navel-cord |