שָׁרָב
𐤔𐤓𐤁
shârâb
H8273 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A shimmering or quivering optical phenomenon experienced in arid regions, caused by the refraction of light in layers of heated air, often giving the illusion of water on the surface; by extension, intense heat or parched, shimmering ground typically seen in deserts.
Semantic Range
mirage, shimmering heat, quivering glow, parched shimmering ground, optical illusion of water caused by heat, heat haze
Root / Etymology
Root/etymology uncertain. The term may be related to the Arabic sarāb, referring to a mirage, but no widely attested Hebrew root supports this directly. Strong's conjecture relates it to an unused root meaning 'to glare' or 'to shimmer', but this is not established in existing Hebrew usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage (e.g., Isaiah 35:7, 49:10), שָׁרָב refers specifically to the desert mirage—a phenomena familiar to audiences in the ancient Near East, where parched land appears to shimmer or shine and may misleadingly resemble water at a distance. The imagery is frequently used in texts that describe transformation or relief in times of promise, contrasting a lifeless, deceptive, or inhospitable environment with a future of true refreshment and abundance. Unlike other Hebrew words for 'heat' (such as חֹם, chom) or 'dryness' (צִיָּה, tsiyyāh), שָׁרָב evokes not only the physical sensation of oppressive heat but also the visual illusion that can mislead or disappoint those journeying through the wilderness. Later interpretations (including some translations) rendered the term as 'mirage,' 'heat shimmer,' or even 'parched ground,' but 'mirage' best reflects the original phenomenon described in biblical contexts. There is no indication that the word acquired theological significance; its use remains tied to natural, observable desert phenomena.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to glare; quivering glow (of the air), expectation. the mirage; heat, parched ground.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁרב (š-r-b) — shimmering, glaring heat, quivering glow
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8274 | שֵׁרֵבְיָה | to YHWH-Is-Fierce |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8273-01 |
הַ/שָּׁרָב֙ | hasharav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the mirage | the heat-haze | 1 |
H8273-02 |
שָׁרָ֖ב | sharav | HNcmsa |
heat | shimmering mirage | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8273-01 |
Isaiah 35:7 | הַ/שָּׁרָב֙ | hasharav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the mirage | the heat-haze |
H8273-02 |
Isaiah 49:10 | שָׁרָ֖ב | sharav | HNcmsa |
heat | shimmering mirage |