שֵׁרֵבְיָה
𐤔𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤄
Shereveyah
H8274 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name designating a Levite and Israelite leader in post-exilic Jerusalem, most likely meaning 'YHWH (the LORD) has sent burning heat' or 'YHWH is fierce,' with the precise nuance dependent on the root association. Used as the proper name for a Levite who was prominent in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, involved in teaching and administrative affairs in the restored community.
Semantic Range
a male personal name; possibly: YHWH has sent heat; YHWH is burning; YHWH is fierce; name of a Levite leader in post-exilic Jerusalem
Root / Etymology
שֵׁרֵבְיָה appears to be a theophoric compound name. The final element, יָהּ ('-yah'), is a shortened form of the divine name YHWH. The initial element is likely שָׁרָב (sharav), meaning 'heat' or 'desert wind.' Thus, the name can be interpreted as 'YHWH sends heat' or 'YHWH is burning/fierce.' Some uncertainty remains since the noun שָׁרָב is otherwise rarely used as a personal name element.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name שֵׁרֵבְיָה appears exclusively in post-exilic contexts—specifically in the lists of Levites in Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra 8:18; Nehemiah 8:7; 9:4-5; 10:13-14; 12:8,24). He is depicted as one who assisted Ezra in reading and explaining Torah to the community, serving a teaching function. The biblical text highlights both his Levitical heritage and his leadership role in the reconstruction period after the Babylonian exile. Although English translations often render the name as 'Sherebiah,' this transliteration does not convey the theophoric or semantic dimensions. The inclusion of '-yah' marks it as a name bearing witness to the worship of YHWH in the post-exilic restored community, distinguishing it from pre-exilic onomastic patterns. The meaning is paralleled to other post-exilic, Yahwistic theophoric names. Unlike English terms such as 'Jew,' which postdate the period of the narrative, here 'Israelite' or 'Levite' remains a precise historical descriptor. The use of 'heat' or 'burning wind' is not a common motif in Israelite theophoric names, making this form somewhat distinctive.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁרָב and יָהּ; Jah has brought heat; Sherebjah, the name of two Israelites; Sherebiah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁרב (sh-r-b) — to be parched, to scorch, to be hot
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8273 | שָׁרָב | the heat-haze |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8274-02 |
שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה | shereveyah | HNp |
Sherebiah | Yah Burns | 5 |
H8274-03 |
וְ/שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה | veshereveyah | HC/Np |
and Sherebiah | and YHWH-is-burning | 2 |
H8274-01 |
לְ/שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה | leshereveyah | HR/Np |
Sherebiah | to YHWH-Is-Fierce | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8274-03 |
Ezra 8:18 | וְ/שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה | veshereveyah | HC/Np |
and Sherebiah | and YHWH-is-burning |
H8274-01 |
Ezra 8:24 | לְ/שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה | leshereveyah | HR/Np |
Sherebiah | to YHWH-Is-Fierce |
H8274-03 |
Nehemiah 8:7 | וְ/שֵׁרֵ֥בְיָ֣ה | veshereveyah | HC/Np |
and Sherebiah | and YHWH-is-burning |
H8274-02 |
Nehemiah 9:4 | שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה | shereveyah | HNp |
Sherebiah | Yah Burns |
H8274-02 |
Nehemiah 9:5 | שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֤ה | shereveyah | HNp |
Sherebiah | Yah Burns |
H8274-02 |
Nehemiah 10:13 | שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֖ה | shereveyah | HNp |
Sherebiah | Yah Burns |
H8274-02 |
Nehemiah 12:8 | שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה | shereveyah | HNp |
Sherebiah | Yah Burns |
H8274-02 |
Nehemiah 12:24 | שֵֽׁרֵבְיָ֜ה | shereveyah | HNp |
Sherebiah | Yah Burns |