שָׁרָה
𐤔𐤓𐤄
shârâh
H8284 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fortification or defensive wall, typically a barrier or protective structure built around a city or an area for defense. The term denotes a physical enclosure functioning as a means of protection, particularly in urban or military contexts.
Semantic Range
fortification, defensive wall, protective barrier, city wall
Root / Etymology
From the root שור (sh-w-r), which primarily means 'to turn, go about, behold, observe.' The word שָׁרָה is likely a feminine form related to this root, designating something that encloses or goes around, fitting the idea of a wall or fortification.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שָׁרָה is a rare or possibly textual variant form in the Hebrew Bible and may reflect dialectal or scribal irregularity. The more common Hebrew term for 'wall' is חוֹמָה (ḥomah), used throughout narratives describing city defenses. In some contexts, שָׁרָה may appear due to confusion or textual corruption with שִׁיר (song) or שׁוּר (to see/encircle). English translations often render this as 'wall' or 'fortification,' potentially missing subtle distinctions between types of barriers. The distinction between a fortification (urban or military) and a simple partition should be considered; חוֹמָה usually carries a stronger sense of permanent city walls, while גָּדֵר denotes a fence or enclosure, typically for fields or animals. The use of שָׁרָה instead of expected forms has led some commentators to suggest variant readings or scribal error.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably feminine of שׁוּר; a fortification (literally or figuratively); sing (by mistake for שִׁיר), wall.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שור (sh-w-r) — to turn, to go around, to observe
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4884 | מְשׂוּרָה | in a measured vessel |
| H7788 | שׁוּר | your wandering women |
| H7789 | שׁוּר | I attentively observe him |
| H7790 | שׁוּר | in my ambushing foes |
| H7791 | שׁוּר | Encircling Wall |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8284-01 |
בְ/שָׁרוֹתֶ֨י/הָ֙ | vesharoteyha | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3fs |
through her vine rows | in her fortification-walls | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8284-01 |
Jeremiah 5:10 | בְ/שָׁרוֹתֶ֨י/הָ֙ | vesharoteyha | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3fs |
through her vine rows | in her fortification-walls |