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שָׂרַע

𐤔𐤓𐤏

sâraʻ

H8311 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To stretch out, extend, or make longer than typical; to display an abnormal protrusion, especially referring to limbs or body parts; in biblical usage, most commonly describes an abnormal bodily condition characterized by an excess or irregular extension, such as a limb that is longer than normal or superfluous.

Semantic Range

to stretch out (bodily), to have an elongated or excessive limb, to be physically deformed by abnormal extension, to display superfluous body members, to be prolonged beyond normal form

Root / Etymology

From the root שׂרע, carrying the core notion of stretching or extending beyond the expected limit. The specific lexical form שָׂרַע reflects an active or reflexive verbal stem (qal/niphal), describing a process of being stretched or being made excessive in form or measure.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb שָׂרַע appears very rarely in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in priestly legislation concerned with ritual impurities resulting from physical deformities, especially in Leviticus regarding persons ineligible for priestly service due to excessive or deformed limbs (such as being 'stretched' or 'prolonged'). While English translations often render it as 'stretched,' 'deformed,' or (older) 'superfluous,' the sense is specifically bodily extension that constitutes a disqualification for particular religious functions. The use is ritual-legal in orientation, not general or metaphorical. Unlike related terms such as יתר (to be left over; to exceed), שָׂרַע narrowly refers to abnormal bodily extension. Later rabbinic or translation traditions may have used interpretive renderings (e.g., 'having extra fingers'), but the biblical context is always concrete and limited to physical abnormality. The term is not used outside of priestly contexts in the Tanakh and does not subsequently develop as a broader metaphor or technical term in Second Temple literature or beyond.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to prolong, i.e. (reflex) be deformed by excess of members; stretch out self, (have any) superfluous thing.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׂרע (ś-r-ʿ) — stretching, extending, making excessive

Root שׂרע to stretch, to extend, to make excessive

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8311-02 שָׂרֽוּעַ sarua HVqsmsa deformed over-extended one deformed man 2
H8311-01 מֵֽ/הִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ mehisetarea HR/Vtc than to stretch on to overextend oneself bodily to stretch oneself out 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8311-02 Leviticus 21:18 שָׂרֽוּעַ sarua HVqsmsa deformed over-extended one deformed man
H8311-02 Leviticus 22:23 שָׂר֣וּעַ sarua HVqsmsa deformed over-extended one over-extended one
H8311-01 Isaiah 28:20 מֵֽ/הִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ mehisetarea HR/Vtc than to stretch on to overextend oneself bodily to stretch oneself out
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