שָׂרַף (H8313) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂרַף

𐤔𐤓𐤐

sâraph

H8313 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To burn, consume by fire, or destroy with fire; used both literally for the act of burning objects (such as offerings, structures, or refuse) and metaphorically for total destruction or judgment. In causative forms, it indicates causing something or someone to be set on fire or destroyed by fire.

Semantic Range

to burn, to be set on fire, to kindle, to consume or destroy by fire, to purify by fire, be burned up, to burn offerings, to burn in punishment, be utterly consumed

Root / Etymology

From the root שׂרף, meaning 'to burn, consume by fire.' The verbal form denotes the process or act of burning, while derived nouns (e.g., שְׂרָפִים seraphim) relate metaphorically or symbolically to burning or fiery beings.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׂרַף appears frequently to describe the ritual burning of offerings, the destruction of towns, gates, or individuals, especially in judicial or punitive contexts (e.g., Levitical law regarding punishment by fire, or the burning of idols). It is distinct from other Hebrew words for burning (such as בער), as שָׂרַף more commonly connotes complete destruction by fire rather than simply lighting or kindling. The root also gives rise to seraphim (שְׂרָפִים), celestial beings described as 'fiery ones,' though the connection is metaphorical. Over time, the word retained its literal sense but also gained associations with the concept of utter destruction or purging. English translations often use 'burn,' 'consume,' or 'destroy by fire,' but these may miss the depth of the term's totalizing and often judicial connotations, particularly in priestly and prophetic texts.

Translation Consistency

primary "burn" 49 occurrences

'Burn' is the most natural, common English verb that covers the full semantic range of שָׂרַף: literal burning (offerings, structures, refuse), causing to be set on fire (causative), being burned/consumed, and metaphorical/judicial destruction or purification by fire. It matches the majority of attested P2 renderings and easily accommodates passive or causative senses through inflection.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"burned-up ones" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be (causatively, set) on fire; (cause to, make a) burn((-ing), up) kindle, [idiom] utterly.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שׂרף (Miserefot Mayim) — to burn, to incinerate, to destroy by fire

Root שׂרף to burn, to consume by fire, to destroy by fire

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4956	מִשְׂרְפוֹת מַיִם	waters
H8315	שָׂרָף	and he burned

Word Forms

46 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H8313-05`	שָׂרַ֖ף	saraf	`HVqp3ms`	he burned	he burned	he burned	14
`H8313-35`	וַ/יִּשְׂרֹ֖ף	vayiserof	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and burned	and he burned	and he burned	11
`H8313-10`	שָׂרְפ֣וּ	sarefu	`HVqp3cp`	they burned	they burned	they burned	7
`H8313-33`	וַ/יִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ	vayiserefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and burned	and they burned	and they burned	6
`H8313-38`	וְ/שָׂרַ֥ף	vesaraf	`HC/Vqp3ms`	and burn	and he burned	and he burned	5
`H8313-42`	יִשָּׂרֵ֣ף	yisaref	`HVNi3ms`	it shall be burned	he will be burned	it will be burned	5
`H8313-20`	תִשָּׂרֵ֖ף	tisaref	`HVNi3fs`	be-burned	she will be burned	it will be burned	4
`H8313-28`	וּ/שְׂרָפ֑וּ/הָ	userafuha	`HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3fs`	and burn it	and they burned her	and they burned her	4
`H8313-44`	יִשְׂרְפ֥וּ	yiserefu	`HVqi3mp`	shall be burned	they will burn	they will burn	4
`H8313-22`	תִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ/ן	tiserefun	`HVqi2mp/Sn`	you shall burn	you will burn	you will burn	3
`H8313-23`	תִּשְׂרֹ֣ף	tiserof	`HVqi2ms`	burn	you will burn	you will burn	3
`H8313-39`	וְ/שָׂרַפְתָּ֨	vesarafeta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and-you-shall-burn	and you burned	and you will burn	3
`H8313-40`	וְ/שָׂרְפ֤וּ	vesarefu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and burn	they burned	and they will burn	3
`H8313-45`	יִשְׂרֹ֥ף	yiserof	`HVqi3ms`	he-burns	he will burn	he will burn	3
`H8313-03`	לִ/שְׂרֹ֛ף	liserof	`HR/Vqc`	to burn	to burn	to burn	2
`H8313-04`	נִשְׂרֹ֥ף	niserof	`HVqi1cp`	we burn	we burn	we will burn	2
`H8313-14`	שְׂרֹ֖ף	serof	`HVqc`	burn	to burn	burning	2
`H8313-15`	שְׂרוּפָ֖ה	serufah	`HVqsfsa`	burned	burned-up one	burned-up one	2
`H8313-16`	שְׂרֻפ֣וֹת	serufot	`HVqsfpa`	are burned	burned ones	burned ones	2
`H8313-21`	תִּשְׂרְפֶ֑/נּוּ	tiserefenu	`HVqi2ms/Sp3ms`	you shall burn it	you will burn him	you shall burn it	2
`H8313-24`	תִּשְׂרֹֽפוּ	tiserofu	`HVqi2mp`	you shall burn	you will burn	you shall burn	2
`H8313-25`	וּ/שְׂרָפָ֖/הּ	userafah	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs`	and he shall burn it	and he burned her	and he shall burn it	2
`H8313-36`	וְ/הַ/שֹּׂרֵ֣ף	vehasoref	`HC/Td/Vqrmsa`	and-the-one-who-burns	and the burning-one	and the one who burns	2
`H8313-43`	יִשָּׂרְפ֖וּ	yisarefu	`HVNi3mp`	they-will-be-burned	they will be burned	they will be burned	2
`H8313-01`	הַ/שְּׂרֻפִ֑ים	haserufim	`HTd/Vqsmpa`	the burned	the burned-up ones	the burned-up ones	1
`H8313-02`	לְ/שָׂרְפ֥/וֹ	lesarefo	`HR/Vqc/Sp3ms`	to burn it	to burn him	to burn it	1
`H8313-06`	שָׂרַ֥פְנוּ	sarafenu	`HVqp1cp`	we burned	we burned up	we burned up	1
`H8313-07`	שָׂרַ֜פְתָּ	sarafeta	`HVqp2ms`	have burned	you burned	you burned	1
`H8313-08`	שָׂרַ֣פְתִּי	sarafeti	`HVqp1cs`	I-have-burned	I burned	I burned	1
`H8313-09`	שָׂרְפ֛/וֹ	sarefo	`HVqc/Sp3ms`	he-burned-it	to burn him	he burned	1
`H8313-11`	שָׂר֥וֹף	sarof	`HVqa`	burning	burning	burning	1
`H8313-12`	שְׂרָפָ֖/ם	serafam	`HVqp3ms/Sp3mp`	did burn them	he burned them	burned them	1
`H8313-13`	שְׂרָפָ֔תַ/ם	serafatam	`HVqp3fs/Sp3mp`	burns them	she burned them	burned them	1
`H8313-17`	שֹׂרָ֑ף	soraf	`HVPp3ms`	it had been burned	was burned up	was burned up	1
`H8313-18`	שֹׂרְפִ֤ים	sorefim	`HVqrmpa`	burning	burning ones	those burning	1
`H8313-19`	תִשָּׂרַֽפְנָה	tisarafenah	`HVNi3fp`	be burned	they will be burned	they will be burned	1
`H8313-26`	וּ/שְׂרָפָ֖/ם	userafam	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3mp`	and-burn-them	and he burned them	and he will burn them	1
`H8313-27`	וּ/שְׂרָפ/וֹ֙	userafo	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms`	and-he-shall-burn-it	and he burned him	and he shall burn it	1
`H8313-29`	וָ/אֶשְׂרֹ֣ף	vaeserof	`HC/Vqw1cs`	and-I-burned	and I burned	and I burned	1
`H8313-30`	וַ/יִּשָּׂרְפ֖וּ	vayisarefu	`HC/VNw3mp`	and they were burned	and they were burned	and they were burned	1
`H8313-31`	וַ/יִּשְׂרְפָ֣/הּ	vayiserefah	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3fs`	and burned it	and he burned her	and he burned it	1
`H8313-32`	וַֽ/יִּשְׂרְפֵ֞/ם	vayiserefem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and burned them	he burned them	and he burned them	1
`H8313-34`	וַֽ/יִּשְׂרְפֽוּ/הָ	vayiserefuha	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3fs`	and burned it	and they burned her	and they burned her	1
`H8313-37`	וְ/נִשְׂרְפָ֖ה	veniserefah	`HC/Vqh1cp`	and burn	let us burn up	and let us burn	1
`H8313-41`	וְ/תִשָּׂרֵֽף	vetisaref	`HC/VNi3fs`	and let her be burned	and she will be burned up	and let her be burned	1
`H8313-46`	יִשְׂרֹֽפוּ	yiserofu	`HVqi3mp`	they shall burn	they will burn	they shall burn	1

Occurrences in Scripture

117 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H8313-37`	Genesis 11:3	וְ/נִשְׂרְפָ֖ה	veniserefah	`HC/Vqh1cp`	and burn	let us burn up	and let us burn
`H8313-41`	Genesis 38:24	וְ/תִשָּׂרֵֽף	vetisaref	`HC/VNi3fs`	and let her be burned	and she will be burned up	and let her be burned
`H8313-24`	Exodus 12:10	תִּשְׂרֹֽפוּ	tiserofu	`HVqi2mp`	you shall burn	you will burn	you shall burn
`H8313-23`	Exodus 29:14	תִּשְׂרֹ֣ף	tiserof	`HVqi2ms`	you shall burn	you will burn	you will burn
`H8313-39`	Exodus 29:34	וְ/שָׂרַפְתָּ֤	vesarafeta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	then you shall burn	and you burned	then you shall burn
`H8313-35`	Exodus 32:20	וַ/יִּשְׂרֹ֣ף	vayiserof	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and burned	and he burned	and he burned
`H8313-38`	Leviticus 4:12	וְ/שָׂרַ֥ף	vesaraf	`HC/Vqp3ms`	and burn	and he burned	and he burned
`H8313-42`	Leviticus 4:12	יִשָּׂרֵֽף	yisaref	`HVNi3ms`	it shall be burned	he will be burned	it will be burned
`H8313-38`	Leviticus 4:21	וְ/שָׂרַ֣ף	vesaraf	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and burn	and he burned	and he burned
`H8313-05`	Leviticus 4:21	שָׂרַ֔ף	saraf	`HVqp3ms`	he burned	he burned	he burned
`H8313-20`	Leviticus 6:23	תִּשָּׂרֵֽף	tisaref	`HVNi3fs`	it-shall-be-burnt	she will be burned	it will be burned
`H8313-42`	Leviticus 7:17	יִשָּׂרֵֽף	yisaref	`HVNi3ms`	shall be burned	he will be burned	it will be burned
`H8313-42`	Leviticus 7:19	יִשָּׂרֵ֑ף	yisaref	`HVNi3ms`	it shall be burnt	he will be burned	it will be burned
`H8313-05`	Leviticus 8:17	שָׂרַ֣ף	saraf	`HVqp3ms`	he burned	he burned	he burned
`H8313-24`	Leviticus 8:32	תִּשְׂרֹֽפוּ	tiserofu	`HVqi2mp`	you shall burn	you will burn	you shall burn
`H8313-05`	Leviticus 9:11	שָׂרַ֣ף	saraf	`HVqp3ms`	he burned	he burned	he burned
`H8313-05`	Leviticus 10:6	שָׂרַ֥ף	saraf	`HVqp3ms`	He has kindled	he burned	he burned
`H8313-17`	Leviticus 10:16	שֹׂרָ֑ף	soraf	`HVPp3ms`	it had been burned	was burned up	was burned up
`H8313-38`	Leviticus 13:52	וְ/שָׂרַ֨ף	vesaraf	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he shall burn	and he burned	and he burned
`H8313-20`	Leviticus 13:52	תִּשָּׂרֵֽף	tisaref	`HVNi3fs`	it shall be burned	she will be burned	it will be burned
`H8313-21`	Leviticus 13:55	תִּשְׂרְפֶ֑/נּוּ	tiserefenu	`HVqi2ms/Sp3ms`	you shall burn it	you will burn him	you shall burn it
`H8313-21`	Leviticus 13:57	תִּשְׂרְפֶ֔/נּוּ	tiserefenu	`HVqi2ms/Sp3ms`	you shall burn it	you will burn him	you shall burn it
`H8313-40`	Leviticus 16:27	וְ/שָׂרְפ֣וּ	vesarefu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they shall burn	they burned	and they shall burn
`H8313-36`	Leviticus 16:28	וְ/הַ/שֹּׂרֵ֣ף	vehasoref	`HC/Td/Vqrmsa`	and-the-one-who-burns	and the burning-one	and the one who burns
`H8313-42`	Leviticus 19:6	יִשָּׂרֵֽף	yisaref	`HVNi3ms`	it shall be burned	he will be burned	it will be burned
`H8313-44`	Leviticus 20:14	יִשְׂרְפ֤וּ	yiserefu	`HVqi3mp`	they shall burn	they will burn	they will burn
`H8313-20`	Leviticus 21:9	תִּשָּׂרֵֽף	tisaref	`HVNi3fs`	shall be burned	she will be burned	she will be burned
`H8313-01`	Numbers 17:4	הַ/שְּׂרֻפִ֑ים	haserufim	`HTd/Vqsmpa`	the burned	the burned-up ones	the burned-up ones
`H8313-38`	Numbers 19:5	וְ/שָׂרַ֥ף	vesaraf	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he shall burn	and he burned	and he burned
`H8313-45`	Numbers 19:5	יִשְׂרֹֽף	yiserof	`HVqi3ms`	he shall burn	he will burn	he will burn
`H8313-36`	Numbers 19:8	וְ/הַ/שֹּׂרֵ֣ף	vehasoref	`HC/Td/Vqrmsa`	and-the-one-who-burns	and the burning-one	and the one who burns
`H8313-10`	Numbers 31:10	שָׂרְפ֖וּ	sarefu	`HVqp3cp`	they burned	they burned	they burned
`H8313-22`	Deuteronomy 7:5	תִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ/ן	tiserefun	`HVqi2mp/Sn`	you shall burn	you will burn	you will burn
`H8313-22`	Deuteronomy 7:25	תִּשְׂרְפ֣וּ/ן	tiserefun	`HVqi2mp/Sn`	you shall burn	you will burn	you will burn
`H8313-29`	Deuteronomy 9:21	וָ/אֶשְׂרֹ֣ף	vaeserof	`HC/Vqw1cs`	and-I-burned	and I burned	and I burned
`H8313-22`	Deuteronomy 12:3	תִּשְׂרְפ֣וּ/ן	tiserefun	`HVqi2mp/Sn`	you shall burn	you will burn	you will burn
`H8313-44`	Deuteronomy 12:31	יִשְׂרְפ֥וּ	yiserefu	`HVqi3mp`	they-burn	they will burn	they will burn
`H8313-39`	Deuteronomy 13:17	וְ/שָׂרַפְתָּ֨	vesarafeta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and-you-shall-burn	and you burned	and you will burn
`H8313-10`	Joshua 6:24	שָׂרְפ֥וּ	sarefu	`HVqp3cp`	they burned	they burned	they burned
`H8313-42`	Joshua 7:15	יִשָּׂרֵ֣ף	yisaref	`HVNi3ms`	he shall be burned	he will be burned	he will be burned
`H8313-33`	Joshua 7:25	וַ/יִּשְׂרְפ֤וּ	vayiserefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and burned	and they burned	and they burned
`H8313-35`	Joshua 8:28	וַ/יִּשְׂרֹ֥ף	vayiserof	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and burned	and he burned	and he burned
`H8313-23`	Joshua 11:6	תִּשְׂרֹ֥ף	tiserof	`HVqi2ms`	burn	you will burn	you will burn
`H8313-05`	Joshua 11:9	שָׂרַ֥ף	saraf	`HVqp3ms`	burned	he burned	he burned
`H8313-05`	Joshua 11:11	שָׂרַ֥ף	saraf	`HVqp3ms`	he burned	he burned	he burned
`H8313-12`	Joshua 11:13	שְׂרָפָ֖/ם	serafam	`HVqp3ms/Sp3mp`	did burn them	he burned them	burned them
`H8313-05`	Joshua 11:13	שָׂרַ֥ף	saraf	`HVqp3ms`	burned	he burned	he burned
`H8313-02`	Judges 9:52	לְ/שָׂרְפ֥/וֹ	lesarefo	`HR/Vqc/Sp3ms`	to burn it	to burn him	to burn it
`H8313-04`	Judges 12:1	נִשְׂרֹ֥ף	niserof	`HVqi1cp`	we will burn	we burn	we will burn
`H8313-04`	Judges 14:15	נִשְׂרֹ֥ף	niserof	`HVqi1cp`	we burn	we burn	we will burn

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