שָׁרַץ
𐤔𐤓𐤑
shârats
H8317 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To teem, swarm, or multiply rapidly, especially referring to small animals or creatures that move in large numbers; more broadly, to bring forth or produce in abundance. The verb is typically applied to minute, rapidly-multiplying animals (such as insects, fishes, reptiles), but can extend to refer metaphorically to abundant proliferation in other contexts.
Semantic Range
to swarm (of animals or creatures), to teem, to multiply abundantly, to bring forth in great numbers, to move or writhe in masses, to increase explosively (esp. of small animals or aquatic life)
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁרץ (Š-R-Ṣ). This root primarily means 'to swarm' or 'to teem.' The verb שָׁרַץ carries the sense of moving in masses or being abundant, especially of small creatures. The lexical meaning of the verb extends from the root idea of mass, continuous or multitudinous movement.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שָׁרַץ occurs primarily in descriptions of the natural world, often in creation or dietary laws, to denote living things that reproduce or multiply in large numbers and move in wriggling or swarming manner. It is frequently used in Levitical texts (e.g., Lev 11) to classify animals that 'swarm' on the earth or in water, often distinguished from larger quadrupeds and birds. The word does not inherently carry a moral or ritual evaluation; later designations of 'unclean' (tame') in relation to שֶׁרֶץ (creeping things) are contextual and not embedded in the verb itself. The verb is generally restricted to creatures considered numerous and of rapid or mass movement, compared to other movement verbs like רָמַשׂ (to crawl, primarily reptiles) or זָחַל (to slither/glide, more specifically for reptiles and serpents). English translations such as 'creep' or 'move about' do not fully capture the sense of prolific reproduction and vigorous movement; 'swarm' or 'teem' is often the most accurate rendering in context. No significant semantic shift is observed between the early and later biblical books.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to wriggle, i.e. (by implication) swarm or abound; breed (bring forth, increase) abundantly (in abundance), creep, move.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שרץ (š-r-ṣ) — to swarm, to teem, to multiply rapidly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8318 | שֶׁרֶץ | in the swarming mass |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8317-01 |
הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarms | the swarming one | 5 |
H8317-02 |
הַ/שֹּׁרֶ֥צֶת | hashoretset | HTd/Vqrfsa |
that swarms | the swarming one | 1 |
H8317-10 |
יִשְׁרֹ֡ץ | yisherots | HVqi3ms |
swarms | he will swarm | 1 |
H8317-03 |
שָׁרַ֣ץ | sharats | HVqp3ms |
swarmed | it swarmed | 1 |
H8317-08 |
וְ/שָֽׁרְצ֣וּ | vesharetsu | HC/Vqq3cp |
and they shall swarm | and they swarmed | 1 |
H8317-05 |
שִׁרְצ֥וּ | shiretsu | HVqv2mp |
bring forth abundantly | Swarm! | 1 |
H8317-07 |
וְ/שָׁרַ֣ץ | vesharats | HC/Vqq3ms |
And shall swarm | and he swarmed | 1 |
H8317-06 |
וַֽ/יִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ | vayisheretsu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and increased abundantly | and they swarmed | 1 |
H8317-09 |
יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ | yisheretsu | HVqi3mp |
let swarm | they will swarm | 1 |
H8317-04 |
שָׁרְצ֨וּ | sharetsu | HVqp3cp |
swarmed | they swarmed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
14 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8317-09 |
Genesis 1:20 | יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ | yisheretsu | HVqi3mp |
let swarm | they will swarm |
H8317-04 |
Genesis 1:21 | שָׁרְצ֨וּ | sharetsu | HVqp3cp |
swarmed | they swarmed |
H8317-01 |
Genesis 7:21 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarms | the swarming one |
H8317-08 |
Genesis 8:17 | וְ/שָֽׁרְצ֣וּ | vesharetsu | HC/Vqq3cp |
and they shall swarm | and they swarmed |
H8317-05 |
Genesis 9:7 | שִׁרְצ֥וּ | shiretsu | HVqv2mp |
bring forth abundantly | Swarm! |
H8317-06 |
Exodus 1:7 | וַֽ/יִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ | vayisheretsu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and increased abundantly | and they swarmed |
H8317-07 |
Exodus 7:28 | וְ/שָׁרַ֣ץ | vesharats | HC/Vqq3ms |
And shall swarm | and he swarmed |
H8317-01 |
Leviticus 11:29 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarm | the swarming one |
H8317-01 |
Leviticus 11:41 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarms | the swarming one |
H8317-01 |
Leviticus 11:42 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarms | the swarming one |