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 recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
שרץ (shârats) — to swarm, to teem, to reproduce rapidly
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8317-01 |
הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarms | the swarming one | the swarming one | 5 |
H8317-02 |
הַ/שֹּׁרֶ֥צֶת | hashoretset | HTd/Vqrfsa |
that swarms | the swarming one | the swarming one | 1 |
H8317-03 |
שָׁרַ֣ץ | sharats | HVqp3ms |
swarmed | it swarmed | it swarmed | 1 |
H8317-04 |
שָׁרְצ֨וּ | sharetsu | HVqp3cp |
swarmed | they swarmed | they swarmed | 1 |
H8317-05 |
שִׁרְצ֥וּ | shiretsu | HVqv2mp |
bring forth abundantly | Swarm! | Swarm | 1 |
H8317-06 |
וַֽ/יִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ | vayisheretsu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and increased abundantly | and they swarmed | and they swarmed | 1 |
H8317-07 |
וְ/שָׁרַ֣ץ | vesharats | HC/Vqq3ms |
And shall swarm | and he swarmed | and shall swarm | 1 |
H8317-08 |
וְ/שָֽׁרְצ֣וּ | vesharetsu | HC/Vqq3cp |
and they shall swarm | and they swarmed | and they shall swarm | 1 |
H8317-09 |
יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ | yisheretsu | HVqi3mp |
let swarm | they will swarm | let them swarm | 1 |
H8317-10 |
יִשְׁרֹ֡ץ | yisherots | HVqi3ms |
swarms | he will swarm | swarms | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
14 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8317-09 |
Genesis 1:20 | יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ | yisheretsu | HVqi3mp |
let swarm | they will swarm | let them swarm |
H8317-04 |
Genesis 1:21 | שָׁרְצ֨וּ | sharetsu | HVqp3cp |
swarmed | they swarmed | they swarmed |
H8317-01 |
Genesis 7:21 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarms | the swarming one | the swarming one |
H8317-08 |
Genesis 8:17 | וְ/שָֽׁרְצ֣וּ | vesharetsu | HC/Vqq3cp |
and they shall swarm | and they swarmed | and they shall swarm |
H8317-05 |
Genesis 9:7 | שִׁרְצ֥וּ | shiretsu | HVqv2mp |
bring forth abundantly | Swarm! | Swarm |
H8317-06 |
Exodus 1:7 | וַֽ/יִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ | vayisheretsu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and increased abundantly | and they swarmed | and they swarmed |
H8317-07 |
Exodus 7:28 | וְ/שָׁרַ֣ץ | vesharats | HC/Vqq3ms |
And shall swarm | and he swarmed | and shall swarm |
H8317-01 |
Leviticus 11:29 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarm | the swarming one | the swarming one |
H8317-01 |
Leviticus 11:41 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarms | the swarming one | that teems |
H8317-01 |
Leviticus 11:42 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֣ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that swarms | the swarming one | the swarming one |
H8317-01 |
Leviticus 11:43 | הַ/שֹּׁרֵ֑ץ | hashorets | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that creeps | the swarming one | the swarming one |
H8317-02 |
Leviticus 11:46 | הַ/שֹּׁרֶ֥צֶת | hashoretset | HTd/Vqrfsa |
that swarms | the swarming one | the swarming one |
H8317-10 |
Ezekiel 47:9 | יִשְׁרֹ֡ץ | yisherots | HVqi3ms |
swarms | he will swarm | swarms |
H8317-03 |
Psalms 105:30 | שָׁרַ֣ץ | sharats | HVqp3ms |
swarmed | it swarmed | it swarmed |