שָׁרַת (H8334) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁרַת

𐤔𐤓𐤕

shârath

H8334 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שרת to serve, to minister, to attend

Definition

To serve, attend to duties, or minister, especially in a formal, official, or cultic capacity; encompassing the act of serving at a sanctuary, carrying out priestly or Levitical tasks, or otherwise assisting an official. While it broadly refers to service, its primary biblical use is for attending to duties in the religious or royal context.

Semantic Range

to serve in an official or cultic capacity, to minister in the sanctuary, to attend or assist persons of rank (e.g., king, priest), to render formal service, to fulfill duties as a Levite or attendant

Root / Etymology

Root שׁ־ר־ת (שָׁרַת), meaning 'to serve' or 'to minister.' The verb is based on the root שׁרת, whose core sense is 'to attend' or 'to serve.' The word שָׁרַת in its denominative Pi‘el form carries the sense of rendering service, especially in a formal or official role, often linked to sanctuary, cultic, or royal duties.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁרַת is most often used to describe the service of Levites, priests, or other attendants in the sanctuary or before a king, focusing on official, ritual, or administrative duties rather than general labor. It does not generally refer to servitude in the sense of forced labor (which is typically עָבַד), but rather formal, dignified service within hierarchically structured institutions such as the tabernacle, temple, or royal court. In later biblical books (post-exilic), its cultic use continues, tied closely to the functioning of the Temple under priestly and Levitical administration. Early English translations sometimes rendered the term as 'minister' or 'serve,' but these may not always capture the word's strong association with official religious/royal service. The distinction between שָׁרַת ('to minister, serve in an official capacity') and עָבַד ('to work, serve, toil') is significant: the former carries connotations of authorized, often privileged duty; the latter, of labor or servitude. The term does not carry specifically religious connotations outside of context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to; minister (unto), (do) serve(-ant, -ice, -itor), wait on.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שרת (sh-r-t) — to serve, to minister, to attend in official duty

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H8335	שָׁרֵת	the ministering service

Word Forms

29 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H8334-03`	לְ/שָׁרֵ֑ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service	18
`H8334-11`	מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	ministers of	ministering ones of	9
`H8334-27`	יְשָׁרְת֖וּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they minister	they will minister	8
`H8334-12`	מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	ministering	ministering attendants	8
`H8334-10`	מְשָׁרְתָ֜י/ו	mesharetayv	`HVprmpc/Sp3ms`	his ministers	his ministering-ones	7
`H8334-06`	לְ/שָֽׁרְת/וֹ֙	leshareto	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to minister to Him	to minister to him	6
`H8334-02`	הַ/מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים	hamesharetim	`HTd/Vprmpa`	who served	the ministering-ones	6
`H8334-08`	מְשָׁרֵ֥ת	mesharet	`HVprmsc`	servant	ministering attendant of	6
`H8334-13`	מְשָׁרְת֑/וֹ	meshareto	`HVprmsc/Sp3ms`	his servant	his ministering one	4
`H8334-05`	לְ/שָֽׁרְתֵ֑/נִי	leshareteni	`HR/Vpc/Sp1cs`	to-serve-me	to minister to me	3
`H8334-20`	וַ/יְשָׁ֣רֶת	vayesharet	`HC/Vpw3ms`	and he served	and he ministered	2
`H8334-23`	וְ/שֵׁרֵ֨ת	vesheret	`HC/Vpq3ms`	and he shall serve	and he ministered	2
`H8334-29`	יְשָׁרְת֑וּ/נֶךְ	yesharetunekhe	`HVpi3mp/Sp2fs`	will-serve-you	they will minister to you	2
`H8334-04`	לְ/שָׁרְתָֽ/ם	lesharetam	`HR/Vpc/Sp3mp`	to minister to them	to minister to them	2
`H8334-16`	וּֽ/לְ/שָׁרְת֖/וֹ	uleshareto	`HC/R/Vpc/Sp3ms`	and to minister to him	and to minister to him	1
`H8334-24`	וְ/שֵׁרְת֖וּ	vesheretu	`HC/Vpq3cp`	and-they-shall-serve	and they ministered	1
`H8334-21`	וַ/יְשָׁרְתֵֽ/הוּ	vayesharetehu	`HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms`	and ministered to him	and he ministered to him	1
`H8334-22`	וְ/הַ/מְשָׁרְתִ֣ים	vehamesharetim	`HC/Td/Vprmpa`	and the ministering ones	and the ministering ones	1
`H8334-19`	וַ/תְּשָׁ֣רְתֵ֔/הוּ	vatesharetehu	`HC/Vpw3fs/Sp3ms`	and attended him	and she ministered to him	1
`H8334-26`	יְשָׁרְתֵֽ/נִי	yeshareteni	`HVpi3ms/Sp1cs`	shall serve me	he will minister to me	1
`H8334-28`	יְשָׁרְתֻ֑/הוּ	yesharetuhu	`HVpi3mp/Sp3ms`	shall-minister-to-it	they will minister to him	1
`H8334-01`	בְּ/שָֽׁרְתָ֗/ם	besharetam	`HR/Vpc/Sp3mp`	in-serving-them	in their ministering	1
`H8334-09`	מְשָׁרְתָֽ/י	mesharetay	`HVprmpc/Sp1cs`	my ministers	my ministering ones	1
`H8334-15`	וּ/לְ/שָׁרֵ֜ת	ulesharet	`HC/R/Vpc`	and to serve	and to minister	1
`H8334-07`	מְשָׁרַ֖ת	mesharat	`HVprfsa`	was attending	ministering woman	1
`H8334-25`	וִֽ/ישָׁרְת֑וּ/ךָ	visharetukha	`HC/Vpi3mp/Sp2ms`	and serve you	they will minister to you	1
`H8334-18`	וּ/מְשָׁ֨רְת֜/וֹ	umeshareto	`HC/Vprmsc/Sp3ms`	his servant	and his ministering-one	1
`H8334-14`	משרת/ו	mshrtv	`HVprmsc/Sp3ms`	of his ministers	his ministering attendant	1
`H8334-17`	וּֽ/מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים	umesharetim	`HC/Vprmpa`	and ministering	and ministering ones	1

Occurrences in Scripture

98 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H8334-20`	Genesis 39:4	וַ/יְשָׁ֣רֶת	vayesharet	`HC/Vpw3ms`	and served	and he ministered
`H8334-20`	Genesis 40:4	וַ/יְשָׁ֣רֶת	vayesharet	`HC/Vpw3ms`	and he served	and he ministered
`H8334-13`	Exodus 24:13	מְשָׁרְת֑/וֹ	meshareto	`HVprmsc/Sp3ms`	his servant	his ministering one
`H8334-03`	Exodus 28:35	לְ/שָׁרֵ֑ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-03`	Exodus 28:43	לְ/שָׁרֵ֣ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-03`	Exodus 29:30	לְ/שָׁרֵ֥ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-03`	Exodus 30:20	לְ/שָׁרֵ֔ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-18`	Exodus 33:11	וּ/מְשָׁ֨רְת֜/וֹ	umeshareto	`HC/Vprmsc/Sp3ms`	his servant	and his ministering-one
`H8334-03`	Exodus 35:19	לְ/שָׁרֵ֣ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-03`	Exodus 39:1	לְ/שָׁרֵ֣ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	for ministering	to render ministering service
`H8334-03`	Exodus 39:26	לְ/שָׁרֵ֕ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to-minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-03`	Exodus 39:41	לְ/שָׁרֵ֣ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-28`	Numbers 1:50	יְשָׁרְתֻ֑/הוּ	yesharetuhu	`HVpi3mp/Sp3ms`	shall-minister-to-it	they will minister to him
`H8334-24`	Numbers 3:6	וְ/שֵׁרְת֖וּ	vesheretu	`HC/Vpq3cp`	and-they-shall-serve	and they ministered
`H8334-27`	Numbers 3:31	יְשָׁרְת֖וּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they minister	they will minister
`H8334-27`	Numbers 4:9	יְשָׁרְתוּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they minister	they will minister
`H8334-27`	Numbers 4:12	יְשָֽׁרְתוּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they minister	they will minister
`H8334-27`	Numbers 4:14	יְֽשָׁרְת֧וּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they serve	they will minister
`H8334-23`	Numbers 8:26	וְ/שֵׁרֵ֨ת	vesheret	`HC/Vpq3ms`	and minister	and he ministered
`H8334-08`	Numbers 11:28	מְשָׁרֵ֥ת	mesharet	`HVprmsc`	servant	ministering attendant of
`H8334-04`	Numbers 16:9	לְ/שָׁרְתָֽ/ם	lesharetam	`HR/Vpc/Sp3mp`	to minister to them	to minister to them
`H8334-25`	Numbers 18:2	וִֽ/ישָׁרְת֑וּ/ךָ	visharetukha	`HC/Vpi3mp/Sp2ms`	and serve you	they will minister to you
`H8334-06`	Deuteronomy 10:8	לְ/שָֽׁרְת/וֹ֙	leshareto	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to serve him	to minister to him
`H8334-03`	Deuteronomy 17:12	לְ/שָׁ֤רֶת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-03`	Deuteronomy 18:5	לְ/שָׁרֵ֧ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-23`	Deuteronomy 18:7	וְ/שֵׁרֵ֕ת	vesheret	`HC/Vpq3ms`	and he shall serve	and he ministered
`H8334-06`	Deuteronomy 21:5	לְ/שָׁ֣רְת֔/וֹ	leshareto	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to serve him	to minister to him
`H8334-08`	Joshua 1:1	מְשָׁרֵ֥ת	mesharet	`HVprmsc`	minister	ministering attendant of
`H8334-08`	1 Samuel 2:11	מְשָׁרֵת֙	mesharet	`HVprmsa`	ministering	ministering attendant of
`H8334-08`	1 Samuel 2:18	מְשָׁרֵ֖ת	mesharet	`HVprmsa`	was ministering	ministering attendant of
`H8334-08`	1 Samuel 3:1	מְשָׁרֵ֥ת	mesharet	`HVprmsa`	was ministering	ministering attendant of
`H8334-13`	2 Samuel 13:17	מְשָׁ֣רְת֔/וֹ	meshareto	`HVprmsc/Sp3ms`	who attended him	his ministering one
`H8334-13`	2 Samuel 13:18	מְשָֽׁרְת/וֹ֙	meshareto	`HVprmsc/Sp3ms`	his-servant	his ministering one
`H8334-19`	1 Kings 1:4	וַ/תְּשָׁ֣רְתֵ֔/הוּ	vatesharetehu	`HC/Vpw3fs/Sp3ms`	and attended him	and she ministered to him
`H8334-07`	1 Kings 1:15	מְשָׁרַ֖ת	mesharat	`HVprfsa`	was attending	ministering woman
`H8334-03`	1 Kings 8:11	לְ/שָׁרֵ֖ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to-minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-14`	1 Kings 10:5	משרת/ו	mshrtv	`HVprmsc/Sp3ms`	of his ministers	his ministering attendant
`H8334-10`	1 Kings 10:5	מְשָׁרְתָ֜י/ו	mesharetayv	`HVprmpc/Sp3ms`	and his ministers	his ministering-ones
`H8334-21`	1 Kings 19:21	וַ/יְשָׁרְתֵֽ/הוּ	vayesharetehu	`HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms`	and ministered to him	and he ministered to him
`H8334-13`	2 Kings 4:43	מְשָׁ֣רְת֔/וֹ	meshareto	`HVprmsc/Sp3ms`	his servant	his ministering one
`H8334-08`	2 Kings 6:15	מְשָׁרֵ֨ת	mesharet	`HVprmsc`	servant	ministering attendant of
`H8334-27`	2 Kings 25:14	יְשָֽׁרְתוּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they-served	they will minister
`H8334-06`	Isaiah 56:6	לְ/שָׁ֣רְת֔/וֹ	leshareto	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to minister to Him	to minister to him
`H8334-29`	Isaiah 60:7	יְשָׁרְת֑וּ/נֶךְ	yesharetunekhe	`HVpi3mp/Sp2fs`	will serve you	they will minister to you
`H8334-29`	Isaiah 60:10	יְשָׁרְת֑וּ/נֶךְ	yesharetunekhe	`HVpi3mp/Sp2fs`	will-serve-you	they will minister to you
`H8334-11`	Isaiah 61:6	מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	ministers	ministering ones of
`H8334-09`	Jeremiah 33:21	מְשָׁרְתָֽ/י	mesharetay	`HVprmpc/Sp1cs`	my ministers	my ministering ones
`H8334-11`	Jeremiah 33:22	מְשָׁרְתֵ֥י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	who minister	ministering ones of
`H8334-27`	Jeremiah 52:18	יְשָׁרְת֥וּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they-served	they will minister
`H8334-03`	Ezekiel 20:32	לְ/שָׁרֵ֖ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to serve	to render ministering service
`H8334-06`	Ezekiel 40:46	לְ/שָׁרְתֽ/וֹ	leshareto	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to-serve-him	to minister to him
`H8334-27`	Ezekiel 42:14	יְשָׁרְת֥וּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they minister	they will minister
`H8334-05`	Ezekiel 43:19	לְ/שָֽׁרְתֵ֑/נִי	leshareteni	`HR/Vpc/Sp1cs`	to-serve-me	to minister to me
`H8334-12`	Ezekiel 44:11	מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	ministers	ministering attendants
`H8334-17`	Ezekiel 44:11	וּֽ/מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים	umesharetim	`HC/Vprmpa`	and ministering	and ministering ones
`H8334-04`	Ezekiel 44:11	לְ/שָֽׁרְתָֽ/ם	lesharetam	`HR/Vpc/Sp3mp`	to minister to them	to minister to them
`H8334-27`	Ezekiel 44:12	יְשָׁרְת֤וּ	yesharetu	`HVpi3mp`	they ministered	they will minister
`H8334-05`	Ezekiel 44:15	לְ/שָֽׁרְתֵ֑/נִי	leshareteni	`HR/Vpc/Sp1cs`	to-serve-me	to minister to me
`H8334-05`	Ezekiel 44:16	לְ/שָׁרְתֵ֑/נִי	leshareteni	`HR/Vpc/Sp1cs`	to minister to me	to minister to me
`H8334-01`	Ezekiel 44:17	בְּ/שָֽׁרְתָ֗/ם	besharetam	`HR/Vpc/Sp3mp`	in-serving-them	in their ministering
`H8334-12`	Ezekiel 44:19	מְשָׁרְתִ֣ם	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	ministering	ministering attendants
`H8334-03`	Ezekiel 44:27	לְ/שָׁרֵ֣ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-11`	Ezekiel 45:4	מְשָׁרְתֵ֤י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	ministers of	ministering ones of
`H8334-03`	Ezekiel 45:4	לְ/שָׁרֵ֣ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-11`	Ezekiel 45:5	מְשָׁרְתֵ֨י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	who minister	ministering ones of
`H8334-11`	Ezekiel 46:24	מְשָׁרְתֵ֥י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	the ministers of	ministering ones of
`H8334-11`	Joel 1:9	מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	ministers of	ministering ones of
`H8334-11`	Joel 1:13	מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	O ministers	ministering ones of
`H8334-11`	Joel 1:13	מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י	mesharetey-2	`HVprmpc`	O ministers	ministering ones of
`H8334-11`	Joel 2:17	מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י	mesharetey	`HVprmpc`	the ministers of	ministering ones of
`H8334-26`	Psalms 101:6	יְשָׁרְתֵֽ/נִי	yeshareteni	`HVpi3ms/Sp1cs`	shall serve me	he will minister to me
`H8334-10`	Psalms 103:21	מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗י/ו	mesharetayv	`HVprmpc/Sp3ms`	his ministers	his ministering-ones
`H8334-10`	Psalms 104:4	מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗י/ו	mesharetayv	`HVprmpc/Sp3ms`	his ministers	his ministering-ones
`H8334-10`	Proverbs 29:12	מְשָׁרְתָ֥י/ו	mesharetayv	`HVprmpc/Sp3ms`	his servants	his ministering-ones
`H8334-02`	Esther 1:10	הַ/מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים	hamesharetim	`HTd/Vprmpa`	serving	the ministering-ones
`H8334-10`	Esther 2:2	מְשָׁרְתָ֑י/ו	mesharetayv	`HVprmpc/Sp3ms`	who served him	his ministering-ones
`H8334-10`	Esther 6:3	מְשָׁ֣רְתָ֔י/ו	mesharetayv	`HVprmpc/Sp3ms`	who attended him	his ministering-ones
`H8334-12`	Ezra 8:17	מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	servants	ministering attendants
`H8334-02`	Nehemiah 10:37	הַ/מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים	hamesharetim	`HTd/Vprmpa`	the serving	the ministering-ones
`H8334-02`	Nehemiah 10:40	הַ/מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים	hamesharetim	`HTd/Vprmpa`	the ministering ones	the ministering-ones
`H8334-12`	1 Chronicles 6:17	מְשָׁרְתִ֜ים	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	servants	ministering attendants
`H8334-16`	1 Chronicles 15:2	וּֽ/לְ/שָׁרְת֖/וֹ	uleshareto	`HC/R/Vpc/Sp3ms`	and to minister to him	and to minister to him
`H8334-12`	1 Chronicles 16:4	מְשָׁרְתִ֑ים	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	to minister	ministering attendants
`H8334-03`	1 Chronicles 16:37	לְ/שָׁרֵ֞ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-06`	1 Chronicles 23:13	לְ/שָׁרְת֛/וֹ	leshareto	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to minister to him	to minister to him
`H8334-03`	1 Chronicles 26:12	לְ/שָׁרֵ֖ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to serve	to render ministering service
`H8334-02`	1 Chronicles 27:1	הַ/מְשָׁרְתִ֨ים	hamesharetim	`HTd/Vprmpa`	who served	the ministering-ones
`H8334-02`	1 Chronicles 28:1	הַ/מְשָׁרְתִ֪ים	hamesharetim	`HTd/Vprmpa`	that served	the ministering-ones
`H8334-03`	2 Chronicles 5:14	לְ/שָׁרֵ֖ת	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service
`H8334-15`	2 Chronicles 8:14	וּ/לְ/שָׁרֵ֜ת	ulesharet	`HC/R/Vpc`	and to serve	and to minister
`H8334-10`	2 Chronicles 9:4	מְשָׁרְתָ֜י/ו	mesharetayv	`HVprmpc/Sp3ms`	of his ministers	his ministering-ones
`H8334-12`	2 Chronicles 13:10	מְשָׁרְתִ֤ים	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	ministering	ministering attendants
`H8334-02`	2 Chronicles 17:19	הַ/מְשָׁרְתִ֣ים	hamesharetim	`HTd/Vprmpa`	who served	the ministering-ones
`H8334-12`	2 Chronicles 22:8	מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	ministering	ministering attendants
`H8334-22`	2 Chronicles 23:6	וְ/הַ/מְשָׁרְתִ֣ים	vehamesharetim	`HC/Td/Vprmpa`	and the ministering ones	and the ministering ones
`H8334-06`	2 Chronicles 29:11	לְ/שָׁ֣רְת֔/וֹ	leshareto	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to minister to Him	to minister to him
`H8334-12`	2 Chronicles 29:11	מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים	mesharetim	`HVprmpa`	ministers	ministering attendants
`H8334-03`	2 Chronicles 31:2	לְ/שָׁרֵת֙	lesharet	`HR/Vpc`	to minister	to render ministering service

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