סֶ֫רֶד (se.red)
se.red
Sered
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sered functions primarily as a personal name, identifying the eldest son of Zebulun and the firstborn among his brothers Elon and Jahleel. This figure appears in the genealogical records of Genesis 46:14 and Numbers 26:26, anchoring him within the lineage of the tribe that would later settle in northern Israel.
Lexical sources indicate the name likely means "fear," though it is used strictly as a proper noun rather than a common descriptor. A related adjective, serdi, meaning "Seredite" or belonging to his family line, appears in Numbers 26:35 to distinguish this branch of Zebulun from others.
With only two occurrences in the entire Hebrew Bible, the word carries no independent theological weight outside its genealogical context. It serves as a structural marker in the census lists, preserving the identity of a specific ancestor within the larger narrative of Israel’s tribal formation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Genealogies often feel like long lists of names that blur together, yet each entry marks a real person in God’s unfolding story. Sered is recorded as the firstborn son of Zebulun, anchoring his family line within the broader narrative of Israel’s tribes. These records are not merely administrative; they show that every individual matters to the One who counts and remembers.
When you see a name preserved in Scripture, it reminds us that God values identity and lineage. The fact that Sered is named alongside his brothers Elon and Jahleel highlights the importance of family bonds and heritage. For believers today, this underscores the truth that we are part of a larger spiritual family, connected by faith just as these tribes were connected by blood.
This attention to detail in the biblical text encourages us to trust that God knows each of us by name. Just as Sered’s place in the census was secured, our place in God’s kingdom is established through His grace. We can find comfort in knowing that our lives, like those ancient ancestors, are woven into a purposeful and enduring plan.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of/ Sered1×
- Sered1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סֶ֥רֶד1×
- לְ/סֶ֗רֶד1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 46:14
The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
This verse introduces Sered as the eldest son of Zebulun, establishing his primary identity within the family structure during the descent into Egypt.
-
Numbers 26:26
The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
Here the text uses Sered’s name to define a specific clan, the Seredites, showing how individual ancestors became the basis for tribal organization and inheritance.