רַב־סָרִיס (rav-sa.ris)
rav-sa.ris
Rab-saris
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The title rab-saris identifies a high-ranking official in the Neo-Babylonian court, literally translating to "chief eunuch." This compound term combines words for "great" or "chief" and "eunuch," indicating a position of significant trust and administrative power within the royal household. The sources note that this individual served as a key liaison between the Babylonian king and the conquered kingdoms.
Scripture mentions this specific title in only three verses, appearing in both 2 Kings and Jeremiah during the final days of Judah. In 2 Kings 18:17 and Jeremiah 39:3, the rab-saris acts as an envoy from King Nebuchadnezzar to Jerusalem, demanding surrender from King Hezekiah or Zedekiah. His presence underscores the gravity of the situation, marking the moment when Babylonian authority directly confronted the remnants of Davidic rule.
While the role of eunuch might seem peripheral in some ancient contexts, the modifier "chief" highlights the rab-saris's elite status. These officials often managed royal finances and diplomacy, making them ideal representatives for negotiating the fate of a besieged city. The text presents him not as a villain, but as an instrument of historical judgment, carrying the king’s message with formal dignity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The title rab-saris appears in Scripture to identify a high-ranking official in the Neo-Babylonian court, literally meaning "chief eunuch." This role was not merely ceremonial but involved significant administrative power and trust within the royal household. These officials often managed finances and diplomacy, making them ideal representatives for negotiating with conquered kingdoms. Their presence marked moments when foreign authority directly confronted the people of God.
When we encounter this figure in 2 Kings or Jeremiah, we see him acting as an envoy delivering a king’s message. He stands not as a villain, but as an instrument of historical judgment, carrying out his duties with formal dignity. This reminds us that even in times of siege and uncertainty, God remains sovereign over the nations and their leaders.
For your faith, this word offers comfort in difficult seasons. It shows that no matter how powerful earthly forces seem, they operate within God’s broader plan. You can trust that He is working even when circumstances feel overwhelming, guiding history toward His purposes for His people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- saris2×
- [the] Rab-2×
- court-official1×
- [the] chief1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רַב\־3×
- סָרִ֣יס\׀1×
- סָרִ֗יס1×
- סָרִ֔יס1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 18:17
The king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a great army to Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.
This occurrence highlights the rab-saris as a key envoy from the Assyrian king to Jerusalem, underscoring the gravity of the confrontation between foreign power and Judah.
-
Jeremiah 39:3
All the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate: Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim the Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Here the rab-saris is listed among the Babylonian princes at the middle gate, marking the moment when Nebuchadnezzar’s authority directly confronted the remnants of Davidic rule under Zedekiah.
-
Jeremiah 39:13
So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon
This verse places the rab-saris alongside other chief officers after the fall of Jerusalem, illustrating his role in the administrative aftermath of the city’s conquest.