שְׁאָר (she.ar)

she.ar

remnant

H7605 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 24 verses

H:N-M

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 24 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-M

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun she’ar denotes what remains after a process of removal or destruction, translated as remnant, residue, or rest. It appears twenty-four times in the Old Testament, with a heavy concentration in Isaiah and the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The word captures the physical reality of survivors left behind when judgment has swept through a population.

In its most striking usage, she’ar carries theological weight rather than mere statistical significance. In Isaiah 10:20-22, the prophet speaks of a remnant returning to God, suggesting that despite national collapse, a faithful core survives. This concept reappears in Ezra and Nehemiah, where it describes the Jewish community that returned from Babylonian exile to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and temple. The term implies continuity; the remnant is not a new group but the preserved portion of the original people.

Translators often render she’ar as "remnant" or "rest," depending on context. When Ezra lists those who returned, he uses it to identify the specific families and individuals who constituted the restored community. The word underscores that God’s purposes continue through a small, surviving group rather than vanishing with the majority.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word she’ar reminds us that God’s plans are not undone by human failure or national collapse. When judgment sweeps through a population, what remains is not an accident but a preserved core. This remnant carries the continuity of God’s covenant, showing that His purposes survive even when the majority falls away.

In Isaiah 10:21, the prophet declares that a remnant will return to the mighty God. This is not about numbers but about faithfulness. The small group left behind becomes the vessel through which God restores His people. It is a promise that hope persists beyond destruction.

This truth encourages us today. Even when circumstances seem overwhelming, God preserves a faithful few. Their survival is not random but part of a divine plan to restore and renew. We can trust that God’s work continues through those who remain loyal to Him.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.

and/ [the] rest of7×
[the] remnant of4×
and/ [the] remnant of3×
a remnant2×
[the] remainder of2×
to/ [the] remnant of1×
in/ [the] rest of1×
for/ [the] remnant of1×
and/ remnant1×
and/ a remnant of1×
and/ a remnant1×
and/ [the] remainder of1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

שְׁאָ֣ר4×
וּ/שְׁאָ֥ר4×
וּ/שְׁאָ֣ר4×
שְׁאָ֥ר2×
וּ/שְׁאָר֙2×
וּ/שְׁאָ֨ר2×
שְׁאָ֤ר1×
שְׁאָ֖ר1×
לִ/שְׁאָ֣ר1×
לִ/שְׁאָ֖ר1×
וּ/שְׁאָ֧ר1×
וּ/שְׁאָ֛ר1×

Key Verses

Isaiah 10:21
A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

This verse defines the theological core of she’ar by describing a faithful remnant returning to God rather than relying on human power.
Ezra 3:8
Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of Yahweh’s house.

Here the term identifies the specific community that returned from exile to rebuild the temple, showing its role in restoring worship.
Isaiah 10:22
For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

It contrasts the vastness of Israel with the smallness of the remnant, emphasizing that God’s salvation works through a preserved few.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does she’ar mean in the Old Testament?

She’ar refers to what remains after a process of removal or destruction. It is commonly translated as remnant, residue, or rest. The term highlights the physical survivors left behind when judgment has passed through a population.

How is she’ar different from other words for 'rest'?

While other Hebrew words can mean rest or remaining, she’ar specifically denotes the portion preserved after loss. It carries theological weight in Isaiah, pointing to a faithful core that survives national collapse and continues God’s covenant purposes.

Where does this word appear most frequently?

She’ar appears twenty-four times in the Old Testament, with a heavy concentration in Isaiah and the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah. In these texts, it describes both the survivors of judgment and the community rebuilding Jerusalem.

Every Occurrence (24 verses across 8 books)

I Chronicles 2 verses

I Chronicles 11:8

He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

I Chronicles 16:41

and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Yahweh,…

II Chronicles 2 verses

Ezra 3 verses

Nehemiah 2 verses

Esther 2 verses

Isaiah 11 verses

Zephaniah 1 verse

Malachi 1 verse