שַׁאֲרָה (sha.a.rah)
sha.a.rah
kinswomen
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sha’arah refers to female relatives, specifically kinswomen. It is a plural form derived from she’er (H7607), which literally means "flesh." In the context of Leviticus, this term denotes close blood relations, emphasizing the physical and familial bond that defines kinship within the community.
This word appears only once in Scripture, in Leviticus 21:14. The passage prohibits a high priest from marrying a widow, a divorced woman, or a profane woman, but explicitly allows him to take a wife from among his sha’arah—his own kinswomen. This usage highlights the importance of maintaining lineage and purity within the priestly family, as the term underscores the shared "flesh" that connects these women to the priest.
The connection to she’er ("flesh") is significant, as it roots the concept of kinship in physical descent rather than merely legal or social ties. By specifying sha’arah, the text distinguishes between general relatives and those with a direct blood connection, reinforcing the idea that family bonds are intrinsic and biological. This distinction is crucial in understanding the strict regulations surrounding marriage within the priestly class.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sha’arah points to the deep, physical bond of family, specifically among women who share the same bloodline. Derived from a root meaning 'flesh,' it reminds us that kinship is not just a social label but a tangible connection. In the ancient context, this term highlighted the importance of maintaining purity and lineage within the priestly family, ensuring that marriage remained within the circle of close relatives.
For your faith today, this concept invites you to value the sacredness of family ties. While the specific laws for high priests no longer apply, the underlying principle remains: our relationships are built on genuine connection and shared history. Recognizing the weight of these bonds encourages us to treat our relatives with the respect due to those who share our very flesh.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [are] relative[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שַׁאֲרָ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 18:17
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near kinswomen. It is wickedness.
This verse uses the related concept of near kinswomen to define strict boundaries for marriage, showing how closely tied the idea of sha’arah is to maintaining family integrity.