שְׁרָא (she.re)
she.re
to loose
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb šāra primarily means to loosen, but its usage in Scripture reveals a practical origin tied to camp life. In its basic sense, it describes the physical act of untying or loosening something, such as girths or straps. This action is significant because it marks the transition from a settled state to movement; when travelers loosen their gear, they are preparing to depart.
This concrete image explains why the verb also carries the meaning "to abide" or "to dwell." To remain in one place, one must first have been tied down or secured. The sources note that this sense of abiding appears in contexts where a person stays put, implying a state of being fastened before the subsequent act of loosening allows for change. It is a word that captures both stability and the potential for movement.
In the book of Daniel, the verb takes on a vivid psychological dimension. In Daniel 10:16, when the prophet encounters a heavenly vision, his "strength was loosed" (šāra). Here, the physical sensation of muscles going limp from fear is described using this term. The same root appears in Ezra and other texts to describe literal unbinding or the beginning of an action, showing how a simple physical act can symbolize both stillness and the start of a new journey.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word šāra captures a moment of transition. It describes the physical act of untying straps or loosening joints, marking the shift from staying put to moving forward. In camp life, you had to loosen your gear before you could travel. This simple image reminds us that change often begins with releasing what holds us tight.
In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar’s strength was loosed by fear. His joints gave way, showing how overwhelming circumstances can strip away our control. Yet this loosening is not always negative. In Daniel 2 and 3, the word describes men walking free in fire or light dwelling with God. Sometimes we are loosened from our fears so we can stand firm.
Your faith does not require you to remain tightly bound by anxiety or past habits. When life feels too heavy, remember that God is able to loosen your grip on worry. This release allows you to walk forward in peace, trusting that He holds the path ahead.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ loosen1×
- loosed1×
- and/ they began1×
- and/ loosening of1×
- [were] loosened1×
- [is] dwelling1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁרַ֙יִן֙1×
- שְׁרֵֽא\׃1×
- מִשְׁתָּרַ֔יִן1×
- לְ/מִשְׁרֵ֑א1×
- וּ/מְשָׁרֵ֣א1×
- וְ/שָׁרִ֣יו1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:6
Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.
The king’s physical collapse shows how divine judgment can strip away human confidence and control.
-
Daniel 2:22
He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
This verse uses the word to describe God dwelling in light, contrasting human darkness with divine clarity.
-
Daniel 3:25
He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
The term describes the four men as loose or unbound, highlighting their freedom and protection within the fire.