שָׂרַד (sa.rad)
sa.rad
to escape
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sarad means to escape or survive a dangerous situation. It describes the act of getting away from harm or remaining alive after a threat has passed. This word carries a sense of deliverance from immediate peril, focusing on the physical outcome of avoiding destruction.
In the Bible, this term appears only once, in Joshua 10:20. The context involves the Israelite army pursuing the defeated kings and their forces. Here, sarad describes the few survivors who managed to flee into fortified cities rather than being caught and killed by the pursuing soldiers. It highlights a narrow escape from total annihilation.
Because it is so rare, the word does not develop a wide range of metaphorical meanings in Scripture. Its power lies in its simplicity: it marks the boundary between life and death in a moment of crisis. The text uses it to show that while most were defeated, a few managed to slip away.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sarad captures the raw relief of slipping through danger’s grasp. In Joshua 10:20, it describes those few who escaped the battlefield by reaching fortified cities while their pursuers finished the work of judgment. It is a stark reminder that survival often depends on finding shelter at the right moment.
For your faith, this word offers comfort in times of peril. God’s people have always faced overwhelming odds, yet He provides ways out when destruction seems certain. The text shows that even in total defeat for the enemy, a remnant remains alive because they found refuge. You can trust that God sees those who seek His protection.
When you face threats that feel too large to overcome, remember that deliverance is real. Whether it is physical safety or spiritual rescue, God’s power extends to every corner of your life. He preserves those who call on Him, ensuring that no danger is beyond His reach.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they survived1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׂרְד֣וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 10:20
When Joshua and the children of Israel had finished killing them with a very great slaughter until they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities,
The word sarad appears here to describe the few survivors who fled into fortified cities to avoid being killed by the pursuing Israelite army.