שֶׂ֫רֶט (se.ret)
se.ret
incision
H:N-M/FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M/F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sheret refers to a cut or incision, appearing only twice in the Old Testament within the Holiness Code of Leviticus (19:28 and 21:5). In these contexts, it describes the physical act of making marks on the body. The text uses this term alongside other practices associated with mourning rituals for the dead, prohibiting such bodily alterations for the people of Israel.
A feminine variant, sharetet, appears in Leviticus 21:5 regarding restrictions for priests. Both forms emphasize the physical nature of the wound or mark itself rather than the emotional state behind it. This lexical precision helps distinguish these prohibited acts from other biblical concepts of mourning that do not involve physical scarring.
The word’s narrow usage highlights a specific boundary between Israelite identity and surrounding Canaanite practices. By forbidding sheret, the law separated the community from ritual expressions of grief that involved self-harm. This distinction remains central to understanding the cultural context of Levitical purity laws.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sheret describes a specific physical act: making cuts or incisions in the skin. In Leviticus, this term appears alongside prohibitions against mourning rituals that involved self-harm. These laws were given to set Israel apart from surrounding cultures, where such practices were common expressions of grief for the dead.
For believers today, this distinction reminds us that our identity is defined by God’s commandments rather than cultural norms. While we may experience deep sorrow, our response is shaped by hope in God’s presence and the promise of resurrection. This ancient boundary helps us understand how community practices reflect deeper spiritual truths about life and death.
Understanding these historical contexts allows us to appreciate the care with which Scripture addresses human emotions. It invites us to consider how our own expressions of grief align with faith that trusts in God’s ultimate victory over loss.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- cut[s]1×
- and/ cut[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׂרָֽטֶת\׃1×
- וְ/שֶׂ֣רֶט1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:28
“‘You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Yahweh.
This verse explicitly links the physical act of cutting flesh with mourning for the dead, establishing a clear boundary against pagan grief rituals.
-
Leviticus 21:5
“‘They shall not shave their heads or shave off the corners of their beards or make any cuttings in their flesh.
Here the prohibition extends to priests, showing that those serving in the sanctuary must maintain a distinct physical appearance that reflects their holy calling.