שָׁרָ֑י (sha.ray)
sha.ray
Sharai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Sharai is a proper name appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in Ezra 10:40. The lexicon sources identify him as the son of Bani, one of the Israelite men who participated in the community’s decision to divorce their foreign wives following the return from exile.
The name itself carries the meaning "releaser" or "one who sets free." This etymology creates a striking contrast with his narrative role: rather than being released from obligation, he is depicted as actively dissolving a marriage covenant. His inclusion in the list serves primarily to document the specific families involved in this significant post-exilic reform.
As a rare personal name mentioned in a genealogical context, Sharai highlights the historical reality of identity and lineage during the restoration period. The text uses his name not for theological exposition, but as a factual record of who stood with Ezra in addressing the issue of intermarriage, preserving the memory of individual choices within the broader communal movement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Sharai appears in a single verse, listing individuals who took part in a difficult community decision after the exile. This moment required people to make hard choices about their families and faithfulness to God's law. It shows that following God sometimes involves painful personal sacrifices for the sake of unity and obedience.
While the name itself means "releaser," the story highlights how freedom in God’s plan often comes through surrendering our own desires. Sharai’s inclusion reminds us that every individual matters in God’s historical work, even when their names are just one among many in a list.
We can find comfort in knowing that God sees each person’s heart and choices. His ways are higher than ours, and He works through ordinary people to accomplish His purposes. Trusting Him in our own difficult decisions brings peace, even when the path is unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Sharai1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁרָֽי\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 10:40
Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
This verse lists Sharai among those who participated in the post-exilic reform to divorce foreign wives, showing his role in a specific historical act of covenant renewal.