שַׁרְשְׁרָה (shar.she.rah)
shar.she.rah
chain
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sharsherah refers to a physical chain or shackle, typically made of metal links. Although it appears only five times in the Old Testament, its presence marks moments of significant confinement or royal display. The word is most frequently found in historical books like 1 Kings and Chronicles, where it describes the instruments used to bind prisoners or decorate sacred objects.
Its usage often highlights the power dynamics of the ancient Near East. In 1 Kings 7:15, for example, the term appears in descriptions of the bronze pillars for Solomon’s temple, suggesting chains might have been part of the ornamental netting or wreaths that adorned them. Conversely, in 2 Chronicles 33:11, it denotes the literal shackles placed on King Manasseh by his Assyrian captors, underscoring the severity of his imprisonment before his repentance.
Translators consistently render this word as "chain" or "shackles," reflecting its concrete, material nature. Unlike abstract terms for bondage, sharsherah points to tangible restraints, whether they symbolize divine discipline, political subjugation, or the intricate craftsmanship of the Temple’s design.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sharsherah describes a physical chain, appearing only five times in the Old Testament. Its presence marks moments of significant confinement or royal display. In Exodus and Kings, these chains are crafted from pure gold, forming intricate wreaths that adorn the high priest’s breastplate and Solomon’s temple pillars. This usage highlights the beauty and dignity found even within sacred objects.
Conversely, in 2 Chronicles 33:11, the same term denotes the literal shackles placed on King Manasseh by his Assyrian captors. Here, the chain underscores the severity of imprisonment before his repentance. This contrast reminds us that while chains can symbolize restriction, they also point to the tangible reality of God’s presence in both glory and humility.
For your faith, this word invites reflection on how God uses physical realities to convey spiritual truths. Whether in the ornate details of worship or the starkness of discipline, God meets us where we are. It encourages trust that no chain can separate us from His care, even when circumstances feel binding.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- chains of2×
- chains2×
- on the/ chains1×
- and/ chains1×
- [the] chains of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שַׁרְשְׁרֹ֥ת2×
- שַׁרְשְׁרוֹת֙1×
- שַׁרְשְׁרֹת֙1×
- שַׁרְשְׁר֔וֹת1×
- וְ/שַׁרְשְׁרֽוֹת\׃1×
- בַּֽ/שַּׁרְשְׁרֽוֹת\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 28:14
and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work. You shall put the braided chains on the settings.
Here, the word refers to chains of pure gold made like braided cords for the high priest’s breastplate, showing how sacred objects were adorned with beauty.
-
I Kings 7:17
There were nets of checker work and wreaths of chain work for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars: seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.
The term appears in descriptions of wreaths of chain work on Solomon’s temple pillars, illustrating the intricate craftsmanship used in worship spaces.