Original Word: שְׁרֵא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shre'
Pronunciation: shay-rah
Phonetic Spelling: (sher-ay')
KJV: begin, dissolve, dwell, loose
NASB: began, dwells, loosed, solve, solving, went slack
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) a root corresponding to that of H8293 (שֵׁרוּת - Service)]

1. to free, separate
2. (figuratively) to unravel, commence
3. (by implication) (of unloading beasts) to reside

begin, dissolve, dwell, loose

(Aramaic) a root corresponding to that of sheruwth; to free, separate; figuratively, to unravel, commence; by implication (of unloading beasts) to reside -- begin, dissolve, dwell, loose.

see HEBREW sheruwth

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to sharah
Definition
to loosen, abide
NASB Translation
began (1), dwells (1), loosed (1), solve (1), solving (1), went slack (1).

[שְׁרָא] verb 1. loosen.

2 abide (see Biblical Hebrew I. שׁרה); —

Pe`al Infinitive לְמִשְׁרֵא Daniel 5:16; read ׳מִשׁ also Daniel 5:12, for ׳מְשָׁ (K^{§ 40 n} M^87* and others); — Passive participle שְׁרֵא (K^{§ 47. Beisp.} f)) Daniel 2:22; plural שְׁרַיִן Daniel 3:25; —

1 loosen: literal passive participle loosed Daniel 3:25 (opposed to bound); figurative loosen knots, i.e. solve difficulties, Daniel 5:12,16.

2 abide (from loosening girths, loads, at encampment; compare ᵑ7 Late Hebrew [also on passive participle]), figurative Daniel 2:22 (עִם of person).

Pa`el Perfect3masculine plural שָׁרִיו Ezra 5:2 begin (see Biblical Hebrew III. [חָלַל] Hiph`il 2), followed by infinitive

Hithpa. Participle masculine plural מִשְׁתָּרַ֫יִן Daniel 5:6 joints were loosened (in fear).

Range of Meaning

The verb שְׁרֵא operates in the Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel with a spectrum of ideas that revolve around “loosening” or “setting free,” then widen to “starting” or “beginning,” and finally settle into “dwelling” or “abiding.” The movement from release to residence illustrates a progression from bondage to stability, a theological arc that mirrors God’s redemptive purposes: He frees, He empowers to begin, and He ultimately makes His presence to dwell.

Occurrence in Ezra – A Spirit-Empowered Beginning

Ezra 5:2 records the renewed drive to rebuild the temple after years of discouragement: “Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 5:2). שְׁרֵא here marks the decisive start of a God-ordained work. Prophets Haggai and Zechariah stood beside the leaders, signaling that true beginnings flourish under the Word of God. For ministry today, the verb reminds leaders that every faithful initiative is first a divine loosening of lethargy and fear, then a call to action sustained by prophetic proclamation.

Occurrences in Daniel – Divine Sovereignty Displayed

1. Daniel 2:22: “He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.” The verb expresses that Light “dwells” permanently with God. The ultimate “loosening” here is intellectual and spiritual—He alone frees mysteries from obscurity.

2. Daniel 3:25: “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are literally “loosed,” underscoring God’s power to release from tyrannical bondage while fellowshiping with His servants in trial.

3. Daniel 5:6: In Belshazzar’s terror, “his hips gave way.” The same root paints a humiliating loosening of physical strength when confronted with divine judgment, contrasting sharply with the confident release granted to the faithful in chapter 3.

4. Daniel 5:12, 16: Daniel is twice commended for being able to “solve difficult problems.” Literally he “unties knots,” an image of intellectual bondage broken by God-given wisdom. The capacity to untangle riddles testifies that true insight originates from the God in whom light dwells (Daniel 2:22).

Historical Insights

All six uses occur in Imperial Aramaic during the Persian period. The shared vocabulary between Ezra and Daniel ties the post-exilic community’s hands-on temple labor to the courtly intrigues of Babylon: whether rebuilding stones or interpreting dreams, God is the One who sets events in motion, loosens restraints, and establishes His dwelling among His people.

Messianic Foreshadowing

The “fourth man” in the furnace (Daniel 3:25) embodies divine presence that both liberates and abides. Jesus Christ later identifies Himself as the One who “sets free indeed” (John 8:36) and promises to “make Our home” with obedient believers (John 14:23). The thematic thread of שְׁרֵא therefore anticipates the gospel movement from the loosening of sin’s chains to the indwelling of the Spirit.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Initiation: Encourage churches and individuals to “begin” God’s projects by relying on prophetic Scripture and the empowering Spirit.
• Deliverance: Proclaim Christ’s ability to loose every binding—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.
• Discernment: Seek divine wisdom to untie the “knots” of culture and personal dilemmas, as Daniel did.
• Abiding Presence: Foster worship that celebrates the God with whom light dwells and who now dwells in the believer.

Summary

שְׁרֵא threads together God’s redemptive pattern: He loosens bondage, enables decisive beginnings, grants sustaining wisdom, and ultimately takes up residence with His people. Recognizing this pattern equips the church to live faithfully between the initial “loosening” of salvation and the eternal dwelling of God with His people in the New Jerusalem.

וְשָׁרִ֣יו וּמְשָׁרֵ֣א ומשרא ושריו לְמִשְׁרֵ֑א למשרא מִשְׁתָּרַ֔יִן משתרין שְׁרֵֽא׃ שְׁרַ֙יִן֙ שרא׃ שרין lə·miš·rê lemishRe ləmišrê miš·tā·ra·yin mishtaRayin mištārayin šə·ra·yin šə·rê šərayin šərê sheRayin sheRe ū·mə·šā·rê ūməšārê umeshaRe veshaRiv wə·šā·rîw wəšārîwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts