8297. Saray
Lexical Summary
Saray: Sarai, Sarai's

Original Word: שָׂרַי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Saray
Pronunciation: sah-RAI
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-rah'-ee)
KJV: Sarai
NASB: Sarai, Sarai's
Word Origin: [from H8269 (שַׂר - princes)]

1. dominative
2. Sarai, the wife of Abraham

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Sarai

From sar; dominative; Sarai, the wife of Abraham -- Sarai.

see HEBREW sar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as sar
Definition
a wife of Abram
NASB Translation
Sarai (16), Sarai's (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שָׂרַי proper name, feminine wife of Abram (NöZMG xiii (1888). 484 Ges§ 80lii. 1. 427 make = foregoing, with old feminine ending ַ י; > LagBN 92, Anm. *, emphasizing different in ᵐ5, derived from a √ , and compare , name of a barren mountain; compare RS יִשְׂרָאֵל above, below I. שׂרה); — ᵐ5 Σαρα; — Genesis 11:30 (J), Genesis 11:31 (P), Genesis 12:5,11,17; Genesis 16:1,2,3,5,6 (twice in verse); Genesis 16:8 (twice in verse) (all J), Genesis 17:15 (P); שָׂרָ֑י Genesis 11:29 (J), Genesis 16:2 (J), Genesis 17:15 (P).

שָׂשׂוֺן, שָׂשׂן see שׂוֺשׂ.

שֵׂת see שְׂאֵת below נשׂא p.673a.

Topical Lexicon
Personal Background and Family Connections

Sarai, later renamed Sarah, is introduced in Genesis 11:29 as the wife of Abram (later Abraham) and the half-sister daughter of Terah (Genesis 20:12). Her lineage places her within Shem’s covenantal line, and her marriage to Abram unites the promises given to that lineage with the unfolding plan of redemption that centers on Abraham.

Life Chronology in Genesis

Genesis 11:29–31 establishes Sarai in Ur and Haran, joining Abram in the family’s migration toward Canaan.
Genesis 12:5 records her entrance into the land of promise, underscoring her participation in every stage of Abraham’s pilgrimage.
Genesis 12:11–17 recounts her brief sojourn in Egypt, where Pharaoh’s household suffered “severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai” (Genesis 12:17), demonstrating God’s intention to preserve her for His covenant purposes.
Genesis 16 portrays Sarai’s struggle with barrenness, her decision to offer Hagar to Abram, and the ensuing conflict.
Genesis 17:15 marks the divine renaming: “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah will be her name”, sealing her place in the covenant promises.

The Struggle with Barrenness and Faith

Seventeen references to Sarai in Genesis repeatedly highlight her infertility (Genesis 11:30; 16:1). Out of cultural desperation she presents Hagar to Abram (Genesis 16:2), yet the attempt to secure a child by human means generates discord (Genesis 16:5-6). Scripture portrays her impatience honestly while affirming God’s faithfulness to fulfill His word in His timing. Sarai’s initial unbelief contrasts with her later faith, providing a theology of growth: God refines His servants through delays and disappointments.

Interactions with Foreign Kings

In Egypt (Genesis 12) and later in Gerar as “Sarah” (Genesis 20), Sarai’s beauty brings her into royal courts, but divine intervention protects her. These incidents demonstrate:

1. God’s safeguarding of the messianic line.
2. His sovereignty over pagan rulers.
3. A warning against self-preserving deception, yet also a testimony of grace toward imperfect saints.

Renaming and Covenant Significance

Changing “Sarai” to “Sarah” (Genesis 17:15) occurs immediately after the covenant of circumcision. The new name, meaning “princess,” confirms that kings and ultimately the Messiah would descend from her (Genesis 17:16). The moment signals God’s irrevocable election of Sarah as the mother of promise, excluding any alternative lineage through Hagar.

Lessons in Discipleship and Sanctification

Sarai’s life illustrates:
• God’s promises outlast human frailty.
• Waiting on the Lord refines character.
• Temporary lapses do not nullify covenant grace.

Her eventual laughter of disbelief (as Sarah in Genesis 18:12) turns to laughter of joy at Isaac’s birth (Genesis 21:6), epitomizing the transformation from doubt to faith.

New Testament Commentary

Paul references “the free woman” Sarah to expound freedom in Christ (Galatians 4:22-31), rooting gospel liberty in the history that began with Sarai. Hebrews 11:11 commends her faith, demonstrating the authenticity of her eventual trust. Peter holds her submission as a model for Christian wives (1 Peter 3:6). Each passage relies on the Genesis narrative, treating Sarai/Sarah as a single, unified witness to saving faith.

Typological and Messianic Implications

Sarai’s miraculous conception foreshadows the greater miracle of the virgin birth; both involve divinely initiated life where it was naturally impossible. Her motherhood of Isaac prefigures the coming Seed through whom all nations are blessed (Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16).

Ministry Applications

1. Faith communities learn endurance from Sarai’s prolonged waiting.
2. Her account encourages women facing infertility, affirming God’s compassion and purpose.
3. Couples observe the danger of bypassing God’s methods, while also seeing His readiness to forgive and restore.
4. Leaders recognize the priority of protecting covenantal purity against cultural pressures.

Conclusion

Strong’s Hebrew 8297 points not merely to a historical matriarch but to a life woven inseparably into the fabric of redemption. Sarai’s journey from barrenness to blessing, from fear to faith, and from a private name to a covenantal title magnifies the God who “calls things that are not as though they are” (see Romans 4:17).

Forms and Transliterations
וְשָׂרַי֙ ושרי שָׂרַ֔י שָׂרַ֖י שָׂרַ֗י שָׂרַ֛י שָׂרַ֜י שָׂרַ֣י שָׂרַ֨י שָׂרָ֑י שָׂרָ֔י שָׂרָֽי׃ שרי שרי׃ śā·ray śā·rāy saRai śāray śārāy vesaRai wə·śā·ray wəśāray
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 11:29
HEB: אֵֽשֶׁת־ אַבְרָם֙ שָׂרָ֔י וְשֵׁ֤ם אֵֽשֶׁת־
NAS: wife was Sarai; and the name
KJV: wife [was] Sarai; and the name
INT: wife of Abram's was Sarai and the name wife

Genesis 11:30
HEB: וַתְּהִ֥י שָׂרַ֖י עֲקָרָ֑ה אֵ֥ין
NAS: Sarai was barren; she had no
KJV: But Sarai was barren;
INT: become Sarai was barren had

Genesis 11:31
HEB: בְּנ֔וֹ וְאֵת֙ שָׂרַ֣י כַּלָּת֔וֹ אֵ֖שֶׁת
NAS: his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law,
KJV: son, and Sarai his daughter in law,
INT: his grandson his son and Sarai his daughter-in-law wife

Genesis 12:5
HEB: אַבְרָם֩ אֶת־ שָׂרַ֨י אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ וְאֶת־
NAS: Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot
KJV: And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot
INT: took Abram Sarai his wife and Lot

Genesis 12:11
HEB: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ הִנֵּה־
NAS: that he said to Sarai his wife,
KJV: that he said unto Sarai his wife,
INT: said to Sarai his wife See

Genesis 12:17
HEB: עַל־ דְּבַ֥ר שָׂרַ֖י אֵ֥שֶׁת אַבְרָֽם׃
NAS: because of Sarai, Abram's
KJV: plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
INT: because of of Sarai wife Abram's

Genesis 16:1
HEB: וְשָׂרַי֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת אַבְרָ֔ם
NAS: Now Sarai, Abram's wife
KJV: Now Sarai Abram's wife
INT: now Sarai wife Abram's

Genesis 16:2
HEB: וַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֜י אֶל־ אַבְרָ֗ם
NAS: So Sarai said to Abram,
KJV: And Sarai said unto Abram,
INT: said Sarai to Abram

Genesis 16:2
HEB: אַבְרָ֖ם לְק֥וֹל שָׂרָֽי׃
NAS: listened to the voice of Sarai.
KJV: hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
INT: her and Abram to the voice of Sarai

Genesis 16:3
HEB: וַתִּקַּ֞ח שָׂרַ֣י אֵֽשֶׁת־ אַבְרָ֗ם
NAS: Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar
KJV: And Sarai Abram's wife
INT: took Sarai wife Abram

Genesis 16:5
HEB: וַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֣י אֶל־ אַבְרָם֮
NAS: And Sarai said to Abram,
KJV: And Sarai said unto Abram,
INT: said and Sarai to Abram

Genesis 16:6
HEB: אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־ שָׂרַ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ֙
NAS: said to Sarai, Behold,
KJV: said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid
INT: Abram to Sarai Behold your maid

Genesis 16:6
HEB: בְּעֵינָ֑יִךְ וַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָ שָׂרַ֔י וַתִּבְרַ֖ח מִפָּנֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: in your sight. So Sarai treated her harshly,
KJV: to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with
INT: your sight treated Sarai fled her presence

Genesis 16:8
HEB: הָגָ֞ר שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרַ֛י אֵֽי־ מִזֶּ֥ה
NAS: He said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, where
KJV: Hagar, Sarai's maid,
INT: Hagar maid Sarai's whence have you

Genesis 16:8
HEB: וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מִפְּנֵי֙ שָׂרַ֣י גְּבִרְתִּ֔י אָנֹכִ֖י
NAS: of my mistress Sarai.
KJV: from the face of my mistress Sarai.
INT: said the presence Sarai of my mistress I

Genesis 17:15
HEB: אֶל־ אַבְרָהָ֔ם שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתְּךָ֔ לֹא־
NAS: to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife,
KJV: unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife,
INT: to Abraham Sarai your wife shall not

Genesis 17:15
HEB: אֶת־ שְׁמָ֖הּ שָׂרָ֑י כִּ֥י שָׂרָ֖ה
NAS: her name Sarai, but Sarah
KJV: her name Sarai, but
INT: call her name Sarai but Sarah

17 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8297
17 Occurrences


śā·rāy — 16 Occ.
wə·śā·ray — 1 Occ.

8296b
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