Original Word: שָׂרַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sara`
Pronunciation: sah-rah'
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-rah')
Definition: To contend, to strive, to persist
Meaning: to prolong, be deformed by excess of members

stretch out self, have any superfluous thing

A primitive root; to prolong, i.e. (reflex) be deformed by excess of members -- stretch out self, (have any) superfluous thing.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to extend
NASB Translation
deformed (1), overgrown (1), stretch (1).

[שָׂרַע] verb extend (Arabic point directly at, also enter upon a path (Frä²¹³ thinks originally divide, then stretch out, make straight), projecting roof, long-nosed (torto naso ᵑ9^{Leviticus 21:18}); Ethiopic dispose, arrange; Sabean שרע arrangement, security Hom^{Chr 124}; — but Aramaic explanation as mutilated Leviticus 21:18; Leviticus 22:23 PS²⁷⁴⁴, compare ᵐ5 ὠτότμητος); —

Qal Passive participle שָׂרוּעַ extended, i.e. too long (in a limb or member), of man Leviticus 21:18, beast Leviticus 22:23 (see II. חרם).

Hithpa`el stretch oneself: Infinitive construct הִשְׂתָּרֵעַ Isaiah 28:20 (see מַצַּע p. 427:a).

שַׂרְעַמִּים see below שׂעף.

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Greek equivalents in the Strong's Concordance that correspond to the specific Hebrew concept of שָׂרַע (sara'). However, Greek terms related to physical deformity or imperfection might be considered in broader theological discussions, though they do not capture the exact nuance of the Hebrew term.

Usage: This term is used in the context of physical deformity or an abnormal extension of body parts. It is not commonly found in the Hebrew Bible, indicating a specific and rare condition.

Context: The Hebrew root שָׂרַע (sara') is a verb that conveys the idea of prolongation or extension, particularly in a negative sense, such as deformity. The term is associated with physical abnormalities, where there is an excess or abnormal growth of body parts. This concept is reflective of the ancient understanding of physical deformities as deviations from the norm, often seen as a sign of divine displeasure or a condition requiring ritual purification.

In the cultural and religious context of ancient Israel, physical deformities were often viewed with suspicion or as a cause for exclusion from certain religious activities. The Levitical laws, for instance, contain specific instructions regarding individuals with physical imperfections and their participation in temple rituals. The use of שָׂרַע (sara') would have been understood within this framework, highlighting the importance of physical wholeness in the community's religious life.

The rarity of this term in the biblical text suggests that it was used to describe particularly severe or unusual cases of deformity. The ancient Israelites, like many ancient cultures, had limited medical knowledge, and such conditions would have been both mysterious and concerning, often interpreted through a theological lens.

מֵֽהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ מהשתרע שָׂר֣וּעַ שָׂרֽוּעַ׃ שרוע שרוע׃ mê·hiś·tā·rê·a‘ mehistaRea mêhiśtārêa‘ śā·rū·a‘ saRua śārūa‘Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts