8305. sariq
Lexical Summary
sariq: Vine, Red Vine

Original Word: שְׂרִיקָה
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: sriyqah
Pronunciation: sah-REEK
Phonetic Spelling: (ser-ee-kaw')
KJV: fine
NASB: combed
Word Origin: [from the same as H8321 (שׂוֹרֵק שׂוֹרֵק שׂוֹרֵקָה - Choice vine) in the original sense of piercing]

1. hetchelling (or combing flax)
2. (concretely) flax fibers, the tow
3. (by extension) linen cloth

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fine

From the same as soreq in the original sense of piercing; hetchelling (or combing flax), i.e. (concretely) tow (by extension, linen cloth) -- fine.

see HEBREW soreq

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
carded or combed
NASB Translation
combed (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[שָׂרִיק] adjective carded, combed, of flax; — feminine plural מִּשְׁתִּים שְׂרִיקוֺת Isaiah 19:9.

II. שׂרק (compare Late Hebrew סָרָק light red; הִשְׂרִיק Ecclus 50:7; Ecclus 43:9 margin shine brightly (of sun); Assyrian šar‡u, red blood; Arabic rise and shine (of sun), shew redness, become red (like blood); Sabean שרק rise (of sun), משרק East, שרקן epithet dei the shining SabDenkm18, 4 FellZMG iiv (1900), 253 f. compare HomChr 124).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Setting

The single occurrence of שְׂרִיקָה is found in Isaiah 19:9 within an oracle announcing divine judgment on Egypt. The prophet moves from the river—from which Egyptian life and commerce flowed—to the nation’s famed textile industry. “Those who work with flax will despair, the weavers of fine linen will lose hope” (Isaiah 19:9). The word under study designates that specialty fabric whose quality made Egypt’s linen a byword throughout the ancient Near East.

Economic and Cultural Background

Egypt’s climate favored the growing of flax, while generations of artisans perfected every stage of processing—from combing and bleaching to spinning and looming. Linen garments supplied palace and priesthood (Genesis 41:42; Exodus 28:39-41), were traded to Tyre (Ezekiel 27:7), and symbolized wealth (Proverbs 31:22). Isaiah picks up this economic mainstay to dramatize the breadth of God’s judgment: even Egypt’s proudest craft will be reduced to panic and collapse.

Imagery in Isaiah’s Oracle

1. Breadth of judgment: Fishers, river-workers, and textile artisans are all listed (Isaiah 19:8-10), portraying a national unraveling from river to marketplace.
2. Emptied pride: Egypt’s linen stood for refinement and status; its ruin therefore pictures the stripping away of human glory (Isaiah 19:1, 15).
3. Contrast with Zion: Earlier, Isaiah holds out Jerusalem’s future righteousness (Isaiah 4:2-4). The failure of Egyptian linen foreshadows the fading of worldly splendor before the Lord’s enduring holiness.

Theological Themes

• Sovereign Rule. The Lord “stirs up” Egypt’s collapse (Isaiah 19:2), proving His dominion over every nation’s economy and craft.
• Vanity of Trusting in Wealth. Fine fabric cannot shield a nation from divine reproof; only covenant faithfulness brings security (compare Isaiah 31:1).
• Universal Purpose. Judgment is not vindictive but corrective, preparing Egypt for future blessing: “The LORD will make Himself known to Egypt” (Isaiah 19:21).

Connections with the Wider Canon

Exodus 39:27-29 shows priestly garments woven from Egyptian linen acquired in the exodus plunder (Exodus 12:36), illustrating how God commandeers earth’s finest for His service. Revelation 19:8 presents the Church clothed “in fine linen, bright and clean,” depicting righteousness granted in Christ. The fall of Egypt’s linen industry anticipates the eventual replacement of worldly luxury with the pure, heavenly fabric of redeemed righteousness.

Ministry Insights and Contemporary Application

• Economic idols remain seductive; Isaiah’s picture warns against locating identity or security in craftsmanship, technology, or trade.
• God addresses every layer of society. Modern artisans, entrepreneurs, and laborers need the gospel’s call as surely as ancient weavers.
• The symbolism of linen invites believers to pursue holiness that outlasts material achievements (1 Peter 1:14-16).
• Isaiah’s movement from judgment (19:1-17) to healing (19:18-25) encourages intercession for modern nations—that economic shaking would lead to spiritual awakening.

Related Passages for Study

Genesis 41:42; Exodus 28:39-41; Exodus 39:27-29; Ezekiel 27:7; Proverbs 31:22; Isaiah 19:8-10; Revelation 19:8.

Forms and Transliterations
שְׂרִיק֑וֹת שריקות śə·rî·qō·wṯ seriKot śərîqōwṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Isaiah 19:9
HEB: עֹבְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים שְׂרִיק֑וֹת וְאֹרְגִ֖ים חוֹרָֽי׃
NAS: of linen made from combed flax
KJV: Moreover they that work in fine flax,
INT: the manufacturers of linen combed and the weavers networks

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8305
1 Occurrence


śə·rî·qō·wṯ — 1 Occ.

8304
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