Lexical Summary sariq: Vine, Red Vine Original Word: שְׂרִיקָה 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 Originfrom 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 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. Theological Themes • Sovereign Rule. The Lord “stirs up” Egypt’s collapse (Isaiah 19:2), proving His dominion over every nation’s economy and craft. 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. 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 śərîqōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 |
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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).