8314. saraph
Strong's Lexicon
saraph: Seraph, fiery serpent

Original Word: שָׂרָף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: saraph
Pronunciation: sah-raf'
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-rawf')
Definition: Seraph, fiery serpent
Meaning: burning, poisonous, a saraph, symbolical creature

Word Origin: From the root verb שָׂרַף (saraph), meaning "to burn" or "to set on fire."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G1411 (dynamis): While not a direct translation, this Greek word for "power" or "miraculous power" can be associated with the divine power and presence that seraphim represent.

- G3789 (ophis): This Greek word for "serpent" can be related to the fiery serpents in the wilderness.

Usage: The term "saraph" is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe both fiery serpents and celestial beings known as seraphim. In the context of fiery serpents, it refers to venomous snakes that inflicted the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 21:6). As celestial beings, seraphim are depicted as fiery, angelic creatures who serve in the presence of God, as seen in Isaiah's vision (Isaiah 6:2-6).

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, serpents were often associated with both danger and healing. The fiery serpents in the wilderness narrative symbolize divine judgment and the need for repentance. The seraphim, on the other hand, reflect the majesty and holiness of God, emphasizing His transcendence and the reverence due to Him. The imagery of fire in both contexts underscores purification, judgment, and the presence of the divine.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. שָׂרָף noun masculineIsaiah 14:29 a serpent, usually venomous (possibly from above v, from burning effect of poison); — absolute ׳שׂ Numbers 21:8 (J E; on Arabic parallels see JacobArabic Dichter ii. 93, iv. 10 f.), apposition ׳נָחָשׁ שׂ Deuteronomy 8:15, plural הַנְּחָשִׁים הַשְּׂרָפִים Numbers 21:6; a flying serpent, or dragon, שָׂרָף מְעוֺפֵף Isaiah 14:29; Isaiah 30:6.

II. [שָׂרָף] noun masculineIsaiah 6:2 plural שְׂרָפִים seraphim (probably akin to I. ׳שׂ, as beings originally mythically conceived with serpents' bodies (serpent-deities, compare Isaiah 14:29; Isaiah 30:6), or (CheComm.) personified of lightning, compare arts. SERAPHIM, StrachanHast. DB CheEncy. Bib.; Di Marti and others compare also Egyptian guardian-griffins, called Šerref; see also כְּרוּב; on Assyrian Šarrapu (-bu), epithet of god Nergal, connected by DlWB with √ שָׂרַף, see שָׁרָב, ZimKAT 3. 415); — in OT. majestic beings with six wings, and human hands and voices, attendant upon ׳י Isaiah 6:2,6.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fiery serpent, seraph

From saraph; burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color) -- fiery (serpent), seraph.

see HEBREW saraph

Forms and Transliterations
הַשְּׂרָפִ֔ים השרפים וְשָׂרָ֣ף ושרף שְׂרָפִ֨ים שָׂרָ֔ף שָׂרָ֥ף שָׂרָף֙ שרף שרפים haś·śə·rā·p̄îm hasseraFim haśśərāp̄îm śā·rāp̄ saRaf śārāp̄ śə·rā·p̄îm seraFim śərāp̄îm vesaRaf wə·śā·rāp̄ wəśārāp̄
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 21:6
HEB: אֵ֚ת הַנְּחָשִׁ֣ים הַשְּׂרָפִ֔ים וַֽיְנַשְּׁכ֖וּ אֶת־
NAS: sent fiery serpents among the people
KJV: sent fiery serpents
INT: the people serpents fiery bit the people

Numbers 21:8
HEB: עֲשֵׂ֤ה לְךָ֙ שָׂרָ֔ף וְשִׂ֥ים אֹת֖וֹ
NAS: Make a fiery [serpent], and set
KJV: Make thee a fiery serpent, and set
INT: Moses Make A fiery and set on

Deuteronomy 8:15
HEB: וְהַנּוֹרָ֗א נָחָ֤שׁ ׀ שָׂרָף֙ וְעַקְרָ֔ב וְצִמָּא֖וֹן
NAS: wilderness, [with its] fiery serpents and scorpions
KJV: wilderness, [wherein were] fiery serpents,
INT: and terrible serpents fiery and scorpions and thirsty

Isaiah 6:2
HEB: שְׂרָפִ֨ים עֹמְדִ֤ים ׀ מִמַּ֙עַל֙
NAS: Seraphim stood above
KJV: it stood the seraphims: each one
INT: Seraphim stood above

Isaiah 6:6
HEB: אֶחָד֙ מִן־ הַשְּׂרָפִ֔ים וּבְיָד֖וֹ רִצְפָּ֑ה
NAS: Then one of the seraphim flew
KJV: one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal
INT: one at of the seraphim his hand A burning

Isaiah 14:29
HEB: צֶ֔פַע וּפִרְי֖וֹ שָׂרָ֥ף מְעוֹפֵֽף׃
NAS: will be a flying serpent.
KJV: [shall be] a fiery flying serpent.
INT: A viper fruit serpent flying

Isaiah 30:6
HEB: מֵהֶ֗ם אֶפְעֶה֙ וְשָׂרָ֣ף מְעוֹפֵ֔ף יִשְׂאוּ֩
NAS: and flying serpent, They carry
KJV: flying serpent, they will carry
INT: where viper serpent and flying carry

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8314
7 Occurrences


haś·śə·rā·p̄îm — 2 Occ.
śā·rāp̄ — 3 Occ.
śə·rā·p̄îm — 1 Occ.
wə·śā·rāp̄ — 1 Occ.
















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