Lexical Summary sharath: To minister, to serve, to attend Original Word: שָׁרַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance minister unto, serve, wait on A primitive root; to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to -- minister (unto), (do) serve(- ant, -ice, -itor), wait on. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to minister, serve NASB Translation assist (1), attendant (4), attended (2), became his personal servant (1), minister (26), ministered (4), ministering (15), ministers (17), personal servant (1), servant (1), servant (2), serve (11), served (6), service (1), serving (1), take care (1), took care (1), used in temple service (2), waiters (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁרַת]97 verb Pi`el minister, serve (compare Late Hebrew שֵׁרוּת (temple-)ministry, Phoenician משרת ministry, and perhaps verb שרת minister); — Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular שֵׁרֵת Numbers 8:26; Deuteronomy 18:7; 3masculine plural שֵׁרְתוּ Numbers 3:6; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיְשָׁ֫רֶת Genesis 39:4, 3masculine plural יְשָֽׁרְתוּ Numbers 3:31 +, etc.; Infinitive construct לְשָׁרֵת Exodus 28:35 +, לְשָׁ֫רֶת שָׁם Deuteronomy 17:12, etc.; Participle מְשָׁרֵת Numbers 11:28 + (2 Samuel 13:9 see מַשְׂרֵת, p. 602:a), feminine מְשָׁרַת 1 Kings 1:15, etc.; — serve: 1 of ministerial service (opposed tomenial, עבד): a. higher domestic service: Joseph Genesis 39:4; Genesis 40:4 (JE), Elisha's chief servant 2 Kings 4:43; 2 Kings 6:15, royal domestics 2 Samuel 13:17,18; 1 Kings 10:5; 2Chronicles 9:4; Esther 2:2; Esther 6:3, Abishag 1 Kings 1:4,15. b. of royal officers (late) 1 Chronicles 27:1; 1 Chronicles 28:1; 2Chronicles 17:19; 22:8; Esther 1:10; Proverbs 29:12. c. Joshua as chief assistant to Moses Exodus 24:13; Exodus 33:11 (E), Numbers 11:28 (J), Joshua 1:1 (D), Elisha to Elijah 1 Kings 19:21. d. of angels to ׳י Psalm 103:21, compare Psalm 104:4. e. of kings of nations in prophets Isaiah 60:10. 2 usually of special service in worship: a. of Levitical priests, absolute 1 Kings 8:11 2Chronicles 5:14; with accusative ׳י Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 17:12; Deuteronomy 21:5; Jeremiah 33:21 #NAME?מְשָֽׁרְתֵי אֹתִי Jeremiah 33:22; also Isaiah 60:7 of animals put figurative for those sacrificing them; of foreigners admitted to priesthood Isaiah 61:6, compare Isaiah 56:6; so probably Samuel conceived as priest 1 Samuel 2:11; 1 Samuel 3:1, ׳את פני י 1 Samuel 2:18 (פני probably accusative, compare ᵐ5 τῷ προσώπῳ 1 Samuel 2:11), ׳בְּשֵׁם י ׳שׁDeuteronomy 18:5,7. b. Levites (P, and late); with accusative of Aaronic priests Numbers 3:6; Numbers 8:26; Numbers 18:2, with accusative of ׳י 1 Chronicles 15:2; 2Chronicles 29:11 a; probably also in reference to Levitical singer Psalm 101:6; with accusative tabernacle Numbers 1:50 (P), congregation Numbers 16:9 (P), people Ezekiel 44:11 + Ezekiel 44:12 (of idolatry); absolute 1 Chronicles 16:4; 2Chronicles 23:6; 29:11; b 2 Chronicles 31:2; Ezra 8:17 (participle as substantive, ministers); לִפְנֵי ׳שׁ ׳אֲרוֺן בְּרִית י 1 Chronicles 16:37, נֶגֶד הַכֹּהֲנִים ׳שׁ2Chronicles 8:14; ׳שׁ with ב location 1 Chronicles 26:12; especially with בְּ, of sacred vessels Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:9,12,14; 2 Kings 25:14 = Jeremiah 52:18; בַּשִּׁיר 1 Chronicles 6:17. c. Zadokite priests (Ezekiel), absolute Ezekiel 42:14 3t., with accusative ׳י Ezekiel 40:48 4t., construct מְשָׁרֲתֵי before sacred place Ezekiel 45:4,5; Ezekiel 46:24. d. Aaronic priests, absolute Exodus 28:35 4t. P; with accusative ׳י 1 Chronicles 23:13; ׳לי2Chronicles 13:10; ׳מְשָֽׁרְתֵי י Joel 1:9,13; Joel 2:17, מְשָֽׁרְתֵי מזבח Joel 1:13, with בַּקֹּדֶשׁ Exodus 28:43 4t. P. e. of idolatry, with accusative עץ ואבן Ezekiel 20:32. Topical Lexicon Overview of Usage שָׁרַת occurs about ninety-seven times, consistently bearing the sense of active, personal service rendered to a superior—whether God, His sanctuary, His anointed leaders, or earthly kings. The term stresses loyal attendance and hands-on ministry rather than mere employment, weaving together themes of worship, obedience, and delegated authority. Covenantal Foundations in the Torah 1. Tabernacle service: The word first clusters around the commissioning of the priesthood. “You are to appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony… they are to minister to it” (Numbers 1:50). This ministry safeguards holiness, mediates atonement, and upholds covenant order. Levitical and Priestly Ministry in Worship The largest concentration appears in Leviticus, Numbers, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, and Ezekiel, describing: These texts underline that true worship demands divinely appointed ministers whose faithfulness maintains covenant continuity. Service in Royal Courts שָׁרַת also moves beyond cultic activity into royal administration: Here the verb portrays structured loyalty in the political sphere, foreshadowing the Messiah whose kingdom harmonizes throne and temple. Prophetic Reproof and Eschatological Hope Prophets warn against formalism and promise future purity of service: Angelic and Heavenly Parallels Psalm 103:21 calls angels “His ministers who do His will,” and Psalm 104:4 states, “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.” These texts broaden שָׁרַת from earthly priesthood to the cosmic liturgy, preparing readers for Hebrews 1:7’s application to the heavenly realm. Christological Trajectory While שָׁרַת is not used in the New Testament, its theology feeds into the portrayal of the incarnate Son who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). The Levitical pattern anticipates Jesus’ high-priestly ministry (Hebrews 8:1-2), and the royal attendants mirror discipleship under the King of Kings. Devotional and Ministry Implications • Service is covenantal: it derives authority from God’s explicit call. Statistical and Literary Observations • Pentateuch: about 30 occurrences, chiefly in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. Key Passages for Study Exodus 29:30; Numbers 3:6-8; Deuteronomy 10:8; 1 Samuel 3:1; 2 Kings 4:43; 1 Chronicles 16:37; 2 Chronicles 24:14; Psalm 103:21; Isaiah 61:6; Ezekiel 44:11-14. Conclusion שָׁרַת depicts an unbroken line of God-appointed service from Sinai’s Tabernacle to Solomon’s Temple, from prophetic visions to angelic courts, and ultimately fulfilled in the servant-king Jesus Christ. Those who bear His name are summoned into the same pattern of reverent, obedient ministry. Forms and Transliterations בְּשָֽׁרְתָ֗ם בשרתם הַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֖ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֣ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֨ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֪ים המשרתים וְהַמְשָׁרְתִ֣ים וְשֵׁרְת֖וּ וְשֵׁרֵ֕ת וְשֵׁרֵ֨ת וִֽישָׁרְת֑וּךָ וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת וַיְשָׁרְתֵֽהוּ׃ וַתְּשָׁ֣רְתֵ֔הוּ וּֽלְשָׁרְת֖וֹ וּֽמְשָׁרְתִ֖ים וּלְשָׁרֵ֜ת וּמְשָׁ֨רְת֜וֹ והמשרתים וישרת וישרתהו׃ וישרתוך ולשרת ולשרתו ומשרתו ומשרתים ושרת ושרתו ותשרתהו יְֽשָׁרְת֧וּ יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־ יְשָׁרְת֑וּנֶךְ יְשָׁרְת֖וּ יְשָׁרְת֤וּ יְשָׁרְת֥וּ יְשָׁרְתֵֽנִי׃ יְשָׁרְתֻ֑הוּ יְשָׁרְתוּ־ ישרתהו ישרתו ישרתו־ ישרתונך ישרתני׃ לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי לְשָֽׁרְתָֽם׃ לְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙ לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ לְשָׁ֤רֶת לְשָׁרְת֛וֹ לְשָׁרְתֵ֑נִי לְשָׁרְתָֽם׃ לְשָׁרְתֽוֹ׃ לְשָׁרֵ֑ת לְשָׁרֵ֔ת לְשָׁרֵ֕ת לְשָׁרֵ֖ת לְשָׁרֵ֞ת לְשָׁרֵ֣ת לְשָׁרֵ֥ת לְשָׁרֵ֧ת לְשָׁרֵת֙ לשרת לשרתו לשרתו׃ לשרתם׃ לשרתני מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו מְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙ מְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים מְשָׁ֣רְתָ֔יו מְשָׁרְת֑וֹ מְשָׁרְתִ֑ים מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים מְשָׁרְתִ֜ים מְשָׁרְתִ֣ם מְשָׁרְתִ֤ים מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י מְשָׁרְתֵ֤י מְשָׁרְתֵ֥י מְשָׁרְתֵ֨י מְשָׁרְתָ֑יו מְשָׁרְתָ֜יו מְשָׁרְתָ֥יו מְשָׁרְתָֽי׃ מְשָׁרֵ֖ת מְשָׁרֵ֥ת מְשָׁרֵ֨ת מְשָׁרֵת֙ מְשָׁרַ֖ת מְשָׁרְתָ֜יו משרת משרתו משרתי משרתי׃ משרתיו משרתים משרתם bə·šā·rə·ṯām bəšārəṯām beshareTam ham·šā·rə·ṯîm hamšārəṯîm hamshareTim lə·šā·rə·ṯām lə·šā·rə·ṯê·nî lə·šā·rə·ṯōw lə·šā·reṯ lə·šā·rêṯ ləšāreṯ ləšārêṯ ləšārəṯām ləšārəṯênî ləšārəṯōw leshaRet leshareTam leshareTeni leshareTo mə·šā·raṯ mə·šā·rə·ṯāw mə·šā·rə·ṯāy mə·šā·rə·ṯê mə·šā·rə·ṯim mə·šā·rə·ṯîm mə·šā·rə·ṯōw mə·šā·rêṯ məšāraṯ məšārêṯ məšārəṯāw məšārəṯāy məšārəṯê məšārəṯim məšārəṯîm məšārəṯōw meshaRat meshaRet meshareTai meshareTav meshareTei meshareTim meshareTo ū·lə·šā·rə·ṯōw ū·lə·šā·rêṯ ū·mə·šā·rə·ṯîm ū·mə·šā·rə·ṯōw ūləšārêṯ ūləšārəṯōw uleshaRet uleshareTo ūməšārəṯîm ūməšārəṯōw umeshareTim umeShareTo vatteShareTehu vaySharet vayshareTehu vehamshareTim vesheRet veshereTu vishareTucha wat·tə·šā·rə·ṯê·hū wattəšārəṯêhū way·šā·rə·ṯê·hū way·šā·reṯ wayšāreṯ wayšārəṯêhū wə·ham·šā·rə·ṯîm wə·šê·rə·ṯū wə·šê·rêṯ wəhamšārəṯîm wəšêrêṯ wəšêrəṯū wî·šā·rə·ṯū·ḵā wîšārəṯūḵā yə·šā·rə·ṯê·nî yə·šā·rə·ṯū yə·šā·rə·ṯū- yə·šā·rə·ṯu·hū yə·šā·rə·ṯū·neḵ yəšārəṯênî yəšārəṯū yəšārəṯū- yəšārəṯuhū yəšārəṯūneḵ yeshareTeni yeshareTu yeshareTunech yesharTuhuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 39:4 HEB: חֵ֛ן בְּעֵינָ֖יו וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹת֑וֹ וַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙ NAS: in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer KJV: in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer INT: favor his sight and became made over Genesis 40:4 Exodus 24:13 Exodus 28:35 Exodus 28:43 Exodus 29:30 Exodus 30:20 Exodus 33:11 Exodus 35:19 Exodus 39:1 Exodus 39:26 Exodus 39:41 Numbers 1:50 Numbers 3:6 Numbers 3:31 Numbers 4:9 Numbers 4:12 Numbers 4:14 Numbers 8:26 Numbers 11:28 Numbers 16:9 Numbers 18:2 Deuteronomy 10:8 Deuteronomy 17:12 Deuteronomy 18:5 97 Occurrences |
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