What does שָׂרָה (sarah) mean in the Bible?
שָׂרָה (sarah): To overcome resistance through persistent exertion of power; governance through sustained effort against opposition
Hebrew · H8280
שָׂרָה
To prevail
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שָׂרָהH8280
Pronunciationsarah
What does שָׂרָה (sarah) mean in the Bible?
שָׂרָה (sarah): To overcome resistance through persistent exertion of power; governance through sustained effort against opposition
Full entry for שָׂרָה (H8280) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8280?
The BSB source-word alignment has 2 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include he wrestled (1), you have struggled (1).
Where does שָׂרָה (sarah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 32:28. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (1), Hosea (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithe wrestled1×Hosea 12:3
you have struggled1×Genesis 32:28
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 32:28
Aligned rows2
Books represented2
Genesis1Hosea1
Source forms
שָׂרָ֥ה1xśā·rāhHosea 12:3
שָׂרִ֧יתָ1xśā·rî·ṯāGenesis 32:28
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular1xGenesis 32:28
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1xHosea 12:3
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To overcome resistance through persistent exertion of power; governance through sustained effort against opposition
Strong'sH8280
Lexical occurrences2 versesWord forms1 form2 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 12:1-6Source Gloss
to prevail
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To overcome resistance through persistent exertion of power; governance through sustained effort against opposition
to prevail BDB: persist Usage: have power (as a prince).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms2
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense2×
PerfectGen 32:29 · Hos 12:42×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to contend
Showing 1 selected witness from 2 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׂרָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Jacob’s struggle becomes identity marker.Hosea 12:1-6