What does שָׂרָף (šārāp) mean in the Bible?
שָׂרָף (šārāp): Celestial beings defined by fiery nature; serpents embody divine judgment through burning poison.
Hebrew · H8314
שָׂרָף
Burning , i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color)
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שָׂרָףH8314
Pronunciationšārāp
What does שָׂרָף (šārāp) mean in the Bible?
שָׂרָף (šārāp): Celestial beings defined by fiery nature; serpents embody divine judgment through burning poison.
Full entry for שָׂרָף (H8314) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8314?
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include serpent (2), a fiery serpent (1), seraphim (1), the seraphim (1), venomous (1).
Where does שָׂרָף (šārāp) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 21:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (4), Numbers (2), Deuteronomy (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 Itserpent2×Isaiah 14:29, Isaiah 30:6
a fiery serpent1×Numbers 21:8
seraphim1×Isaiah 6:2
the seraphim1×Isaiah 6:6
venomous1×Numbers 21:6
with its venomous1×Deuteronomy 8:15
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 21:6הַשְּׂרָפִ֔יםtovenomousArticle | Noun - masculine pluralNumbers 21:8שָׂרָ֔ףtoa fiery serpentNoun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 8:15שָׂרָף֙towith its venomousAdjective - masculine singularIsaiah 6:2שְׂרָפִ֨יםtoseraphimNoun - masculine pluralIsaiah 6:6הַשְּׂרָפִ֔יםtothe seraphimArticle | Noun - masculine pluralIsaiah 14:29שָׂרָ֥ףtoserpentNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 30:6וְשָׂרָ֣ףtoserpentConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 21:6
Aligned rows7
Books represented3
Numbers2Deuteronomy1Isaiah4
Source forms
הַשְּׂרָפִ֔ים2xhaś·śə·rā·p̄îmNumbers 21:6, Isaiah 6:6
וְשָׂרָ֣ף1xwə·śā·rāp̄Isaiah 30:6
שָׂרָ֔ף1xśā·rāp̄Numbers 21:8
שָׂרָף֙1xśā·rāp̄Deuteronomy 8:15
שָׂרָ֥ף1xśā·rāp̄Isaiah 14:29
שְׂרָפִ֨ים1xśə·rā·p̄îmIsaiah 6:2
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine plural2xNumbers 21:6, Isaiah 6:6
Noun - masculine singular2xNumbers 21:8, Isaiah 14:29
Adjective - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 8:15
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular1xIsaiah 30:6
Noun - masculine plural1xIsaiah 6:2
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Celestial beings defined by fiery nature; serpents embody divine judgment through burning poison.
Source Gloss
burning , i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Celestial beings defined by fiery nature; serpents embody divine judgment through burning poison.
burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color) BDB: seraphim Usage: fiery (serpent), seraph.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
שָׂרָף is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.