What does שֶׁרֶשׁ (shōresh) mean in the Bible?
שֶׁרֶשׁ (shōresh): Root as foundation of life or being—literal plant roots extend to figurative rootedness in covenant, stability, and ancestral continuity
Hebrew · H8328
שֶׁרֶשׁ
A root (literally or figuratively)
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שֶׁרֶשׁH8328
Pronunciationshōresh
What does שֶׁרֶשׁ (shōresh) mean in the Bible?
שֶׁרֶשׁ (shōresh): Root as foundation of life or being—literal plant roots extend to figurative rootedness in covenant, stability, and ancestral continuity
Full entry for שֶׁרֶשׁ (H8328) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8328?
The BSB source-word alignment has 33 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include its roots (3), root (3), . . . (2), take root (2), - (1).
Where does שֶׁרֶשׁ (shōresh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 29:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (9), Isaiah (7), Ezekiel (5), Hosea (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itits roots3×Job 14:8, Ezekiel 17:7, Ezekiel 31:7
root3×Deuteronomy 29:18, Psalms 80:9, Hosea 14:5
. . .2×Proverbs 12:3, Daniel 11:7
take root2×2 Kings 19:30, Isaiah 37:31
-1×Ezekiel 17:9
a root1×Malachi 4:1
and his roots1×Amos 2:9
and like a root1×Isaiah 53:2
and the roots1×Job 30:4
at their base1×Job 28:9
but the root1×Proverbs 12:12
by its roots1×Ezekiel 17:9
from his roots1×Isaiah 11:1
from the root1×Isaiah 14:29
His roots1×Job 8:17
My roots1×Job 29:19
since the root1×Job 19:28
so their roots1×Isaiah 5:24
that sends out its roots1×Jeremiah 17:8
the depths1×Job 36:30
the Root1×Isaiah 11:10
The roots1×Job 18:16
the soles1×Job 13:27
their root1×Hosea 9:16
with their roots1×Judges 5:14
yet its roots1×Ezekiel 17:6
your root1×Isaiah 14:30
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 29:18שֹׁ֛רֶשׁtorootNoun - masculine singularJudges 5:14שָׁרְשָׁם֙towith their rootsNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural2 Kings 19:30שֹׁ֣רֶשׁtotake rootNoun - masculine singularJob 8:17שָֽׁרָשָׁ֣יוtoHis rootsNoun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularJob 13:27שָׁרְשֵׁ֥יtothe solesNoun - masculine plural constructJob 14:8שָׁרְשׁ֑וֹtoits rootsNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularJob 18:16שָֽׁרָשָׁ֣יוtoThe rootsNoun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularJob 19:28וְשֹׁ֥רֶשׁtosince the rootConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructJob 28:9מִשֹּׁ֣רֶשׁtoat their basePreposition-m | Noun - masculine singularJob 29:19שָׁרְשִׁ֣יtoMy rootsNoun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 29:18
Aligned rows33
Books represented13
Deuteronomy1Judges12 Kings1Job9Psalms1Proverbs2Isaiah7Jeremiah1Ezekiel5Daniel1Hosea2Amos1Malachi1
Source forms
שֹׁ֣רֶשׁ3xšō·reš2 Kings 19:30, Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 37:31
וְשֹׁ֥רֶשׁ2xwə·šō·rešJob 19:28, Proverbs 12:3
וְשֹׁ֖רֶשׁ2xwə·šō·rešJob 30:4, Proverbs 12:12
וְשָׁרָשָׁ֖יו2xwə·šā·rā·šāwEzekiel 17:6, Amos 2:9
שָֽׁרָשָׁ֣יו2xšā·rā·šāwJob 8:17, Job 18:16
שָׁרְשָׁם֙2xšā·rə·šāmJudges 5:14, Isaiah 5:24
וְכַשֹּׁ֙רֶשׁ֙1xwə·ḵaš·šō·rešIsaiah 53:2
וְשָׁרְשֵׁ֖י1xwə·šā·rə·šêJob 36:30
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct4xJob 19:28, Job 30:4, Proverbs 12:3, Proverbs 12:12
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular4xPsalms 80:9, Ezekiel 17:7, Ezekiel 17:9, Daniel 11:7
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular4xJob 8:17, Job 18:16, Jeremiah 17:8, Hosea 14:5
Noun - masculine singular4xDeuteronomy 29:18, 2 Kings 19:30, Isaiah 37:31, Malachi 4:1
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural3xJudges 5:14, Isaiah 5:24, Hosea 9:16
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular2xEzekiel 17:6, Amos 2:9
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xJob 14:8, Ezekiel 31:7
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct1xJob 36:30
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Root as foundation of life or being—literal plant roots extend to figurative rootedness in covenant, stability, and ancestral continuity
Source Gloss
a root (literally or figuratively)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Root as foundation of life or being—literal plant roots extend to figurative rootedness in covenant, stability, and ancestral continuity
a root (literally or figuratively) BDB: root Usage: bottom, deep, heel, root.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
root
Root source or foundational origin.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 33 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שֶׁרֶשׁ is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The root of Jesse signifies both continuity with David and foundational hope for the nations.Hosea 9:10-17
Root struck implies irreversible decline.Isaiah 11:1-10
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.