Lexical Definition

‎שַׂר‎ sar (sar) ruler ^H:N-M
from ‎שָׂרַר‎

captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.

• a head person (of any rank or class)

1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain
1a) chieftain, leader
1b) vassal, noble, official (under king)
1c) captain, general, commander (military)
1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes)
1e) heads, princes (of religious office)
1f) elders (of representative leaders of people)
1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity)
1h) patron-angel
1i) Ruler of rulers (of God)
1j) warden

See Greek: ἄγγελος · ἀρχηγός · ἄρχων · βασιλεύς · διάδοχος · δυνάστης · ἑκατοντάρχης · ἑκατοντάρχης · ἐλεύθερος · ἔνδοξος · ἔντιμος · ἐπιστάτης · ἡγεμών · ἡγέομαι · μεγιστᾶνες · πατριάρχης · πατριάρχης · στρατηγός · ταράσσω · χιλίαρχος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Also see: יָסַר

‎שַׂר‎₄₂₀ noun masculine chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince (Late Hebrew especially of angels; Assyrian šarru, king); — absolute ‎שַׂר‎ 2Sam 3:38 +, ‎הַשַּׂר‎ Mic 7:3 +, ‎שָׂ֑ר‎ Hos 3:4 +; construct ‎שַׂר‎ Judg 4:2 +; suffix ‎שַׂרְכֶם‎ Dan 10:21 plural ‎שָׂרִים‎ 1Kgs 4:2 +; construct ‎שָׂרֵי‎ Gen 12:15 +; suffix ‎שָׂרַי‎ Judg 5:15; Isa 10:8, ‎שָׂרֵיכֶם‎ Jer 44:21, ‎שָׂרֵיהֶם‎ Isa 3:4 +; —

1. chieftain, leader:
a. plural of Israel Num 21:18 (poem in J E; || ‎נְדִיֹב הָעָם‎), of Issachar Judg 5:15 (poem); ‎שָׂרֵי גִלְעָד‎ Judg 10:18 is dubious (we should expect ‎׳‎‎וְשׂ‎, and compare ‎׳‎‎זִקְנֵי ג‎, instead, Judg 11:5-11); of Midian Judg 7:25; Judg 8:3 Philistines 1Sam 29:3 (twice in verse); 1Sam 29:4 (twice in verse); 1Sam 29:9 (apparently = ‎סְרָנִים‎ v1Sam 29:2 v1Sam 29:6 v1Sam 29:7 [We](/btb/not_created.html)], yet distinguished by HPS and [with reserve] Bu; ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Th Bu strike out in v1Sam 29:4 b), compare 1Sam 18:30 in poetry, of ‎כְּמוֺשׁ‎ (i.e. the leading Moabites) Jer 48:7, of ‎מָלכם‎ (q. v.; i.e. the leading Ammonites) Amos 1:15 = Jer 49:3.
b. singular David as leader of freebooters 1Sam 22:2 compare ‎גְּדוּד‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ 1Kgs 11:24, plural 2Sam 4:2.

2. vassal, noble, official, under king (acting, on occasion, as counselor, commander, etc.):
a. plural, in Egypt Gen 12:15 (J) + 3 t. Is + Gen 30:4 Di Du Skinner (>of foreign embassy [compare || ‎מַלְאָכָיו‎] Che and others reading [Che^Heb.Hpt. Marti] ‎שָׁשׂרִים‎), Ps 105:22 Moab Num 22:8 + 8 t. 22, 23 (JE), Amos 2:3 Edom Isa 34:12 (|| ‎הֹרִים‎); Assyrian Isa 10:8; Isa 31:9 Babylonian Isa 21:5 + 7 t. Jeremiah + 2Chr 32:31 (but here perhaps vaguely = authorities); other nations Jer 49:38 + 17 t. Ezra, Esther; in general Isa 49:7 officials, official class, under kings of Israel: David (only Chronicles) 1Chr 22:17 + 5 t. 1 Chronicles; Ezra 8:20 Solomon 1Kgs 4:2 Jehoiachin 2Kgs 24:12; 2Kgs 24:14 Zedak. Jer 34:21; 2Chr 36:18 other kings 19 t. 2 Chronicles; in general Eccl 10:16; Eccl 10:17 see also (Judah) Jer 1:18 + 31 t. Jeremiah (Jer 17:25 a strike out ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ Gf Che Gie Du), 4 t. Lamentations; Ezek 17:12; Zeph 1:8 (where distinguished from ‎בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ‎, who are never called ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎); so, in general, Neh 9:32; Neh 9:34; Dan 9:6; Dan 9:8 and (Northern Israel) Hos 3:4 + 6 t. Hosea.
b. as having powers of magistrate (‡adi) Exod 2:14 (E + ‎שֹׁפֵט‎); under Moses (over groups of 1000, 100, 50, 10) Exod 18:21 + 7 t. 18 (E), Deut 1:15 (4 t. in verse); later in Judah Hos 5:10 (Now reads ‎׳‎‎שָׂרֵי תִשׁ‎), Isa 1:23, compare Isa 3:4; Isa 3:14; Isa 32:1; Mic 7:3 (singular; || ‎שֹׁפֵט‎), Zeph 3:3 (|| id.), Ezek 22:27, compare Prov 8:16 (|| ‎נְדִיבִים‎); Prov 28:2 read perhaps ‎צָרֶיהָ‎, see Toy.
c. as ruler or magistrate of a district (‎מְרִינָה‎), 1Kgs 20:14; 1Kgs 20:15; 1Kgs 20:17; 1Kgs 20:19 (compare Esth 1:3; Esth 8:9; Esth 9:3, ‎שָׂרֵי עַם וָעָם‎ Esth 3:12).
d. as commandant of city, ‎הָעִיר‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ Judg 9:30, compare 1Kgs 22:26 = 2Chr 18:25; 2Kgs 23:8; 2Chr 34:8 of citadel, ‎הַבִּירָה‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ Neh 7:2 plural of city officials ‎סֻכּוֺת‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ Judg 8:6; Judg 8:14 (distinguished from ‎זְקֵנִים‎), compare 2Kgs 10:1; 2Chr 29:20.

3. specifically military, = captain, general:
a. ‎שַׂרֿ(ה)צבא‎ Gen 21:22; Gen 21:32 (E), Gen 26:26 (J), 1Sam 12:9 + 23 t., + ‎׳‎‎יֿ‎‎׳‎‎צֿ‎‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ Josh 5:14; Josh 5:15 (J E; ‎צָבָא‎ 1 b), angel-captain in vision; see also 8, 9; ‎׳‎‎שָׂרֵי הַצּ‎ 1Kgs 1:25 + 3 t. Chronicles, ‎׳‎‎שָׂרִים בַּצּ‎ 1Chr 12:22* (Gi Baer; van d. H. v.1Chr 12:21*); ‎שָׂרֵי צְבָאוֺת‎ Deut 20:9; 1Kgs 2:5; 1Chr 27:3 ‎שַׂרהַֿחַ֫יִל‎ 2Sam 24:2 (but read ‎וְאֶלשָֿׂרֵי‎ as ᵐ5^L and || 1Chr 21:2 Th We Dr HPS Bu), ‎׳‎‎שָׂרֵי (הַ)ח‎ v1Chr 21:4 v1Chr 21:4; 2Kgs 9:5; 2Chr 33:14; Neh 2:9, ‎שָׂרֵי הַחֲיָלִים‎ 1Kgs 15:20 = 2Chr 16:4; 2Kgs 25:23; 2Kgs 25:26; Jer 40:7; Jer 40:13 + 7 t. Jeremiah; ‎שָׂרֵי מִלְחָמוֺת‎ 2Chr 32:6 so ‎(ה)שׂר‎ alone 2Sam 18:5; 2Sam 19:7*; 1Kgs 9:22 = 2Chr 8:9 ᵐ5.:B Be Kit (‎שָׁרָיו וְשָׁלִישָׁיו‎, for ᵑ0 ‎׳‎‎שָׂרֵי שׁ‎), 2Kgs 9:5 (twice in verse); 1Chr 11:6; 1Chr 11:21 + 9 t., + Job 39:25; Dan 11:5 ‎וְגָדוֺל‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ 2Sam 3:38 (of Abner); possibly military figurative also in ‎שַׂר שָׁלוֺם‎ Isa 9:5* (Messianic name).
b. leading companies of 50 2Kgs 1:9-14; Isa 3:3, of 100 1Sam 22:7 + 16 t. + 1Sam 8:12 (reading ‎מֵאוֺת‎ for ‎חֲמִשִּׁים‎ ᵐ5 HPS, compare We; Bu insert ‎שָׂרֵי‎ ‎מֵאוֺת‎), of 1000 1Sam 17:18 + 11 t., + ‎שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים‎ ‎וְהַמֵּאוֺת‎ 1Chr 13:1; 1Chr 26:26 (distinguished from ‎שָׂרֵי הַצָּבָא‎), 1Chr 27:1; 1Chr 29:6; 2Chr 1:2 also ‎הָרֶכֶב‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ captain of the chariotry 1Kgs 22:31; 1Kgs 22:32; 1Kgs 22:33 = 2Chr 18:30; 2Chr 18:31; 2Chr 18:32 + 3 t. + ‎שָׂרֵי‎ ‎וּפָרָשָׁיו‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ 1Kgs 9:22 = 2Chr 8:9.

4. a. chief, head, of other official classes: ‎שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים‎, Egypt, Gen 37:36 + 5 t.; ‎שָׂרֵי הָרָצִים‎ 1Kgs 14:27 = 2Chr 12:10 ‎שָׂרֵי הַנִּצָּבִים‎ 1Kgs 5:30*; 1Kgs 9:23 = 2Chr 8:10 even domestic positions (court of Pharaoh), ‎שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים‎ Gen 40:2 + 5 t., ‎שַׂר הָאוֺפוֺת‎ Gen 40:2 + 4 t. (all E); ‎שָׂרֵי‎ ‎הַמּחְלְקוֺת‎ 1Chr 28:1, i.e. of the successive courses of royal military officials; compare ‎הַשַּׂר‎ 1Chr 27:28 ‎שַׂר‎ ‎הַסָּרִיסִים‎ Dan 1:7; Dan 1:8; Dan 1:9; Dan 1:10; Dan 1:11; Dan 1:18 ‎שַׂר מְנוּחָה‎ Jer 51:59.
b. = overseer: ‎שַׂר בֵּית הַסֹּהַר‎ Gen 39:21; Gen 39:23, ‎שָׂרֵי מִקְנֶה‎ Gen 47:6 (all J; compare ‎אַבִּיר הָרֹעִים‎ 1Sam 21:8*), ‎שָׂרֵי מִסִּים‎ Exod 1:11 (J); compare 1Chr 15:27; 1Chr 29:6; 1Chr 27:31; 1Chr 28:1. — In 1Chr 15:22 read probably ‎סַר הַמַּשָּׂא‎ (= ‎שַׂר‎) overseer of the carrying (for ᵑ0 ‎בְּמַשָּׂא יָסֹר בַּמַּשָּׂא‎), so ᵐ5 Benz Kit, Be ‎יָסֹר‎ = ‎יָשׂר‎; see another view ‎יָסַר‎

Qal. 5. of religious office: ‎שָׂרֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים‎ Ezra 8:24; Ezra 8:29; Ezra 10:5; 2Chr 36:14 ‎הַלְוִיִּם‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ 1Chr 15:16; 1Chr 15:22; 2Chr 35:9, compare 1Chr 15:5; 1Chr 15:6; 1Chr 15:7; 1Chr 15:8; 1Chr 15:10 (twice in verse); heads of classes or courses of priests, called ‎שָׂרֵי קֹרֶשׁ‎ 1Chr 24:5, ‎אֱלֹהִים‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ v1Chr 24:5 — ‎׳‎‎שָׂרֵי ק‎ Isa 43:28 (usually consecrated princes, whether priests, or kings, or both) is probably corrupt, read perhaps ‎שַׁעֲרֵי‎ (Du) or ‎וַיְחַלְּלוּ שָׂרֶיךָ קָרְשִׁי‎ ᵐ5 Houb Klo Che^Hpt Gr (substantially).

6. late, of representative leaders of people, tribal heads, ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ ‎׳‎‎שִׁבְטֵי יִשׂ‎ 1Chr 27:22; 1Chr 29:6, compare 1Chr 28:1 apparently = elders, ‎הָעָם‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ Ezek 11:1; 2Chr 24:23 ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ alone, Ps 68:28* (3 t. in verse); in post-exilic Jerusalem Ezra 9:1; Ezra 9:2; Neh 4:10*; Neh 10:1*; Neh 11:1 (‎שָׂרֵי‎ ‎הָעָם‎), + elders Ezra 10:8; Ezra 10:14 called ‎שָׂרֵי יְהוּדָה‎ Neh 12:31; Neh 12:32 of district-rulers Neh 3:9; Neh 3:12; Neh 3:14; Neh 3:15; Neh 3:16; Neh 3:17; Neh 3:18; Neh 3:19 of heads of families, ‎שָׂרֵי הָאָבוֺת‎ Ezra 8:29; 1Chr 29:6 (= ‎רָאשֵׁי‎ ‎׳‎‎הָא‎ 1Chr 24:31; 1Chr 27:1; Neh 7:70*).

7. late, as term of rank and dignity, Isa 23:8 (compare 'merchant- princes'), Job 3:15; Job 29:9 (|| ‎נְגִירִים‎), Job 34:19; Ps 45:17*; Ps 82:7; Ps 148:11, opposed to ‎עבד(יםׅ‎ Prov 19:10; Eccl 10:7 formidable foes Ps 119:23; Ps 119:161.

8. = patron-angel, only Daniel: ‎שַׂר (מַלְכוּת) פָּרַס‎ Dan 10:13; Dan 10:20, ‎יָוָן‎ ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ vDan 10:20 specifically of ‎מִיכָאֵל‎ vDan 10:13; Dan 10:21; Dan 12:1

9. ‎שַׂרהַֿצָּבָא‎ Dan 8:11 = God (probably, compare ‎צָרָא‎ 1 c; yet see also ‎׳‎‎צ‎ 1 b), so ‎שַׂר שְׂרִים‎ vDan 8:25.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References