Lexical Summary
sar: Prince, ruler, leader, chief, captain, official
Original Word:שַׂר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:sar
Pronunciation:sahr
Phonetic Spelling:(sar)
KJV: captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord, ((-task-))master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward
NASB:princes, commanders, commander, captains, officials, leaders, chief
Word Origin:[fromH8323 (שָׂרַר - rule)]
1. a head person (of any rank or class)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
chief captain, general, governor, keeper, lord, taskmaster, principal,
Fromsarar; a head person (of any rank or class) -- captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord, ((-task-))master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.
see HEBREWsarar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionchieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
NASB Translationcaptain (22), captains (39), charge (1), chief (24), chief and commanders (1), chiefs (1), commander (40), commanders (49), governor (3), heads (1), leader (2), leaders (28), leading (3), officer (1), officers (14), official (9), officials (35), overseers (3), Prince (1), prince (9), prince of princes (1), princes (109), quartermaster* (1), ruler (1), rulers (10), taskmasters* (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
420 (Late Hebrew especially of angels; Assyrian
šarru,
king); — absolute
2 Samuel 3:38 +,
Micah 7:3 +,
Hosea 3:4 +; construct
Judges 4:2 +; suffix
Daniel 10:21; plural
1 Kings 4:2 +; construct
Genesis 12:15 +; suffix
Judges 5:15;
Isaiah 10:8,
Jeremiah 44:21,
Isaiah 3:4 +; —
chieftain, leader:
plural of IsraelNumbers 21:18 (poem in J E; "" ), of IssacharJudges 5:15 (poem);Judges 10:18 is dubious (we should expect , and compare , instead,Judges 11:5-11); of MidianJudges 7:25;Judges 8:3; Philistines1 Samuel 29:3 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 29:4 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 29:9; (apparently =1 Samuel 29:2;1 Samuel 29:6;1 Samuel 29:7 [We], yet distinguished by HPS and [with reserve] Bu; Th Bu strike out in1 Samuel 29:4 b), compare1 Samuel 18:30; in poetry, of (i.e. the leading Moabites)Jeremiah 48:7, of (q. v.; i.e. the leading Ammonites)Amos 1:15 =Jeremiah 49:3.
singular1 Samuel 22:2; compare1 Kings 11:24, plural2 Samuel 4:2.
vassal, noble, official, under king (acting, on occasion, as counselor, commander, etc.):
plural,Genesis 12:15 (J) + 3 t. Is +Genesis 30:4 Di Du Skinner (>of foreign embassy [compare "" ] Che and others reading [CheHeb.Hpt. Marti] ),Psalm 105:22; MoabNumbers 22:8 8t. 22, 23 (JE),Amos 2:3; EdomIsaiah 34:12 ("" ); AssyrianIsaiah 10:8;Isaiah 31:9; BabylonianIsaiah 21:5 7t. Jeremiah + 2Chronicles 32:31 (but here perhaps vaguely =authorities); other nationsJeremiah 49:38 17t. Ezra, Esther; in GeneralIsaiah 49:7;officials, official class, under kings of Israel: David (only Chronicles)1 Chronicles 22:17 5t. 1Chronicles;Ezra 8:20; Solomon1 Kings 4:2; Jehoiachin2 Kings 24:12,14; Zedak.Jeremiah 34:21; 2Chronicles 36:18; other kings 19 t. 2 Chronicles; in GeneralEcclesiastes 10:16,17; see also (Judah)Jeremiah 1:18 31t. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 17:25 a strike out Gf Che Gie Du), 4 t. Lamentations;Ezekiel 17:12;Zephaniah 1:8 (where distinguished from , who are never called ); so, in General,Nehemiah 9:32,34;Daniel 9:6,8; and (Northern Israel)Hosea 3:4 6t. Hosea.
(‡adi)Exodus 2:14 (E + ); under Moses (over groups of 1000, 100, 50, 10)Exodus 18:21 7t. 18 (E),Deuteronomy 1:15 (4 t. in verse); later in JudahHosea 5:10 (Now reads ),Isaiah 1:23, compareIsaiah 3:4,14;Isaiah 32:1;Micah 7:3 (singular; "" ),Zephaniah 3:3 (""id.),Ezekiel 22:27, compareProverbs 8:16 ("" );Proverbs 28:2 read perhaps , see Toy.
(),1 Kings 20:14,15,17,19; (compareEsther 1:3;Esther 8:9;Esther 9:3,Esther 3:12).
ascommandant of city,Judges 9:30, compare1 Kings 22:26 2Chronicles 18:25;2 Kings 23:8; 2Chronicles 34:8; of citadel,Nehemiah 7:2; plural of cityofficialsJudges 8:6,14 (distinguished from ), compare2 Kings 10:1; 2Chronicles 29:20.
specifically , =captain, General:
Genesis 21:22,32 (E),Genesis 26:26 (J),1 Samuel 12:9 23t., +Joshua 5:14,15 (J E;
), ;1 Kings 1:25 3t. Chronicles,1 Chronicles 12:22 (Gi Baer; van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:21);Deuteronomy 20:9;1 Kings 2:5;1 Chronicles 27:3;2 Samuel 24:2 (but read asL and ""1 Chronicles 21:2 Th We Dr HPS Bu),1 Chronicles 21:4;1 Chronicles 21:4;2 Kings 9:5; 2Chronicles 33:14;Nehemiah 2:9,1 Kings 15:20 2Chronicles 16:4;2 Kings 25:23,26;Jeremiah 40:7,13 7t. Jeremiah; 2Chronicles 32:6; so alone2 Samuel 18:5;2 Samuel 19:7;1 Kings 9:22 2Chronicles 8:9 .:B Be Kit (, for ),2 Kings 9:5 (twice in verse);1 Chronicles 11:6,21 9t., +Job 39:25;Daniel 11:5;2 Samuel 3:38 (of Abner); possibly military figurative also inIsaiah 9:5 (Messianic name).
2 Kings 1:9-14Isaiah 3:3, of 1001 Samuel 22:7 16t. +1 Samuel 8:12 (reading for HPS, compare We; Bu insert ), of 10001 Samuel 17:18 11t., +1 Chronicles 13:1;1 Chronicles 26:26 (distinguished from ),1 Chronicles 27:1;1 Chronicles 29:6; 2Chronicles 1:2; alsocaptain of the chariotry1 Kings 22:31,32,33 2Chron 18:30; 18:31; 18:32 3t. +1 Kings 9:22 2Chronicles 8:9.
chief, head, of other official classes: , Egypt,Genesis 37:36 5t.;1 Kings 14:27 2Chronicles 12:10;1 Kings 5:30;1 Kings 9:23 2Chronicles 8:10; even domestic positions (court of Pharaoh),Genesis 40:2 5t.,Genesis 40:2 4t. (all E);1 Chronicles 28:1, i.e. of the successive courses of royal military officials; compare1 Chronicles 27:28;Daniel 1:7,8,9,10,11,18;Jeremiah 51:59.
=overseer:Genesis 39:21,23,Genesis 47:6 (all J; compare1 Samuel 21:8),Exodus 1:11 (J); compare1 Chronicles 15:27;1 Chronicles 29:6;1 Chronicles 27:31;1 Chronicles 28:1. — In1 Chronicles 15:22 read probably (= )overseer of the carrying (for ), so Benz Kit, Be = ; see another view
Ezra 8:24,29;Ezra 10:5; 2Chronicles 36:14;1 Chronicles 15:16,22; 2Chronicles 35:9, compare1 Chronicles 15:5,6,7,8,10 (twice in verse); heads of classes or courses of priests, called1 Chronicles 24:5,1 Chronicles 24:5; —Isaiah 43:28 (usuallyconsecrated princes, whether priests, or kings, or both) is probably corrupt, read perhaps (Du) or Houb Klo CheHpt Gr (substantially).
,1 Chronicles 27:22;1 Chronicles 29:6, compare1 Chronicles 28:1; apparently = elders,Ezekiel 11:1; 2Chronicles 24:23; alone,Psalm 68:28 (3 t. in verse); in post-exilic JerusalemEzra 9:1,2;Nehemiah 4:10;Nehemiah 10:1;Nehemiah 11:1 ( ), + eldersEzra 10:8,14; calledNehemiah 12:31,32; of district-rulersNehemiah 3:9,12,14,15,16,17,18,19; of heads of families,Ezra 8:29;1 Chronicles 29:6 (=1 Chronicles 24:31;1 Chronicles 27:1;Nehemiah 7:70).
,Isaiah 23:8 (compare 'merchant-princes'),Job 3:15;Job 29:9 ("" ),Job 34:19;Psalm 45:17;Psalm 82:7;Psalm 148:11, opposed toProverbs 19:10;Ecclesiastes 10:7; formidable foesPsalm 119:23;Psalm 119:161.
=patron-angel, only Daniel:Daniel 10:13,20,Daniel 10:20; specifically ofDaniel 10:13,21;Daniel 12:1
Daniel 8:11 =God (probably, compare ; yet see also ), soDaniel 8:25.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Meaning and ScopeThe term שַׂר appears throughout the Hebrew Scriptures to denote a person who exercises authority—human or angelic—whether in civil, military, religious, or cosmic spheres. Its range includes princes of royal blood, tribal heads, army commanders, court officials, temple overseers, and even the heavenly beings who stand guard over nations. The Scripture presents these “princes” as divinely-ordered instruments for order, judgment, protection, and, ultimately, foreshadowing of the coming Messianic King.
Domains of Usage in the Old Testament
1.Civil Governance and Royal Administration
• Pharaoh’s cabinet is filled with “princes” entrusted with specialized duties (Genesis 12:15;Genesis 40:2).
• Israel’s own monarchy employs שַׂר for provincial governors and royal counselors (1 Kings 20:14;2 Samuel 8:18).
• In the Persian period, the term describes satraps and high officials who mediate imperial authority (Esther 3:12;Daniel 6:2).
2.Military Leadership and Warfare
• Shown first inGenesis 21:22, where Abimelech’s commander Phicol is called the “chief of his army.”
• David organizes his forces under “thirty” and “thirty-seven” שַׂר (2 Samuel 23:8-39).
• Chronicles records 2,600 “mighty men of valor, heads of fathers’ households” as שָׂרִים who lead 307,500 soldiers (2 Chronicles 26:12-13).
• In prophetic literature, foreign invaders arrive with “princes” who set thrones in the gates of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 1:15).
3.Religious and Cultic Administration
• Temple treasurers and Levitical overseers carry the title (1 Chronicles 24:4-5;2 Chronicles 35:8).
• Princes contribute to the sanctuary in Ezekiel’s visionary temple (Ezekiel 45:13-17).
• Because of their stewardship, their failures attract prophetic rebuke (Isaiah 1:23;Hosea 9:15).
4.Angelic Princes in the Heavenly Realm
• Michael is introduced as “one of the chief princes” (Daniel 10:13) and later “the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people” (Daniel 12:1).
• Hostile spiritual forces such as the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” (Daniel 10:13, 20) show that the term extends beyond earthbound governance into spiritual warfare.
• Joshua encounters the “Commander of the army of the LORD” (Joshua 5:14-15), a theophanic figure whose authoritative stance sanctifies holy ground.
5.Social and Tribal Structures
• Each tribe in the wilderness possesses a שַׂר as head (Numbers 1:16;Numbers 7).
• These leaders function as mediators between Moses and the people (Deuteronomy 1:15).
• Elders who sit in the gate—often called שָׂרִים—render judgment and uphold covenant order (Proverbs 31:23).
6.Prophetic and Eschatological Vision
• Messianic passages anticipate the rise of a “prince” from David’s line who will shepherd God’s people in justice (Ezekiel 34:23-24;Ezekiel 37:24-25).
•Isaiah 9:6 declares, “and the government will be upon His shoulders,” portraying the ultimate fulfillment of all earthly שָׂר roles in the person of the Son who is given.
•Zechariah 12:6 pictures Judah’s clans as “like a firepot among sticks” and Jerusalem’s leaders as instruments of final deliverance.
Representative Passages
•Genesis 39:20 – Potiphar as “prison commander” entrusted with Joseph.
•Exodus 18:21 – “Capable men” appointed as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
•1 Kings 4:2-6 – Solomon’s administrative list, including Azariah son of Zadok, “the priest,” and others called שָׂרִים.
•2 Kings 25:19 – Nebuzaradan taking temple overseers and “five royal advisers” after Jerusalem falls.
•Nehemiah 4:14 – Nehemiah rallies “nobles, officials, and the rest of the people” to defend the wall.
•Daniel 9:25 – Prediction of “the coming of an anointed one, a prince.”
•Micah 5:2 – The ruler from Bethlehem “whose origins are from of old.”
Theological Themes
• Divine Delegation: Human princes serve at God’s pleasure; their authority is legitimate only when aligned with His covenant (Psalm 82;Proverbs 8:15-16).
• Accountability: The prophets denounce corrupt שָׂרִים who oppress the poor (Isaiah 3:14-15;Micah 3:1-4).
• Protection and Order: Whether in armies or courts, princes guard the community from chaos (2 Chronicles 23:1-11).
• Spiritual Warfare: Angelic princes reflect a cosmic dimension in which God’s people are defended (Daniel 10-12).
• Messianic Fulfillment: All lesser princes point forward to the Prince of Peace whose reign reconciles heaven and earth (Ephesians 2:14-17; cf.Isaiah 9:6).
Christological Foreshadowing
The cumulative portrait of שַׂר converges in Jesus Christ, the “Prince and Savior” (Acts 5:31) and “Prince of life” (Acts 3:15). He embodies perfect civil justice, commands heavenly armies (Revelation 19:11-16), mediates priestly functions (Hebrews 4:14-16), and rules an everlasting kingdom (Luke 1:33).
Practical Ministry Implications
• Leadership: Biblical elders, pastors, and civic leaders are reminded that true authority is stewarded under God.
• Intercession: Awareness of invisible “princes” encourages persistent prayer against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12-18).
• Accountability: Congregations should call leaders to integrity, echoing prophetic critiques of unjust princes.
• Hope: In political turbulence, believers rest in the promise that “His dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 7:14).
Forms and Transliterations
אָ֑לֶף אלף בְּשָׂרִֽים׃ בשרים׃ הַשַּׂ֖ר הַשַּׂ֣ר הַשַּׂ֥ר הַשָּֽׂר׃ הַשָּׂ֑ר הַשָּׂ֔ר הַשָּׂ֖ר הַשָּׂרִ֑ים הַשָּׂרִ֔ים הַשָּׂרִ֖ים הַשָּׂרִ֛ים הַשָּׂרִ֜ים הַשָּׂרִ֞ים הַשָּׂרִ֣ים הַשָּׂרִ֤ים הַשָּׂרִ֥ים הַשָּׂרִ֨ים הַשָּׂרִֽים׃ הַשָּׂרִים֙ הַשָּׂרִים֮ השר השר׃ השרים השרים׃ וְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔ים וְהַשָּׂרִ֑ים וְהַשָּׂרִ֔ים וְהַשָּׂרִ֖ים וְהַשָּׂרִ֞ים וְהַשָּׂרִ֣ים וְהַשָּׂרִ֤ים וְהַשָּׂרִ֥ים וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ וְלַשָּׂרִ֖ים וְשַׂ֣ר ׀ וְשַׂר־ וְשָׂ֔ר וְשָׂ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם וְשָׂרִ֖ים וְשָׂרִ֛ים וְשָׂרִ֡ים וְשָׂרִֽים׃ וְשָׂרֵ֔ינוּ וְשָׂרֵ֣י וְשָׂרֵ֣י ׀ וְשָׂרֵ֤י וְשָׂרֵ֥י וְשָׂרֵ֨י וְשָׂרֵֽי־ וְשָׂרֵיכֶ֖ם וְשָׂרֶ֤יהָ וְשָׂרֶֽיהָ׃ וְשָׂרַ֖יִךְ וְשָׂרַ֙יִךְ֙ וְשָׂרַ֤י וְשָׂרָ֑יו וְשָׂרָ֔יו וְשָׂרָ֖יו וְשָׂרָ֗יו וְשָׂרָ֛יו וְשָׂרָ֞יו וְשָׂרָ֣יו וּלְשָׂ֑ר וּלְשָׂרִ֖ים וּלְשָׂרֵ֖י וּלְשָׂרֵ֣י וּלְשָׂרֵ֤י והשרים ולשר ולשרי ולשרים ושר ושר־ ושרי ושרי־ ושריה ושריה׃ ושריהם ושריו ושריך ושריכם ושרים ושרים׃ ושרינו לְ֝שָׂרִ֗ים לְשַׂ֣ר לְשַׂר־ לְשָׂ֑ר לְשָׂרֵ֖ינוּ לְשָׂרֵ֣י לְשָׂרֵ֤י לְשָׂרֵ֧ינוּ לְשָׂרֵֽי־ לְשָׂרֵי֩ לְשָׂרֶ֔יהָ לְשָׂרָיו֙ לשר לשר־ לשרי לשרי־ לשריה לשריו לשרים לשרינו מִשַּׂ֣ר מִשָּׂרֵ֖י מִשָּׂרֵ֤י מִשָּׂרֵ֥י מִשָּׂרֵ֨י משר משרי רים רינו שַֽׂר־ שַׂ֕ר שַׂ֖ר שַׂ֣ר שַׂ֤ר שַׂ֥ר שַׂרְכֶֽם׃ שַׂר־ שָֽׂרֵי־ שָֽׂרֵיהֶ֔ם שָׂ֔ר שָׂ֝רִ֗ים שָׂ֝רִים שָׂ֠רֵינוּ שָׂ֣רֵי שָׂ֤רֵי שָׂ֥רֵי שָׂ֭רִים שָׂרִ֔ים שָׂרִ֖ים שָׂרִ֗ים שָׂרִ֣ים שָׂרִֽים׃ שָׂרִים֙ שָׂרֵ֖י שָׂרֵ֖ינוּ שָׂרֵ֙ינוּ֙ שָׂרֵ֣י שָׂרֵ֣י ׀ שָׂרֵ֤י שָׂרֵ֥י שָׂרֵ֥ינוּ שָׂרֵ֧י שָׂרֵ֨י שָׂרֵֽי־ שָׂרֵי֙ שָׂרֵי֩ שָׂרֵיהֶ֑ם שָׂרֵיהֶ֖ם שָׂרֶ֑יהָ שָׂרֶ֔יהָ שָׂרֶ֖יהָ שָׂרֶ֗יהָ שָׂרֶ֛יהָ שָׂרֶ֣יהָ שָׂרֶ֨יהָ שָׂרַ֛י שָׂרַ֣יִךְ שָׂרָ֑יו שָׂרָ֔יו שָׂרָ֖יו שָׂרָ֗יו שָׂרָ֣יו שָׂרָיו֙ שָׂרָיו֩ שר שר־ שרי שרי־ שריה שריהם שריו שריך שרים שרים׃ שרינו שרכם׃ ’ā·lep̄ ’ālep̄ Alef bə·śā·rîm besaRim bəśārîm haś·śā·rîm haś·śar haś·śār hasSar haśśar haśśār hassaRim haśśārîm lə·śā·rāw lə·śā·rê lə·śā·rê- lə·śā·re·hā lə·śā·rê·nū lə·śā·rîm lə·śar lə·śār lə·śar- leSar ləśar ləśār ləśar- lesaRav ləśārāw ləśārê ləśārê- ləśārehā lesaRei lesaReiha lesaReinu ləśārênū lesaRim ləśārîm miś·śā·rê miś·śar misSar miśśar miśśārê missaRei rê·nū reinu rênū rim rîm śā·ra·yiḵ śā·rāw śā·ray śā·rê śā·rê- śā·re·hā śā·rê·hem śā·rê·nū śā·rîm sar śar śār śar- śar·ḵem saRai saRav śārāw śāray saRayich śārayiḵ sarChem śārê śārê- śārehā śārêhem saRei saReiha sareiHem saReinu śārênū saRim śārîm śarḵem ū·lə·śā·rê ū·lə·śā·rîm ū·lə·śār uleSar ūləśār ūləśārê ulesaRei ulesaRim ūləśārîm vehassaRim velassaRim vesar vesaRai vesaRav vesaRayich vesaRei vesareiChem vesaReiha veSareiHem vesaReinu vesaRim wə·haś·śā·rîm wə·laś·śā·rîm wə·śā·ra·yiḵ wə·śā·rāw wə·śā·ray wə·śā·rê wə·śā·rê- wə·śā·re·hā wə·śā·rê·hem wə·śā·rê·ḵem wə·śā·rê·nū wə·śā·rîm wə·śar wə·śār wə·śar- wəhaśśārîm wəlaśśārîm wəśar wəśār wəśar- wəśārāw wəśāray wəśārayiḵ wəśārê wəśārê- wəśārehā wəśārêhem wəśārêḵem wəśārênū wəśārîm
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