Lexical Summary
sharath: To minister, to serve, to attend
Original Word:שָׁרַת
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:sharath
Pronunciation:shah-rath'
Phonetic Spelling:(shaw-rath')
KJV: minister (unto), (do) serve(-ant, -ice, -itor), wait on
NASB:minister, ministers, ministering, serve, served, attendant, ministered
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to attend as a menial or worshipper
2. (figuratively) to contribute to
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
minister unto, serve, wait on
A primitive root; to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to -- minister (unto), (do) serve(- ant, -ice, -itor), wait on.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto minister, serve
NASB Translationassist (1), attendant (4), attended (2), became his personal servant (1), minister (26), ministered (4), ministering (15), ministers (17), personal servant (1), servant (1), servant (2), serve (11), served (6), service (1), serving (1), take care (1), took care (1), used in temple service (2), waiters (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[]
97 (compare Late Hebrew (temple-)
ministry, Phoenician
ministry, and perhaps verb
minister); —
Perfect3masculine singularNumbers 8:26;Deuteronomy 18:7; 3masculine pluralNumbers 3:6;Imperfect3masculine singularGenesis 39:4, 3masculine pluralNumbers 3:31 +, etc.;Infinitive constructExodus 28:35 +,Deuteronomy 17:12, etc.;ParticipleNumbers 11:28 + (2 Samuel 13:9 see , p. 602:a), feminine1 Kings 1:15, etc.; —serve:
(opposed tomenial, ):
Genesis 39:4;Genesis 40:4 (JE), Elisha's chief servant2 Kings 4:43;2 Kings 6:15, royal domestics2 Samuel 13:17,18;1 Kings 10:5; 2Chronicles 9:4;Esther 2:2;Esther 6:3, Abishag1 Kings 1:4,15.
officers (late)1 Chronicles 27:1;1 Chronicles 28:1; 2Chronicles 17:19; 22:8;Esther 1:10;Proverbs 29:12.
Exodus 24:13;Exodus 33:11 (E),Numbers 11:28 (J),Joshua 1:1 (D), Elisha to Elijah1 Kings 19:21.
Psalm 103:21, comparePsalm 104:4.
in prophetsIsaiah 60:10.
, absolute1 Kings 8:11 2Chronicles 5:14; with accusativeDeuteronomy 10:8;Deuteronomy 17:12;Deuteronomy 21:5;Jeremiah 33:21 #NAME?Jeremiah 33:22; alsoIsaiah 60:7 of animals put figurative for those sacrificing them; of foreigners admitted to priesthoodIsaiah 61:6, compareIsaiah 56:6; so probably Samuel conceived as priest1 Samuel 2:11;1 Samuel 3:1,1 Samuel 2:18 ( probably accusative, compare1 Samuel 2:11), Deuteronomy 18:5,7.
(P, and late); with accusative of Aaronic priestsNumbers 3:6;Numbers 8:26;Numbers 18:2, with accusative of1 Chronicles 15:2; 2Chronicles 29:11 a; probably also in reference to Levitical singerPsalm 101:6; with accusative tabernacleNumbers 1:50 (P), congregationNumbers 16:9 (P), peopleEzekiel 44:11 +Ezekiel 44:12 (of idolatry); absolute1 Chronicles 16:4; 2Chronicles 23:6; 29:11; b 2 Chronicles 31:2;Ezra 8:17 (participle as substantive,ministers);1 Chronicles 16:37, 2Chronicles 8:14; with location1 Chronicles 26:12; especially with , of sacred vesselsNumbers 3:31;Numbers 4:9,12,14;2 Kings 25:14 =Jeremiah 52:18;1 Chronicles 6:17.
(Ezekiel), absoluteEzekiel 42:14 3t., with accusativeEzekiel 40:48 4t., construct before sacred placeEzekiel 45:4,5;Ezekiel 46:24.
Exodus 28:35 4t. P; with accusative1 Chronicles 23:13; 2Chronicles 13:10;Joel 1:9,13;Joel 2:17,Joel 1:13, withExodus 28:43 4t. P.
Ezekiel 20:32.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usageשָׁרַת occurs about ninety-seven times, consistently bearing the sense of active, personal service rendered to a superior—whether God, His sanctuary, His anointed leaders, or earthly kings. The term stresses loyal attendance and hands-on ministry rather than mere employment, weaving together themes of worship, obedience, and delegated authority.
Covenantal Foundations in the Torah
1. Tabernacle service: The word first clusters around the commissioning of the priesthood. “You are to appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony… they are to minister to it” (Numbers 1:50). This ministry safeguards holiness, mediates atonement, and upholds covenant order.
2. Priestly ordination:Exodus 28–29 links priestly garments and ordination rituals with שָׁרַת, underscoring that priestly “service” is God-directed, Spirit-filled labor, not human invention.
3. Personal attendants: Joshua is called “the servant of Moses from his youth” (Exodus 24:13;Numbers 11:28), illustrating apprenticeship in covenant leadership.
Levitical and Priestly Ministry in Worship
The largest concentration appears in Leviticus, Numbers, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, and Ezekiel, describing:
• Guarding holy space (Numbers 3:6-8).
• Handling sacrificial blood and offerings (Leviticus 10:6-7).
• Musical and prophetic support (1 Chronicles 6:31-32; 25:1).
• Post-exilic restoration: “The sons of Aaron… stood to bless the people and to minister to Him” (2 Chronicles 31:2).
These texts underline that true worship demands divinely appointed ministers whose faithfulness maintains covenant continuity.
Service in Royal Courts
שָׁרַת also moves beyond cultic activity into royal administration:
• “David came to Saul and entered his service” (1 Samuel 16:21).
• Solomon’s attendants “who stand before King Solomon to serve him” (1 Kings 10:8).
Here the verb portrays structured loyalty in the political sphere, foreshadowing the Messiah whose kingdom harmonizes throne and temple.
Prophetic Reproof and Eschatological Hope
Prophets warn against formalism and promise future purity of service:
• “Her priests have violated My law… yet they are in My sanctuary to minister” (Ezekiel 22:26; 44:10-14).
• “You will be called priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God” (Isaiah 61:6).
• Nations will join Israel’s worship: “They will bring all your brothers… to My holy mountain Jerusalem… and some of them I will take for priests and for Levites” (Isaiah 66:20-21).
Angelic and Heavenly Parallels
Psalm 103:21 calls angels “His ministers who do His will,” andPsalm 104:4 states, “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.” These texts broaden שָׁרַת from earthly priesthood to the cosmic liturgy, preparing readers forHebrews 1:7’s application to the heavenly realm.
Christological Trajectory
While שָׁרַת is not used in the New Testament, its theology feeds into the portrayal of the incarnate Son who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). The Levitical pattern anticipates Jesus’ high-priestly ministry (Hebrews 8:1-2), and the royal attendants mirror discipleship under the King of Kings.
Devotional and Ministry Implications
• Service is covenantal: it derives authority from God’s explicit call.
• Service is sacrificial: it often involves blood, fire, and intercession.
• Service is communal: ministers labor on behalf of others, not for self-advancement.
• Service is eschatological: present faithfulness anticipates a perfected worship in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:3).
Statistical and Literary Observations
• Pentateuch: about 30 occurrences, chiefly in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.
• Historical books: roughly 25, mainly Samuel–Kings and Chronicles.
• Psalms and Wisdom: 3 (Psalms 101, 103, 104).
• Prophets: over 30, dominated by Isaiah and Ezekiel.
• Syntax: most forms are Piel, emphasizing intensive or official service.
• Agents: priests, Levites, royal attendants, prophets, angels, and future nations.
• Objects: the LORD, the Tabernacle/Temple, the king, and at times other leaders.
Key Passages for Study
Exodus 29:30;Numbers 3:6-8;Deuteronomy 10:8;1 Samuel 3:1;2 Kings 4:43;1 Chronicles 16:37;2 Chronicles 24:14;Psalm 103:21;Isaiah 61:6;Ezekiel 44:11-14.
Conclusion
שָׁרַת depicts an unbroken line of God-appointed service from Sinai’s Tabernacle to Solomon’s Temple, from prophetic visions to angelic courts, and ultimately fulfilled in the servant-king Jesus Christ. Those who bear His name are summoned into the same pattern of reverent, obedient ministry.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּשָֽׁרְתָ֗ם בשרתם הַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֖ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֣ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֨ים הַמְשָׁרְתִ֪ים המשרתים וְהַמְשָׁרְתִ֣ים וְשֵׁרְת֖וּ וְשֵׁרֵ֕ת וְשֵׁרֵ֨ת וִֽישָׁרְת֑וּךָ וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת וַיְשָׁרְתֵֽהוּ׃ וַתְּשָׁ֣רְתֵ֔הוּ וּֽלְשָׁרְת֖וֹ וּֽמְשָׁרְתִ֖ים וּלְשָׁרֵ֜ת וּמְשָׁ֨רְת֜וֹ והמשרתים וישרת וישרתהו׃ וישרתוך ולשרת ולשרתו ומשרתו ומשרתים ושרת ושרתו ותשרתהו יְֽשָׁרְת֧וּ יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־ יְשָׁרְת֑וּנֶךְ יְשָׁרְת֖וּ יְשָׁרְת֤וּ יְשָׁרְת֥וּ יְשָׁרְתֵֽנִי׃ יְשָׁרְתֻ֑הוּ יְשָׁרְתוּ־ ישרתהו ישרתו ישרתו־ ישרתונך ישרתני׃ לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי לְשָֽׁרְתָֽם׃ לְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙ לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ לְשָׁ֤רֶת לְשָׁרְת֛וֹ לְשָׁרְתֵ֑נִי לְשָׁרְתָֽם׃ לְשָׁרְתֽוֹ׃ לְשָׁרֵ֑ת לְשָׁרֵ֔ת לְשָׁרֵ֕ת לְשָׁרֵ֖ת לְשָׁרֵ֞ת לְשָׁרֵ֣ת לְשָׁרֵ֥ת לְשָׁרֵ֧ת לְשָׁרֵת֙ לשרת לשרתו לשרתו׃ לשרתם׃ לשרתני מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו מְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙ מְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים מְשָׁ֣רְתָ֔יו מְשָׁרְת֑וֹ מְשָׁרְתִ֑ים מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים מְשָׁרְתִ֜ים מְשָׁרְתִ֣ם מְשָׁרְתִ֤ים מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י מְשָׁרְתֵ֤י מְשָׁרְתֵ֥י מְשָׁרְתֵ֨י מְשָׁרְתָ֑יו מְשָׁרְתָ֜יו מְשָׁרְתָ֥יו מְשָׁרְתָֽי׃ מְשָׁרֵ֖ת מְשָׁרֵ֥ת מְשָׁרֵ֨ת מְשָׁרֵת֙ מְשָׁרַ֖ת מְשָׁרְתָ֜יו משרת משרתו משרתי משרתי׃ משרתיו משרתים משרתם bə·šā·rə·ṯām bəšārəṯām beshareTam ham·šā·rə·ṯîm hamšārəṯîm hamshareTim lə·šā·rə·ṯām lə·šā·rə·ṯê·nî lə·šā·rə·ṯōw lə·šā·reṯ lə·šā·rêṯ ləšāreṯ ləšārêṯ ləšārəṯām ləšārəṯênî ləšārəṯōw leshaRet leshareTam leshareTeni leshareTo mə·šā·raṯ mə·šā·rə·ṯāw mə·šā·rə·ṯāy mə·šā·rə·ṯê mə·šā·rə·ṯim mə·šā·rə·ṯîm mə·šā·rə·ṯōw mə·šā·rêṯ məšāraṯ məšārêṯ məšārəṯāw məšārəṯāy məšārəṯê məšārəṯim məšārəṯîm məšārəṯōw meshaRat meshaRet meshareTai meshareTav meshareTei meshareTim meshareTo ū·lə·šā·rə·ṯōw ū·lə·šā·rêṯ ū·mə·šā·rə·ṯîm ū·mə·šā·rə·ṯōw ūləšārêṯ ūləšārəṯōw uleshaRet uleshareTo ūməšārəṯîm ūməšārəṯōw umeshareTim umeShareTo vatteShareTehu vaySharet vayshareTehu vehamshareTim vesheRet veshereTu vishareTucha wat·tə·šā·rə·ṯê·hū wattəšārəṯêhū way·šā·rə·ṯê·hū way·šā·reṯ wayšāreṯ wayšārəṯêhū wə·ham·šā·rə·ṯîm wə·šê·rə·ṯū wə·šê·rêṯ wəhamšārəṯîm wəšêrêṯ wəšêrəṯū wî·šā·rə·ṯū·ḵā wîšārəṯūḵā yə·šā·rə·ṯê·nî yə·šā·rə·ṯū yə·šā·rə·ṯū- yə·šā·rə·ṯu·hū yə·šā·rə·ṯū·neḵ yəšārəṯênî yəšārəṯū yəšārəṯū- yəšārəṯuhū yəšārəṯūneḵ yeshareTeni yeshareTu yeshareTunech yesharTuhu
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