Lexical Summary serok: Vine, tendril Original Word: שְׂרוֹךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance shoe latchet From sarak; a thong (as laced or tied) -- ((shoe-)) latchet. see HEBREW sarak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sarak Definition (sandal) thong NASB Translation strap (1), thong (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שְׂרוֺךְ] noun [masculine] (sandal-)thong (? from above √, as crossed and twisted over the foot; on vocalization compare Arabic above, Ges§ 84 a n BaNB § 42 e); — construct, נַֿעַל׳שְׂ Genesis 14:23; Isaiah 5:27. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Cultural Background The term designates the narrow leather tie that secures a sandal to the foot in the ancient Near-Eastern world. Because it is a small, inexpensive item, it naturally came to symbolize something of minimal monetary value, yet could also imply personal ownership, honor, or the humblest form of service (untying another’s sandal). Occurrences in Scripture • Genesis 14:23 – Abram refuses to receive “even a thread or a sandal strap” from the king of Sodom. Historical and Literary Significance In everyday life a sandal strap was easily replaced and hardly worth notice. By placing it in parallel with “a thread” (Genesis 14:23) or with a soldier’s tightly cinched belt (Isaiah 5:27), Scripture uses the item as a literary device to stress two different traits: 1. Absolute integrity and independence (Abram). Even the least valuable article would not compromise the patriarch’s testimony that his wealth came from the LORD alone. Theological Emphases 1. God’s Provision over Human Patronage. Abram’s vow elevates divine sufficiency above earthly benefactors, foreshadowing the believer’s call to rely on the LORD rather than on worldly alliances (Psalm 121:2; Philippians 4:19). Practical Ministry Applications • Financial Ethics: Christian leaders must follow Abram’s example, refusing even minor gifts that could cloud testimony or imply improper dependence (1 Thessalonians 2:5). Christological Connections John the Baptist’s confession, “the strap of whose sandals I am unworthy to untie” (John 1:27, cf. Mark 1:7) echoes the humility bound up in שְׂרוֹךְ. The One to whom even the smallest service is an honor far surpasses Abram and Isaiah’s warriors. The strap, insignificant in itself, becomes a pointer to the infinite worth of Christ and the reverent attitude His servants must display. Devotional Reflections The reader is invited to examine heart-level motives: Are there “threads or sandal straps” we cling to that could mar God’s glory in our lives? Conversely, do we neglect small disciplines, forgetting that unbroken straps are marks of soldiers fit for the King? May the humble sandal strap remind us that nothing is too insignificant to surrender to the LORD, and no detail too minor for His all-seeing care. Forms and Transliterations שְׂר֥וֹךְ שְׂרֽוֹךְ־ שרוך שרוך־ śə·rō·wḵ śə·rō·wḵ- seroch śərōwḵ śərōwḵ-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:23 HEB: מִחוּט֙ וְעַ֣ד שְׂרֽוֹךְ־ נַ֔עַל וְאִם־ NAS: or a sandal thong or anything INT: A thread against thong A sandal will not Isaiah 5:27 2 Occurrences |
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