◄ 8293. sheruth ►
Lexical Summary
sheruth: Service, Ministry

Original Word: שֵׁרוּת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: sheruwth
Pronunciation: shay-ROOTH
Phonetic Spelling: (shay-rooth')
KJV: remnant
Word Origin: [from H8281 (שָׁרָה - lets it loose) abbreviated]

1. freedom

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
remnant

From sharah abbreviated; freedom -- remnant.

see HEBREW sharah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
another form of sharah, q.v.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Thematic Overview

שֵׁרוּת (sherut) signifies “service” or “ministry.” Although this specific noun does not appear in the Masoretic text, it is formed from the verb שָׁרַת (sharath, Strong’s 8334), a common Old Testament word describing personal attendance, priestly functions, and royal or temple service. The derivative therefore gathers up the whole biblical idea of dedicated, covenantal labor rendered for the glory of God and for the good of His people.

Root Concept: Cultic and Royal Service

1. Priestly attendance – In passages such as Deuteronomy 10:8 and 1 Chronicles 23:13, the verb שָׁרַת sets apart the Levites “to minister before the LORD.” The priests were not merely functionaries; their work represented consecrated worship on behalf of the nation.
2. Royal attendance – The same root describes attendants at court (for example, 1 Kings 10:5). Service to the king models ultimate service to the King of kings.
3. Exclusivity – Exodus 30:30 stresses that priestly anointing was “so they may serve Me as priests,” indicating that true ministry is singularly devoted to Yahweh, not divided by competing loyalties.

Service in the Tabernacle and Temple

The tabernacle instituted tiers of ministry—high priest, priests, and Levites—each “serving” in distinct but complementary ways (Numbers 3:6-10). Their tasks included:
• Guarding holy space (Numbers 3:38).
• Handling sacrificial blood (Leviticus 1:5).
• Singing and music (1 Chronicles 16:4-6).
• Caring for vessels and furnishings (Numbers 4:15-16).

The service was perpetual, for “they were to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise every evening” (1 Chronicles 23:30). Thus, שֵׁרוּת points to worship that is continual, ordered, and God-centered.

Echoes in the Prophets and Writings

Though the noun itself is absent, the prophetic vision amplifies its theology:
• Isaiah 56:6-7 envisions foreigners who “minister to Him” being welcomed into the house of prayer.
• Ezekiel 44:15-16 speaks of a restored priesthood that “shall come near to serve Me.”
• Psalm 103:21 summons “all His servants who do His will” to bless the LORD, reminding every believer that ministry is both privilege and obligation.

From Priestly Ministry to Christian Ministry

Jesus fulfills every aspect of Old-Testament service:
• He is the superior High Priest (Hebrews 8:1-2).
• He is the Servant of the LORD who “will faithfully bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:1; compare Matthew 12:18-21).
• He is the model servant who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

Because He has completed the ultimate שֵׁרוּת, He now commissions His people: “As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you” (John 20:21).

New-Covenant Priesthood of Believers

1 Peter 2:5 calls believers “a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Ministry is no longer confined to one tribe; every Christian is enlisted. Gifts differ, but all are stewardship of divine grace: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10).

Practical Lessons for the Church Today

• Service is worship: tasks great and small become offerings when done unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).
• Service is sacrificial: true ministry often demands “labor, striving according to His power” (Colossians 1:29).
• Service is communal: the body grows “when each part is working properly” (Ephesians 4:16).
• Service is missional: believers are “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), continuing His gracious work in the world.

Key Related Passages for Further Study

Exodus 28:41; Numbers 8:11-22; 1 Samuel 2:11; 2 Chronicles 31:21; Psalm 134:1-2; Isaiah 61:6; Hebrews 9:14; Revelation 7:15.

Links
Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts
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