8297. Saray

Lexicon

Saray: Sarai

Original Word: שָׂרַי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Saray
Pronunciation: sah-RAI
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-rah'-ee)
Definition: Sarai
Meaning: Sarai

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Sarai

From sar; dominative; Sarai, the wife of Abraham -- Sarai.

see HEBREW sar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as sar
Definition
a wife of Abram
NASB Translation
Sarai (16), Sarai's (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

שָׂרַי proper name, feminine wife of Abram (Nö^{ZMG xiii (1888). 484} Ges^{§ 80l} Kö^{ii. 1. 427 make} = foregoing, with old feminine ending ַ י; > Lag^{BN 92, Anm. *, emphasizing different} in ᵐ5, derived from a √ , and compare , name of a barren mountain; compare RS יִשְׂרָאֵל above, below I. שׂרה); — ᵐ5 Σαρα; — Genesis 11:30 (J), Genesis 11:31 (P), Genesis 12:5,11,17; Genesis 16:1,2,3,5,6 (twice in verse); Genesis 16:8 (twice in verse) (all J), Genesis 17:15 (P); שָׂרָ֑י Genesis 11:29 (J), Genesis 16:2 (J), Genesis 17:15 (P).

שָׂשׂוֺן, שָׂשׂן see שׂוֺשׂ.

שֵׂת see שְׂאֵת below נשׂא p.673a.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root word שַׂר (sar), meaning "prince" or "ruler."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G4564 Σάρρα (Sarra): The Greek equivalent of Sarah, used in the New Testament, particularly in references to her in Romans 4:19 and Hebrews 11:11, where her faith and role in the Abrahamic covenant are highlighted.

Usage: Sarai is used as a proper noun, specifically as the name of the wife of Abram (later Abraham) in the Hebrew Bible. She is a significant matriarchal figure in the biblical narrative.

Context: Sarai is introduced in the Book of Genesis as the wife of Abram. Her story is pivotal in the narrative of the patriarchs. Sarai is initially described as barren, which is a central theme in her story, as it sets the stage for the miraculous birth of Isaac. In Genesis 12:5, Sarai accompanies Abram as they leave Haran and journey to Canaan in obedience to God's call. Her beauty is noted in Genesis 12:11, leading to a significant episode in Egypt where Abram, fearing for his life, asks her to say she is his sister. This results in Pharaoh taking her into his house, but God intervenes, and she is returned to Abram.

In Genesis 16, Sarai, still childless, gives her Egyptian maidservant Hagar to Abram as a wife, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. This decision leads to tension and conflict, highlighting Sarai's complex character and the cultural practices of the time. In Genesis 17:15, God changes her name from Sarai to Sarah, signifying a new phase in her life and God's promise that she will be "a mother of nations" (Genesis 17:16, BSB). This name change marks the divine covenant and the promise of Isaac's birth, which is fulfilled in Genesis 21.

Sarai's story is integral to the themes of faith, promise, and God's sovereignty in the biblical narrative. Her transformation from Sarai to Sarah symbolizes the fulfillment of God's promises and her role as a matriarch in the lineage of Israel.

Forms and Transliterations

וְשָׂרַי֙ ושרי שָׂרַ֔י שָׂרַ֖י שָׂרַ֗י שָׂרַ֛י שָׂרַ֜י שָׂרַ֣י שָׂרַ֨י שָׂרָ֑י שָׂרָ֔י שָׂרָֽי׃ שרי שרי׃ śā·ray śā·rāy saRai śāray śārāy vesaRai wə·śā·ray wəśāray

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 11:29
HEB: אֵֽשֶׁת־ אַבְרָם֙ שָׂרָ֔י וְשֵׁ֤ם אֵֽשֶׁת־
NAS: wife was Sarai; and the name
KJV: wife [was] Sarai; and the name
INT: wife of Abram's was Sarai and the name wife

Genesis 11:30
HEB: וַתְּהִ֥י שָׂרַ֖י עֲקָרָ֑ה אֵ֥ין
NAS: Sarai was barren; she had no
KJV: But Sarai was barren;
INT: become Sarai was barren had

Genesis 11:31
HEB: בְּנ֔וֹ וְאֵת֙ שָׂרַ֣י כַּלָּת֔וֹ אֵ֖שֶׁת
NAS: his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law,
KJV: son, and Sarai his daughter in law,
INT: his grandson his son and Sarai his daughter-in-law wife

Genesis 12:5
HEB: אַבְרָם֩ אֶת־ שָׂרַ֨י אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ וְאֶת־
NAS: Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot
KJV: And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot
INT: took Abram Sarai his wife and Lot

Genesis 12:11
HEB: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ הִנֵּה־
NAS: that he said to Sarai his wife,
KJV: that he said unto Sarai his wife,
INT: said to Sarai his wife See

Genesis 12:17
HEB: עַל־ דְּבַ֥ר שָׂרַ֖י אֵ֥שֶׁת אַבְרָֽם׃
NAS: because of Sarai, Abram's
KJV: plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
INT: because of of Sarai wife Abram's

Genesis 16:1
HEB: וְשָׂרַי֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת אַבְרָ֔ם
NAS: Now Sarai, Abram's wife
KJV: Now Sarai Abram's wife
INT: now Sarai wife Abram's

Genesis 16:2
HEB: וַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֜י אֶל־ אַבְרָ֗ם
NAS: So Sarai said to Abram,
KJV: And Sarai said unto Abram,
INT: said Sarai to Abram

Genesis 16:2
HEB: אַבְרָ֖ם לְק֥וֹל שָׂרָֽי׃
NAS: listened to the voice of Sarai.
KJV: hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
INT: her and Abram to the voice of Sarai

Genesis 16:3
HEB: וַתִּקַּ֞ח שָׂרַ֣י אֵֽשֶׁת־ אַבְרָ֗ם
NAS: Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar
KJV: And Sarai Abram's wife
INT: took Sarai wife Abram

Genesis 16:5
HEB: וַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֣י אֶל־ אַבְרָם֮
NAS: And Sarai said to Abram,
KJV: And Sarai said unto Abram,
INT: said and Sarai to Abram

Genesis 16:6
HEB: אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־ שָׂרַ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ֙
NAS: said to Sarai, Behold,
KJV: said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid
INT: Abram to Sarai Behold your maid

Genesis 16:6
HEB: בְּעֵינָ֑יִךְ וַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָ שָׂרַ֔י וַתִּבְרַ֖ח מִפָּנֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: in your sight. So Sarai treated her harshly,
KJV: to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with
INT: your sight treated Sarai fled her presence

Genesis 16:8
HEB: הָגָ֞ר שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרַ֛י אֵֽי־ מִזֶּ֥ה
NAS: He said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, where
KJV: Hagar, Sarai's maid,
INT: Hagar maid Sarai's whence have you

Genesis 16:8
HEB: וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מִפְּנֵי֙ שָׂרַ֣י גְּבִרְתִּ֔י אָנֹכִ֖י
NAS: of my mistress Sarai.
KJV: from the face of my mistress Sarai.
INT: said the presence Sarai of my mistress I

Genesis 17:15
HEB: אֶל־ אַבְרָהָ֔ם שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתְּךָ֔ לֹא־
NAS: to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife,
KJV: unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife,
INT: to Abraham Sarai your wife shall not

Genesis 17:15
HEB: אֶת־ שְׁמָ֖הּ שָׂרָ֑י כִּ֥י שָׂרָ֖ה
NAS: her name Sarai, but Sarah
KJV: her name Sarai, but
INT: call her name Sarai but Sarah

17 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8297
17 Occurrences

śā·rāy — 16 Occ.
wə·śā·ray — 1 Occ.