8311. sara

Lexical Summary

sara: To contend, to strive, to persist

Original Word: שָׂרַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sara`
Pronunciation: sah-rah'
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-rah')
KJV: stretch out self, (have any) superfluous thing
NASB: deformed, overgrown, stretch
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to prolong, i.e. (reflex) be deformed by excess of members

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

stretch out self, have any superfluous thing

A primitive root; to prolong, i.e. (reflex) be deformed by excess of members -- stretch out self, (have any) superfluous thing.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to extend
NASB Translation
deformed (1), overgrown (1), stretch (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[שָׂרַע] verb extend (Arabic point directly at, also enter upon a path (Frä²¹³ thinks originally divide, then stretch out, make straight), projecting roof, long-nosed (torto naso ᵑ9^{Leviticus 21:18}); Ethiopic dispose, arrange; Sabean שרע arrangement, security Hom^{Chr 124}; — but Aramaic explanation as mutilated Leviticus 21:18; Leviticus 22:23 PS²⁷⁴⁴, compare ᵐ5 ὠτότμητος); —

Qal Passive participle שָׂרוּעַ extended, i.e. too long (in a limb or member), of man Leviticus 21:18, beast Leviticus 22:23 (see II. חרם).

Hithpa`el stretch oneself: Infinitive construct הִשְׂתָּרֵעַ Isaiah 28:20 (see מַצַּע p. 427:a).

שַׂרְעַמִּים see below שׂעף.

Topical Lexicon

Usage in Scripture

Hebrew 8311 occurs three times, each time describing an action or condition related to “stretching out” or an abnormal extension of limb or space. In Leviticus it points to physical defects that disqualify a priest or an animal from sacrificial service, while Isaiah uses it metaphorically to expose Judah’s false sense of security.

Priestly Qualifications and Holiness – Leviticus 21:18

“No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed.”

The word highlights a limb so stretched or misshapen that normal function is impaired. The priest who bore such a condition could not minister at the altar. The exclusion was not punitive but illustrative: the priestly ministry mirrored the perfection of the LORD whom Israel served (Leviticus 21:6-8). Physical integrity symbolized moral and spiritual wholeness. By maintaining an unblemished priesthood, the covenant community learned that God’s presence demands completeness.

Sacrificial Integrity – Leviticus 22:23

“You may, however, present as a freewill offering an ox or sheep that has a deformed or stunted limb, but it will not be accepted as a vow offering.”

Here שָׂרַע describes an animal whose limb is unnaturally elongated or impaired. Such an animal might be given voluntarily but never as a vowed offering, which represented the worshiper’s highest pledge. This guards two truths:

1. God deserves the best (Malachi 1:8).
2. Sacrifices foreshadow a perfect substitute (Hebrews 9:14).

Any deviation would blur the coming reality of the flawless Lamb of God.

Prophetic Imagery of Insufficiency – Isaiah 28:20

“For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too narrow to wrap around oneself.”

Isaiah transforms the verb into an image: the rebellious leaders of Judah will find their alliances and schemes as inadequate as a cramped bed. What is too short to “stretch out upon” leaves the sleeper exposed, a picture of the restless insecurity produced by sin. The word that in Leviticus marked bodily deficiency now exposes spiritual deficiency.

Theological Significance

1. Holiness requires wholeness. Physical completeness in the Torah anticipates the moral perfection fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:26).
2. Worship demands integrity. A defective offering contradicts the very nature of atonement; only the unblemished sacrifice truly points to redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19).
3. Self-made security is insufficient. Isaiah’s metaphor warns that any refuge apart from God is “too short” to sustain peace (Isaiah 30:15).

Practical Implications for Ministry

• Leaders are called to exemplary character. While physical blemishes no longer bar ministry, moral deformities grieve the Spirit and hinder testimony (1 Timothy 3:2-7).
• Offer God the best. Time, resources, and talents should be presented without the “defects” of half-hearted devotion (Romans 12:1).
• Expose false comforts. Preaching must uncover beds “too short” in modern life—wealth, pleasure, self-reliance—and direct people to the true rest found in Christ (Matthew 11:28-29).

Christological Fulfillment

Every occurrence of שָׂרַע underscores humanity’s inability to meet God’s standard apart from grace. Where priests and sacrifices could be disqualified, Jesus remained wholly without defect. Through His perfect body offered once for all (Hebrews 10:10), believers are made complete in Him (Colossians 2:10), able to “stretch out” in the full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22).

Forms and Transliterations

מֵֽהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ מהשתרע שָׂר֣וּעַ שָׂרֽוּעַ׃ שרוע שרוע׃ mê·hiś·tā·rê·a‘ mehistaRea mêhiśtārêa‘ śā·rū·a‘ saRua śārūa‘

Englishman's Concordance

Leviticus 21:18
HEB: חָרֻ֖ם א֥וֹ שָׂרֽוּעַ׃
NAS: [face], or any deformed [limb],
KJV: or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
INT: disfigured or deformed

Leviticus 22:23
HEB: וְשׁ֥וֹר וָשֶׂ֖ה שָׂר֣וּעַ וְקָל֑וּט נְדָבָה֙
NAS: or a lamb which has an overgrown or stunted
KJV: or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts,
INT: to an ox A lamb has an overgrown stunted A freewill

Isaiah 28:20
HEB: קָצַ֥ר הַמַּצָּ֖ע מֵֽהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה צָ֖רָה
NAS: short on which to stretch out, And the blanket
KJV: is shorter than that [a man] can stretch himself [on it]: and the covering
INT: short the bed to stretch and the blanket small

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8311
3 Occurrences

mê·hiś·tā·rê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
śā·rū·a‘ — 2 Occ.