Lexical Summary shasher: Chain, link Original Word: שָׁשַׁר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance vermillion Perhaps from the base of sharar in the sense of that of saruq; red ochre (from its piercing color) -- vermillion. see HEBREW sharar see HEBREW saruq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition red color, vermilion NASB Translation bright red (1), vermilion (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁשֵׁר] noun [masculine] red colour, vermilion (etymology unknown); — vermilion, formerly gained from kermes insect (vermiculus): מָשׁוֺחַ בַּשָּׁשַׁ֑ר Jeremiah 22:14 (ᵐ5μίλτος, red ochre; ᵑ7 sinopis [from city Sinopis, whence the colour came PlinNH xxxv. [6] 13], compare ThatcherDB COLOURS CanneyEB1D.); חֲקֻקִים בַּשָּׁשַׁ֑ר Ezekiel 23:14. [שָׁת], I. שֵׁת see שׁית. II. שֵׁת see שֵׁאת below I. [שׁאה]. III. שֵׁת see II. שׁתה. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Background Shashar denotes the red pigment commonly called vermilion, obtained in antiquity from powdered cinnabar or other iron-rich minerals. It was prized for its vivid hue, endurance, and association with luxury. Archaeological finds from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syro-Palestine confirm its use on palatial walls, cultic objects, and elite furnishings. When the prophets mention shashar, therefore, they are invoking a recognized symbol of opulence, self-aggrandizement, and, at times, idolatrous display. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Jeremiah 22:14 – King Jehoiakim’s self-indulgent palace, “panels it with cedar, and paints it in vermilion”. Although limited to these two verses, the contexts span both the socio-political realm (extravagant building projects financed by oppression) and the spiritual realm (alluring images that entice to unfaithfulness). Jeremiah 22:14: Vermilion and Unjust Grandeur Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, ignored his father’s reforms and financed lavish construction through forced labor (Jeremiah 22:13). Vermilion on the cedar-paneled palace broadcast wealth and permanence, yet the prophet exposes the hollowness of such display: “Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness?” (Jeremiah 22:15). The dazzling pigment cannot mask covenant breaches. The passage warns leaders who value architectural splendor above social righteousness (compare Amos 5:11; James 5:1-6). Ezekiel 23:14: Vermilion and Seductive Idolatry Jerusalem, personified as Oholibah, “saw men portrayed on a wall” in vivid vermilion. The painted warriors mirror the pomp of Babylonian art found in royal palaces such as those at Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon or Ashurbanipal’s Nineveh. The fiery color intensifies the allure, escalating Jerusalem’s adulterous pursuit of foreign alliances and gods. What begins as aesthetic admiration ends in spiritual enslavement (Ezekiel 23:17). The prophet thus links visual culture to the heart’s affections, showing how artistry can become an avenue for apostasy (compare Numbers 33:52; 1 John 2:16). Symbolic and Theological Themes 1. Fleeting Splendor versus Lasting Righteousness – Vermilion may preserve wood from decay, but only obedience preserves a nation (Deuteronomy 28:1-2; Proverbs 14:34). Ministerial Insights • Discern Cultural Aesthetics – Modern media often packages immoral values in visually appealing form. Pastors and parents must train believers, especially youth, to evaluate beauty through a biblical lens (Philippians 4:8). Related Biblical Concepts Cedar palaces (2 Samuel 5:11), carved images (Exodus 20:4), scarlet and crimson imagery of sin (Isaiah 1:18), Babylonian allure (Revelation 17:4). Key References Jeremiah 22:13-19; Ezekiel 23:11-21; Amos 6:4-7; Haggai 1:4; 1 Peter 3:3-4; Revelation 18:16. Summary Shashar’s striking red embodies human tendencies to glorify self and to be enticed by visual spectacle. Scripture’s two occurrences turn that brilliance on its head, portraying vermilion as a warning light: wealth without justice and beauty without fidelity invite divine judgment. By heeding the prophets, believers learn to pursue inner holiness and social righteousness over eye-catching but empty display. Forms and Transliterations בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃ בששר׃ baš·šā·šar bashshaShar baššāšarLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 22:14 HEB: בָּאָ֔רֶז וּמָשׁ֖וֹחַ בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃ NAS: and painting [it] bright red.' KJV: and painted with vermilion. INT: cedar and painting bright Ezekiel 23:14 2 Occurrences |
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