Word Study for H8275 (שַׁרְבִיט)

sharbîyṭ /shar-beet'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga rod of empire

KJV usagesceptre.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of sharbîyṭ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word sharbîyṭ, represented by H8275, is defined as a sceptre or a rod of empire. It is a specific term, appearing only 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, exclusively within the book of Esther.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical context, H8275 is consistently portrayed as the "golden sceptre" held by a king H4428. It functions as a critical symbol of royal authority and power over life and death. According to the law of the king's court, approaching the king unsummoned was a capital offense unless he chose to "hold out H3447 the golden sceptre H8275, that he may live" Esther 4:11. The narrative shows this in action when the king extends the sceptre to Queen Esther, granting her favor and access to his presence, which she acknowledges by touching its top (Esther 5:2, Esther 8:4).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the meaning and function of the sceptre:

H2091 zâhâb (gold): Defined as "gold, figuratively, something gold-colored... gold(-en)". The sceptre is always described as the "golden sceptre" Esther 5:2, highlighting its value and royal status. Gold is also associated with great wealth Genesis 24:35 and something proven through trial Job 23:10.
H3447 yâshaṭ (hold out): This primitive root means "to extend; hold out". This is the specific action the king performs with the sceptre to spare a life and grant an audience (Esther 4:11, Esther 8:4).
H4428 melek (king): Meaning "a king; king, royal", this word identifies the sole wielder of the sceptre. The authority of the sceptre is derived directly from the king who holds it. The term is applied to earthly rulers Esther 5:2 and to the LORD himself Zechariah 14:9.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8275 centers on themes of authority, access, and sovereign mercy.

Symbol of Absolute Authority: The sceptre is a tangible representation of the king's life-and-death power. The law of the court is clear: no one can approach the king unless the king himself wills it Esther 4:11.
Instrument of Grace: The extension of the sceptre is an act of unmerited favor. It is the mechanism by which the king can set aside the law's death sentence and grant life and access to his presence Esther 5:2.
Gateway to the King: For Esther, touching the sceptre signifies the acceptance of her petition and the right to stand before the king. It is the key that unlocks an audience with royalty.

Summary

In summary, sharbîyṭ H8275 is a highly specific term for the royal sceptre. Though its usage is rare, its appearance in the book of Esther powerfully illustrates the concepts of absolute monarchical authority, the perilous nature of approaching a king, and the profound significance of receiving royal grace. The "golden sceptre" serves as the ultimate symbol of the king's power to grant life.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

שַׁרְבִיט
שַּׁרְבִיט

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

3 verses, all in Esther — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.