Word Study for H8276 (שָׂרַג)

sârag /saw-rag'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto intwine

KJV usagewrap together, wreath.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of sârag — 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 sârag, represented by H8276, is a primitive root meaning to intwine; wrap together, wreath. It is a rare term, appearing only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, but its imagery is potent and descriptive.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H8276 illustrate a powerful binding, though in different contexts. In Lamentations, it describes a punitive state, where the "yoke of my transgressions" are wreathed upon the neck, signifying the heavy, inescapable burden of sin imposed by God's hand Lamentations 1:14. In contrast, the book of Job uses the term to depict formidable natural strength, where the sinews of a great creature are wrapped together, highlighting its robust and solid construction Job 40:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of being intwined or wrapped together:

H8244 sâqad (to fasten; bind): Used in direct parallel with H8276, this word emphasizes the act of securing something firmly, as with the yoke of transgressions Lamentations 1:14.
H5923 ʻôl (yoke): This term, often used figuratively, represents a burden or servitude. In Lamentations, it is the "yoke of my transgressions" that is wreathed and placed upon the neck Lamentations 1:14.
H1517 gîyd (sinew): Described as a thong or tendon, this is the object that is "wrapped together" in Job, pointing to the interconnected tissues that create immense physical strength Job 40:17.
H6588 peshaʻ (transgression): Meaning a revolt or rebellion, this is what constitutes the yoke in Lamentations. It is not an external burden but the consequences of one's own sin that are intwined by God Lamentations 1:14.

Theological Significance

The concept of H8276 carries significant weight in its two appearances:

Binding as Judgment: The word vividly portrays the consequences of sin. In Lamentations, transgressions are not merely counted but are actively wreathed by God's hand into a yoke, making strength (H3581) fall (H3782) and preventing any ability (H3201) to rise up (H6965).
Binding as Strength: Conversely, the term can describe a positive, formidable construction. The creature in Job is powerful precisely because its sinews (H1517) are intricately wrapped together, creating a structure of immense might Job 40:17.
Inescapable Intertwining: In both uses, H8276 implies a complex and secure connection that cannot be easily undone. Whether it is the binding of sin or the binding of sinews, the result is a fixed and powerful state.

Summary

In summary, H8276 is a specific and illustrative word for being intwined. Though it appears only twice, it powerfully conveys the idea of a tight, complex binding with significant consequences. It can symbolize the debilitating weight of judgment, where transgressions are woven into an oppressive yoke, or it can describe the foundational source of physical might, where sinews are wrapped together to form an unbreakable structure.

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 verb across 2 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.

יִשְׂתָּרְגוּ
יְשֹׂרָגוּ

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

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

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Lamentations (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Job

Lamentations

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.