### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Sᵉrûwg**, represented by `{{H8286}}`, refers to a **postdiluvian patriarch**. It appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses** in the Bible. The name's primary function is to identify a specific individual in the genealogical records following the flood, establishing a link in the ancestral line leading to Abraham. The base definition suggests "tendril," which aligns with the concept of a branching lineage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8286}}` is used exclusively within genealogical lists to trace the lineage from Shem to Abraham. The book of Genesis details his life with specific chronological markers: his father Reu was thirty-two when he was born [[Genesis 11:20]], and **Sᵉrûwg** himself was thirty when he begat his son, Nahor [[Genesis 11:22]]. The text also notes that after the birth of Nahor, **Sᵉrûwg** lived another two hundred years and had other sons and daughters [[Genesis 11:23]]. The book of 1 Chronicles reaffirms his place in this lineage, listing him directly between his father and son in a condensed genealogy [[1 Chronicles 1:26]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words define the genealogical context of Serug:
* `{{H7466}}` **Rᵉʻûw** (Reu, a postdiluvian patriarch): This name identifies the father of Serug. The narrative states that **Rᵉʻûw** lived thirty-two years and then begat Serug [[Genesis 11:20]].
* `{{H5152}}` **Nâchôwr** (Nahor): This is the name of Serug's son. The record notes that Serug lived thirty years before he begat **Nâchôwr** [[Genesis 11:22]].
* `{{H3205}}` **yâlad** (to bear young; causatively, to beget): This verb is central to the passages involving Serug, as it establishes the act of procreation that defines his role in the lineage, such as when he "begat Nahor" [[Genesis 11:22]] and later "begat sons and daughters" [[Genesis 11:23]].
### Theological Significance
The narrative significance of `{{H8286}}` is tied directly to its function within biblical genealogy.
* **Establishing Lineage:** Serug serves as an indispensable link in the patriarchal line from Shem's son Arphaxad to Abraham. His inclusion connects his father, Reu, to his son, Nahor [[1 Chronicles 1:26]].
* **Chronological Marker:** The accounts provide specific ages for key events in his life, such as begetting his heir at age thirty [[Genesis 11:22]]. This detail contributes to the precise chronological framework of the post-flood generations.
* **Ensuring Posterity:** The statement that Serug "begat sons and daughters" after the birth of Nahor emphasizes the continuation and expansion of the patriarchal family line, even as the narrative focuses on a single chosen descendant [[Genesis 11:23]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8286}}` **Sᵉrûwg** is not a character with a developed story but a vital name in the scriptural record of ancestry. His five appearances are exclusively dedicated to establishing his place in the patriarchal timeline, connecting the generations that came before him to the pivotal lineage of Nahor, Terah, and ultimately Abraham. The name **Sᵉrûwg** functions as a "tendril" in the family tree of the patriarchs, securing a crucial connection in the history of redemption.
TRV