The Hebrew word shârats, represented by H8317, is a primitive root used to describe a wriggling or swarming motion. It conveys the idea of something that swarms, abounds, or breeds and increases abundantly. This term, which appears 16 times in 14 unique verses, is often associated with teeming, active life, whether in water or on land.
In the biblical narrative, H8317 is used to describe key moments of creation and population growth. During creation, God commands the waters to "bring forth abundantly" H8317 with living creatures Genesis 1:20-21. After the flood, Noah's family and the animals are instructed to "breed abundantly" H8317 and multiply on the earth (Genesis 8:17, Genesis 9:7). The word is also used to describe the rapid population growth of the Israelites in Egypt, who "increased abundantly" H8317 Exodus 1:7. Conversely, it can illustrate an overwhelming force, such as when the land of Egypt "brought forth" H8317 frogs during the plague Psalms 105:30.
Several related words help define the scope of swarming and abundant life:
- H8318 sherets (creep[-ing thing], move[-ing creature]): This is the noun form of H8317, referring to the "active mass of minute animals" themselves. It is used for the "moving creature" from the waters in creation Genesis 1:20 and the "creeping things" on the earth Leviticus 11:29.
- H7430 râmas (creep, move): A similar verb meaning to glide or crawl, often used in parallel with H8317 to describe the movement of land animals and creeping things Genesis 7:21.
- H6509 pârâh (be fruitful, grow, increase): Often appears alongside H8317 in divine commands to be "fruitful" and multiply, signifying a blessing of growth (Genesis 8:17, Exodus 1:7).
- H7235 râbâh (increase, multiply): Another term used to emphasize abundance, frequently paired with H8317 to describe the multiplication of Israel Exodus 1:7 or the command to populate the earth Genesis 9:7.
- H2416 chay (life, living thing): This word describes the state of the creatures that H8317 brings forth, such as the "moving creature that hath life" Genesis 1:20.
- H5315 nephesh (creature, soul, life): This term denotes a "breathing creature" and is used to describe the kind of life with which the waters were to swarm Genesis 1:20.
The use of H8317 carries significant thematic weight, particularly concerning divine power and purity.
- The Blessing of Abundance: The word is fundamentally tied to God's creative power and his blessing of fertility. It is part of the initial mandate for life to fill the waters Genesis 1:20 and the earth Genesis 8:17, and it describes the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel Exodus 1:7.
- Life from the Waters: A recurring theme is teeming life emerging from water. This is seen positively in the creation account Genesis 1:20 and in Ezekiel's vision of a life-giving river from the temple Ezekiel 47:9, and negatively in the plague of frogs emerging from the Nile Exodus 8:3.
- Distinction and Purity: While abundance is often a blessing, H8317 is also used to define creatures that "creep" upon the earth, which are designated as an abomination or unclean under Levitical law (Leviticus 11:41, Leviticus 11:43). This creates a distinction between the blessed, teeming life of the sea and certain forms of swarming creatures on land.
In summary, H8317 shârats is a dynamic word that captures the essence of swarming, teeming, and abundant life. It represents both a foundational aspect of God's creative blessing and a descriptor for creatures that are to be set apart under the law. From the blessed abundance of creation to the overwhelming swarms of judgment, the word illustrates how the same concept of teeming life can have vastly different meanings depending on its context.
TRV