Hebrew word · H8280

שָׂרָה

sarah

to strive

To strive, contend, struggle, persist. The verb is very rare: it appears only in Genesis 32:28 (Hebrew 32:29) and Hosea 12:3–4 (Hebrew 12:4–5). In both places it explains the name Yiśraʾel. Its exact meaning comes mostly from those contexts, where it describes a wrestling match.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) contend, have power, contend with, persist, exert oneself, persevere

1a) (Qal) to persevere, contend with

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hosea 12:3

Range of meaning

To strive, contend, struggle, persist. The verb is very rare: it appears only in Genesis 32:28 (Hebrew 32:29) and Hosea 12:3–4 (Hebrew 12:4–5). In both places it explains the name Yiśraʾel. Its exact meaning comes mostly from those contexts, where it describes a wrestling match.

Against the English

BSB says "wrestled", WEB "contended", and other versions "struggled" or "strove", all reasonable. KJV "had power with God" and YLT "was a prince with God" follow an older explanation that linked the verb to śar, "prince, ruler". To a modern ear those phrases suggest that Jacob held authority over God. The Hebrew describes a contest.

How it drifted

Older interpreters tied śārâ to śar ("prince") and to the similar verb śārar ("to rule"). The Vulgate and KJV traditions passed this on, and YLT's "was a prince" spells it out. Modern lexicons (BDB, HALOT) treat "strive, contend" as the meaning.

Used elsewhere in the period

Genesis 32:28: "Your name shall no longer be Jacob but Israel, for you have striven (śārîtā) with God and with men and have prevailed." Hosea 12:4 continues the same play with the related form wayyāśar, "and he strove", against the angel. The Septuagint has enischysen, "he grew strong, prevailed", against God. That sense of winning is closer to what the KJV means by "power".

From the study of Genesis 32:28

Range of meaning

To contend, struggle, persist against someone (BDB, HALOT s.v. שׂרה). It is extremely rare: only Genesis 32:28 and Hosea 12:3 (Hebrew 12:4), with a related form in Hosea 12:4 (Hebrew 12:5), which some take from a neighboring root.

Against the English

Most modern versions use 'striven,' 'struggled' or 'fought,' which is accurate. The KJV has 'as a prince hast thou power' and YLT 'thou hast been a prince.' Both connect the verb to śar, 'prince/official,' a link the context does not support.

How it drifted

Because the verb is so rare, early interpreters linked it to more familiar words. Targum Onqelos and medieval Jewish commentators such as Rashi read 'lordship / you are a great one,' and Jerome argued for 'prince with God.' The KJV translators followed that tradition.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hosea 12:3–4: 'in his manhood he strove (śārâ) with God; he strove with the angel and prevailed (wayyūkal); he wept and sought his favor.' Hosea pairs the verb with yākōl just as this verse does, which confirms that the sense is contest, not rank.

Where it appears

Genesis · 1

  1. Genesis 32:28 שָׂרִ֧יתָ you have struggled

    Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”

    Here: A rare verb, found only here and in Hosea 12:3–4 (Hebrew 12:4–5), which retells this scene. It means to contend, struggle or persist against an opponent. It echoes the -sra- in Yisra-el. The past tense looks back on the whole night's struggle and arguably on Jacob's whole life.

Hosea · 1

  1. Hosea 12:3 שָׂרָ֥ה he struggled

    In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

    Here: A rare verb. Outside Hosea it appears only in Genesis 32:28, where it explains the name Yiśraʾel (Israel). "He strove" with God, as a wrestler fighting an opponent, not as someone holding power over him.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.