רַב־סָרִיס
rav-sa.ris
Rab-saris
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "רַב־סָרִיס" (H7249H), or "Rab-saris," appears four times in the Bible. From its short definition, we can see that "Rab-saris" is a title or position, composed of two distinct parts: "Rab" (meaning "chief" or "great") and "Saris" (which refers to a type of administrative or official role in ancient Mesopotamian and Persian cultures). Based on this analysis, it is likely that "Rab-saris" is a title given to a high-ranking administrative official, possibly involving a combination of ceremonial, judicial, and bureaucratic duties. This position is likely comparable to a "chief advisor" or "great administrator" rather than a military or royal title. Given its relatively rare usage in the Bible and its apparent importance in ancient Persian administrative hierarchies, the term "Rab-saris" likely played a significant role in conveying information about the government and politics of the time, often in relation to the royal court or powerful dignitaries. Its significance in biblical accounts may therefore be worth examining for insights into the cultural, historical, and social contexts in which they were written.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences across the text
All the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 39:3All the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 39:13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, with Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;
Jeremiah 39:13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, with Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;