Sherah

Sherah is a variant of Sheerah used in the King James Version of the Old Testament. It appears in 1 Chronicles 7:24, where Sheerah (or Sherah) is listed as a daughter of Ephraim and is noted for building three cities: Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah (or Uzzen-sheerah). The name Sherah is a direct transcription of the Hebrew She'erah meaning "kinswoman" from the root sha'ar ("to be related").

Etymology

The name derives from the Hebrew root shin-ayin-resh, meaning "kinswoman" or "relative". The related forms include Seera (Biblical Greek) and She'era (Biblical Hebrew), which emphasize a family connection. The variant "Sherah" appears in the King James version, suggesting an phonetic metathesis or scribal variation in transmission.

Notable Bearers

Sheerah (also spelled Sherah) is the only woman recorded in the Hebrew Bible as having built cities. According to 1 Chronicles 7:24, she founded Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah. The Beth-horons later became fortified cities in the kingdom of Solomon (2 Chronicles 8:5). Biblical commentators such as Herbert Lockyer have speculated on her physical strength, while scholars David Frankel and Antje Labahn note that the Chronicler's inclusion of her suggests her status within the early Israelite community. Frankel also points to the chronological inconsistency: if the descendants of Ephraim were enslaved in Egypt, Sheerah's building projects imply a local, post-Exodus settlement discrepancy.

Cultural Significance

The name underscores the rare representation of women in the Bible as entrepreneurs and civic builders. It also connects to the historical Ephraim, the tribal founder whose name means "fruitful". While Sherah remains a rare given name today, its biblical context offers insight into the role of women in Israel's ancestral traditions.

Summary

• Meaning: "Kinswoman"
• Origin: Biblical Hebrew (via King James translation variant)
• Type: Feminine individual name
• Usage Regions: English Bible (chiefly in religious contexts)