Aramaic Word of the Day 30 May 2025

Andre Moubarak
May 30
2 min read

ܫܪܪܐ (šrārā) — "Truth, Integrity, Certainty"

The Aramaic word ܫܪܪܐ (šrārā) is a rich and significant term, especially within biblical, liturgical, and classical Syriac traditions. It encapsulates profound theological, ethical, and philosophical dimensions. Let’s explore šrārā through an in-depth word study, structured across multiple layers: etymology, morphology, semantic fields, scriptural and literary use, comparative linguistics, and cultural-theological implications.

Etymology & Morphology

Root: ܫ-ܪ-ܪ (Š-R-R)
This Semitic root carries the core idea of stability, firmness, and reliability.
The form šrārā (ܫܪܪܐ) is a nominal form (noun), often abstract, which gives it the sense of “truth,” “firmness,” or “constancy.”

Lexical Definitions & Nuances

In various Aramaic lexicons:

Michael Sokoloff's A Syriac Lexicon:
- šrārā (ܫܪܪܐ): truth, integrity, certainty, reality.
J. Payne Smith’s Compendious Syriac Dictionary:
- "That which is firm or established; truth; surety; integrity; rectitude."

This term is rich in moral and existential weight — not merely descriptive truth but trustworthiness, a foundational quality of God and righteous persons.

Usage in Classical Syriac Texts

A. Biblical Peshitta (Syriac Bible)

In the Psalms or Prophets, ܫܪܪܐ is used to convey divine truth or moral fidelity:
e.g., "ܐܠܗܐ ܕܫܪܪܐ" — "God of truth"

B. Patristic Writings (e.g., Ephrem the Syrian, Jacob of Sarug)

Ephrem often contrasts ܫܪܪܐ with falsehood (ܕܓܠܘܬܐ, daglūṯā) as a key tension between God and the world.

Philosophical and Theological Implications

šrārā is not just intellectual accuracy; it is moral fidelity and divine constancy.
Used to describe:
- God’s nature: always true, never changing
- Human ideal: a person of šrārā is one of reliable character
This aligns with Semitic concepts where truth is relational — you are “true” if you are loyal, constant, and righteous.

Liturgical and Spiritual Significance

Found in Syriac prayers and hymns, especially in lines praising God's unchanging nature.
Invoked in the Eucharist prayers: "the body of truth" or “bread of šrārā.”

Application in Theology and Ethics

Syriac Christian theology considers Jesus the embodiment of šrārā — not only revealing truth but being the truth.
Ethically, a life of šrārā is a life of trustworthiness, mirroring divine constancy.