שָׂרָף

I. שָׂרָף noun masculine^{Isa 14:29} a serpent, usually venomous (possibly from above √, from burning effect of poison); — absolute ׳שׂ Num 21:8 (J E; on Arabic parallels see Jacob^{Arabic Dichter ii. 93, iv. 10 f.}), apposition ׳נָחָשׁ שׂ Deut 8:15, plural הַנְּחָשִׁים הַשְּׂרָפִים Num 21:6 a flying serpent, or dragon, שָׂרָף מְעוֺפֵף Isa 14:29; Isa 30:6.

II. [שָׂרָף] noun masculine^{Isa 6:2} plural שְׂרָפִים seraphim (probably akin to I. ׳שׂ, as beings originally mythically conceived with serpents' bodies (serpent-deities, compare Isa 14:29; Isa 30:6), or (Che^Comm.) personified of lightning, compare arts. SERAPHIM, Strachan^{Hast. DB} Che^{Ency. Bib}.; Di Marti and others compare also Egyptian guardian-griffins, called Šerref; see also כְּרוּב; on Assyrian Šarrapu (-bu), epithet of god Nergal, connected by Dl^WB with √ שָׂרַף, see שָׁרָב, Zim^{KAT 3. 415}); — in OT. majestic beings with six wings, and human hands and voices, attendant upon ׳י Isa 6:2; Isa 6:6.