sirach: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low / SpecializedFormal, Academic, Religious
Quick answer
What does “sirach” mean?
A book of the Old Testament Apocrypha, also known as the Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A book of the Old Testament Apocrypha, also known as the Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus; a collection of ethical teachings and proverbs.
Refers specifically to the apocryphal/deuterocanonical book itself, its author (Jesus ben Sirach), or its content of wisdom literature. It is not used as a common noun outside this specific religious/literary context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage is identical in theological contexts. The book is considered deuterocanonical in Catholic and Orthodox traditions and apocryphal in Protestant traditions, which may affect frequency of mention in different denominations.
Connotations
Scholarly, historical, religious.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to specific discourse domains.
Grammar
How to Use “sirach” in a Sentence
The book of Sirach is...Sirach teaches that...According to Sirach...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in theology, religious studies, and ancient literature courses. Example: 'The Hellenistic influence is evident in Sirach.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used precisely to refer to this specific apocryphal text in biblical scholarship, manuscript studies, or comparative religion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sirach”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sirach”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a sirach').
- Misspelling as 'Syrach' or 'Sirak'.
- Confusing it with other wisdom books like Proverbs or Wisdom of Solomon.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sirach is considered part of the Apocrypha in Protestant traditions and is not included in the canonical Old Testament. It is deuterocanonical in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.
The main theme is practical, ethical wisdom for daily living, covering topics like piety, social relationships, speech, and commerce, often linking wisdom to the fear of the Lord.
The book was written by Jesus (or Joshua/Jeshua) ben Sirach, a Jewish scribe in Jerusalem around the early 2nd century BCE.
It is also widely known as 'Ecclesiasticus', which means 'Church Book' in Latin.
A book of the Old Testament Apocrypha, also known as the Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus.
Sirach is usually formal, academic, religious in register.
Sirach: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪræk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪræk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SIRACH' sounds like 'SIR' + 'ACH' (as in 'ache'). Imagine a wise old SIR with an ACH in his back from writing a long book of proverbs.
Conceptual Metaphor
A REPOSITORY OF WISDOM (The book is conceptualized as a vessel or storehouse containing traditional knowledge and ethical guidance).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'Sirach' primarily used?