ruler
sar identifies persons placed over armies, tribes, public groups, or assigned responsibilities.
The term most often identifies military commanders, especially persons set over an army, chariots, or numbered forces. It also marks leaders within Israel’s royal and tribal administration and persons placed in charge of Levites, sacred matters, property, or a particular task.
Senses in use
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Military commander · dominant
In 1 Chronicles 19:16 the singular construct form identifies Shophach at the head of Hadadezer’s army, and 1 Kings 16:16 identifies Omri in relation to the army before he is made king. Plural construct forms occur with chariots in 1 Kings 22:31 and with forces sent against Israelite cities in 1 Kings 15:20; the APB renders these clauses with “commander” or “commanders.”
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Public, tribal, and royal official · common
In 1 Chronicles 21:2 David addresses the plural construct forms with “the people” when ordering a census, while 1 Chronicles 27:22 locates such persons over Israel’s tribes. In 1 Chronicles 29:6 they stand among the leaders who offer willingly, and in 2 Chronicles 24:10 the plural absolute form appears with the people bringing gifts to the chest.
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Person assigned over a group or task · occasional
In 1 Chronicles 15:22 the singular construct form identifies Chenaniah in relation to the Levites and the burden he directs. In 1 Chronicles 15:10 it identifies Amminadab among the sons of Uzziel, while 1 Chronicles 27:31 places plural construct forms over David’s property; the APB presents these settings with “ruler,” “leaders,” or persons “in charge.”
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB uses “commander(s),” “leader(s),” “officials,” and “ruler,” and sometimes expresses the role through “in charge.” These are presentations of the surrounding clauses rather than definitions of each occurrence.