שׁוּר (H7789) — Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּר

𐤔𐤅𐤓

shûwr

H7789 verb

SILEX Entry

Root e95d55e8 to look at attentively, observe, examine

Definition

To look at attentively, observe closely, or examine with intent. Common uses include to observe or watch carefully, sometimes with the purpose of evaluation or investigation, often implying a deliberate or focused kind of looking, rather than a casual glance. The term may also convey the idea of examination for protection or for hostile intent (such as laying in wait).

Semantic Range

observe closely, investigate, keep watch, look attentively, gaze, survey, examine, spy out, lay in wait, look with purpose, contemplate

Root / Etymology

שׁוּר is derived from the root שׁוּר, which conveys the idea of 'to look at' or 'to gaze upon.' The root depicts attentive or prolonged observation, not merely perception. As a verbal root, it is found in several forms throughout the Hebrew Bible.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שׁוּר appears with both positive and negative connotations—sometimes describing the watchfulness of the divine or a person caring for something, and at other times referring to the act of hostile surveillance such as laying in wait. Its sense overlaps with other Hebrew roots for seeing (e.g., רָאָה 'to see, perceive,' נָבַט 'to look, gaze,' צָפָה 'to watch, keep watch'), but שׁוּר more often stresses attentive examination. In poetic literature (such as Psalms and Job), it may refer to contemplative looking, while in narrative it can denote deliberate reconnaissance (e.g., Numbers 23:9; Job 39:29). English translations tend to use a range of verbs such as 'behold,' 'observe,' or 'look,' but the nuance of intentional, often evaluative observation is sometimes missed. The meaning remained generally stable from the early monarchy through exilic and post-exilic periods, with interpretations depending heavily on context. It is distinct from casual seeing and often marks observation driven by purpose or intent—either protective, investigative, or adversarial.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (identical with through the idea of going round for inspection); to spy out, i.e. (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for; behold, lay wait, look, observe, perceive, regard, see.

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Root Family

שור (sh-w-r) — attentive looking, observation, examination

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4884	מְשׂוּרָה	in a measured vessel
H7788	שׁוּר	your wandering women
H7790	שׁוּר	in my ambushing foes
H7791	שׁוּר	Encircling Wall
H7792	שׁוּר	the encircling-walls
H7793	שׁוּר	Shur Borderland
H7794	שׁוֹר	with an ox
H7795	שׂוֹרָה	encircling row
H8284	שָׁרָה	in her fortification-walls
H8670	תְּשׁוּרָה	esteem-gift

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7789-10`	יְשׁוּרֶֽ/נָּה	yeshurenah	`HVqi3ms/Sp3fs`	perceives it	he observes her closely	3
`H7789-02`	אֲשׁוּרֶ֑/נּוּ	ashurenu	`HVqi1cs/Sp3ms`	I behold him	I attentively observe him	2
`H7789-05`	תְּשׁוּרֶ֥/נּוּ	teshurenu	`HVqi3fs/Sp3ms`	behold him	She will closely observe him	2
`H7789-04`	תְ֭שׁוּרֵ/נִי	teshureni	`HVqi3fs/Sp1cs`	will see me	she will closely observe me	2
`H7789-01`	אָשֽׁוּר	ashur	`HVqi1cs`	of Assyria	Ashshur	1
`H7789-11`	יְשׁוּרֶ֑/נּוּ	yeshurenu	`HVqi3ms/Sp1cp`	can behold him	he will closely observe us	1
`H7789-06`	וַ/אֲשׁוּרֶ֗/נּוּ	vaashurenu	`HC/Vqw1cs/Sp3ms`	and Assyria will not	and I will closely observe him	1
`H7789-09`	יָשׁוּר֙	yashur	`HVqi3ms`	they lie in wait	he observes closely	1
`H7789-07`	וְ/שׁ֥וּר	veshur	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and behold	and observe closely	1
`H7789-08`	יָשֹׁ֤ר	yashor	`HVqj3ms`	He looks	let him observe closely	1
`H7789-03`	תָּשׁ֣וּרִי	tashuri	`HVqi2fs`	look	you will observe closely	1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7789-02`	Numbers 23:9	אֲשׁוּרֶ֑/נּוּ	ashurenu	`HVqi1cs/Sp3ms`	I behold him	I attentively observe him
`H7789-02`	Numbers 24:17	אֲשׁוּרֶ֖/נּוּ	ashurenu	`HVqi1cs/Sp3ms`	I behold him	I attentively observe him
`H7789-09`	Jeremiah 5:26	יָשׁוּר֙	yashur	`HVqi3ms`	they lie in wait	he observes closely
`H7789-01`	Hosea 13:7	אָשֽׁוּר	ashur	`HVqi1cs`	of Assyria	Ashshur
`H7789-06`	Hosea 14:9	וַ/אֲשׁוּרֶ֗/נּוּ	vaashurenu	`HC/Vqw1cs/Sp3ms`	and Assyria will not	and I will closely observe him
`H7789-04`	Job 7:8	תְ֭שׁוּרֵ/נִי	teshureni	`HVqi3fs/Sp1cs`	you will see me	she will closely observe me
`H7789-10`	Job 17:15	יְשׁוּרֶֽ/נָּה	yeshurenah	`HVqi3ms/Sp3fs`	will see it	he observes her closely
`H7789-05`	Job 20:9	תְּשׁוּרֶ֥/נּוּ	teshurenu	`HVqi3fs/Sp3ms`	behold him	She will closely observe him
`H7789-04`	Job 24:15	תְשׁוּרֵ֣/נִי	teshureni	`HVqi3fs/Sp1cs`	will see me	she will closely observe me
`H7789-10`	Job 33:14	יְשׁוּרֶֽ/נָּה	yeshurenah	`HVqi3ms/Sp3fs`	perceives it	he observes her closely
`H7789-08`	Job 33:27	יָשֹׁ֤ר	yashor	`HVqj3ms`	He looks	let him observe closely
`H7789-11`	Job 34:29	יְשׁוּרֶ֑/נּוּ	yeshurenu	`HVqi3ms/Sp1cp`	can behold him	he will closely observe us
`H7789-07`	Job 35:5	וְ/שׁ֥וּר	veshur	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and behold	and observe closely
`H7789-10`	Job 35:13	יְשׁוּרֶֽ/נָּה	yeshurenah	`HVqi3ms/Sp3fs`	regard-it	he observes her closely
`H7789-05`	Job 35:14	תְשׁוּרֶ֑/נּוּ	teshurenu	`HVqi2ms/Sp1cp`	you see him	She will closely observe him
`H7789-03`	Song of Songs 4:8	תָּשׁ֣וּרִי	tashuri	`HVqi2fs`	look	you will observe closely

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