שׁוֹר
𐤔𐤅𐤓
shôwr
H7794 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Domesticated cattle, specifically an ox or bull; the term refers primarily to the male of the species (Bos taurus), often as a beast of burden, used for plowing or as sacrificial animals. The word can denote a herd animal in general, sometimes used generically for cattle regardless of sex, but primarily indicates a mature male ox. In some legal and narrative contexts, it appears as a representative animal of agricultural life and social economy, especially in discussions of restitution, property, or sacrificial ritual.
Semantic Range
ox, bull, steer, herd animal, cattle (collectively), sacrificial animal, property in legal context
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁוּר (sh-w-r), likely 'to behold' or 'to look'—though some propose a connection with the idea of 'going straight' (as cattle are driven). The noun שׁוֹר derives from this root, possibly carrying the idea of an animal with a straightforward gait or bearing. In practice, the root meaning and the word's actual usage as 'ox' or 'bull' are only loosely connected; the primary lexical sense is zoological, not verbal.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שׁוֹר appears frequently in narratives, law codes, and ritual prescriptions. In legal sections (e.g., Exodus 21), it is the paradigmatic large domesticated animal, often contrasted with חֲמוֹר (ḥămôr, 'donkey'), and used in examples concerning civil liability, loss, and compensation. In sacrificial contexts (Leviticus, Numbers), it denotes an offering category distinct from sheep or goats. The animal's economic and symbolic significance is evident, but the term does not inherently carry religious or cultic overtones. In a few cases, the plural (שְׁוָרִים) simply refers to a herd. English translations often render שׁוֹר as 'ox' or 'bull,' but the Hebrew term is more flexible, sometimes generically referring to meet cattle. The mistaken translation 'wall,' found in some early sources, results from confusion with the root שׁוּר ('to wall in'), but this is not attested in biblical usage for שׁוֹר. Over time, basic meaning remains stable from patriarchal through Second Temple periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שור (sh-w-r) — to look, to behold, to go straight, to travel
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4884 | מְשׂוּרָה | in a measured vessel |
| H7788 | שׁוּר | your wandering women |
| H7789 | שׁוּר | I attentively observe him |
| H7790 | שׁוּר | in my ambushing foes |
| H7791 | שׁוּר | Encircling Wall |
Word Forms
15 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7794-08 |
שׁ֣וֹר | shor | HNcmsa |
ox | ox | 37 |
H7794-02 |
הַ/שּׁ֗וֹר | hashor | HTd/Ncmsa |
the ox | the ox | 13 |
H7794-10 |
שׁוֹר֣/וֹ | shoro | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his ox | his ox | 7 |
H7794-06 |
מִ/שּׁ֧וֹר | mishor | HR/Ncmsa |
than an ox | ox | 5 |
H7794-13 |
וְ/שׁ֨וֹר | veshor | HC/Ncmsa |
and ox | and a bull | 5 |
H7794-09 |
שֽׁוֹרְ/ךָ֙ | shorekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
of your ox | your ox | 3 |
H7794-07 |
שְׁוָרִ֣ים | shevarim | HNcmpa |
bulls | oxen | 1 |
H7794-05 |
לְ/שֹׁרְ/ךָ֖ | leshorekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
for your ox | for your ox | 1 |
H7794-11 |
וָ/שׁ֖וֹר | vashor | HC/Ncmsa |
or ox | and a bull | 1 |
H7794-14 |
וְ/שׁוֹרְ/ךָ֨ | veshorekha | HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
nor your ox | your ox | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
79 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7794-08 |
Genesis 32:6 | שׁ֣וֹר | shor | HNcmsa |
ox | ox |
H7794-08 |
Genesis 49:6 | שֽׁוֹר | shor | HNcmsa |
ox | ox |
H7794-15 |
Exodus 20:17 | וְ/שׁוֹר֣/וֹ | veshoro | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
or his ox | and his ox |
H7794-08 |
Exodus 21:28 | שׁ֥וֹר | shor | HNcmsa |
ox | ox |
H7794-02 |
Exodus 21:28 | הַ/שּׁ֗וֹר | hashor | HTd/Ncmsa |
the ox | the ox |
H7794-02 |
Exodus 21:28 | הַ/שּׁ֖וֹר | hashor-2 | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the ox | the ox |
H7794-08 |
Exodus 21:29 | שׁוֹר֩ | shor | HNcmsa |
an ox | ox |
H7794-02 |
Exodus 21:29 | הַ/שּׁוֹר֙ | hashor | HTd/Ncmsa |
the ox | the ox |
H7794-02 |
Exodus 21:32 | הַ/שּׁ֖וֹר | hashor | HTd/Ncmsa |
the ox | the ox |
H7794-12 |
Exodus 21:32 | וְ/הַ/שּׁ֖וֹר | vehashor | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the ox | and the ox |