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שָׁחַר

𐤔𐤇𐤓

shâchar

H7835 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שחר to be black, to be dark (in color), to become darkened

Definition

To be black or dark in color; to have a dark (especially blackish) appearance. The verb is used to describe physical darkness or blackness, particularly of skin or surface, often connoting being scorched or sun-darkened. The term focuses on a visual, observable feature rather than symbolic meaning.

Semantic Range

to be black (of skin), to be dark, to be scorched, to become blackened (by heat or condition), to be dusky in appearance

Root / Etymology

From the root שחר (shin-chet-resh), which fundamentally means 'to be black, dark' in reference to color. This root appears in various Semitic languages with related meanings, denoting darkness or blackness. שָׁחַר in this verbal form is distinct from the unrelated homonym שָׁחַר meaning 'to seek, to look early.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, this sense is infrequently attested but appears, for example, in Job 30:30 and Lamentations 4:8, both referring to the blackening or darkening of skin, likely from suffering, disease, or environmental exposure. The word focuses on a physical state, not a metaphorical one, and should be distinguished from the verb שָׁחַר 'to seek,' which is graphically identical but etymologically and semantically unrelated. English translations often render it as 'be black' or 'blacken,' which accurately reflects the lexical sense but sometimes miss the nuance of sun-scorched or health-related discoloration suggested in context. Over time, the term retained its concrete, descriptive value without acquiring significant metaphorical or symbolic associations. Related terms include שָׁחוֹר (black), but this root is used for the dynamic process or result of blackening.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (identical with שָׁחַר through the idea of the duskiness of early dawn); to be dim or dark (in color); be black.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שחר (š-ḥ-r) — to seek, to search earnestly, to look for early

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4891 מִשְׁחָר earliest dawn-light
H6890 צֶרֶת הַשַּׁחַר the dawn-light
H7815 שְׁחוֹר black soot
H7836 שָׁחַר I earnestly-seek you
H7837 שַׁחַר the dawn

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7835-01 שָׁחַ֣ר shachar HVqp3ms turns black dawn-light 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7835-01 Job 30:30 שָׁחַ֣ר shachar HVqp3ms turns black dawn-light
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