שְׁחַרְיָה
𐤔𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤄
Shechareyah
H7841 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Shᵉcharyâh is a personal name meaning 'Yah has sought'. The name combines the imperative or perfect form of the root 'to seek, to search out, to look for' (שָׁחַר) with the theophoric element referring to the Israelite deity YHWH (יהּ, Yah). Used exclusively as a male personal name within biblical texts, typically in genealogical contexts.
Semantic Range
personal name 'Yah has sought', possible extended sense of 'the one whom Yahweh has sought', exclusive use as a male personal name in genealogical records
Root / Etymology
Compound name formed from שָׁחַר (to seek, to search early) and יהּ (the shortened form of the divine name YHWH). The construct yields 'Yah has sought' or 'Yahweh seeks.' Both elements are common in Hebrew naming practices of the First Temple period. The full structure parallels other theophoric Israelite names.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׁחַרְיָה appears only in genealogical context in 1 Chronicles 8:26, listed as a Benjaminite clan leader. The name construction reflects common Israelite patterns of theophoric names expressing actions attributed to YHWH. Unlike Zechariah (זְכַרְיָה, 'Yah has remembered'), Shᵉcharyâh centers on the notion of divine seeking or searching, possibly with connotations of being singled out, found, or cared for by the deity. The English forms 'Shehariah,' 'Shechariah,' or 'Sheharia' (variation found in some translations) do not preserve the underlying theophoric element or root nuance, and the English translation as 'Shehariah' obscures both meaning and specific Israelite cultural context. The name is distinct from later Judean or post-exilic naming trends and should be understood within pre-exilic Israelite tradition. No evidence suggests independent use of the name apart from biblical genealogy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁחַר and יָהּ; Jah has sought; Shecharjah, an Israelite; Shehariah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שחר (sh-ḥ-r) — to seek, to search, to look for, to search early
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4891 | מִשְׁחָר | earliest dawn-light |
| H6890 | צֶרֶת הַשַּׁחַר | the dawn-light |
| H7815 | שְׁחוֹר | black soot |
| H7835 | שָׁחַר | dawn-light |
| H7836 | שָׁחַר | I earnestly-seek you |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7841-01 |
וּ/שְׁחַרְיָ֖ה | ushechareyah | HC/Np |
and Shehariah | and Yah has sought | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7841-01 |
1 Chronicles 8:26 | וּ/שְׁחַרְיָ֖ה | ushechareyah | HC/Np |
and Shehariah | and Yah has sought |