שְׁפַר
𐤔𐤐𐤓
shᵉphar
H8232 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be pleasing, to be beautiful, to be appropriate or good in appearance or quality according to a standard; in some contexts, denotes that which is satisfactory or pleasing, either aesthetically or in terms of acceptability.
Semantic Range
to be beautiful, to be pleasing or agreeable, to be considered good or acceptable, to seem right or appropriate, to be suitable
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שפר, which in Hebrew indicates 'to be fair, beautiful, good, pleasing.' The biblical Aramaic form שְׁפַר retains much of this semantic field, and conveys the sense of beauty, goodness, or desirability, often in non-visual or abstract contexts as well as physical.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׁפַר occurs only in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, particularly in Daniel and Ezra. In these texts, it can characterize something as aesthetically pleasing, but more commonly refers to something being suitable, commendable, or desirable—either in behavior, decision, or outcome. It overlaps with Hebrew יָפֶה (yafeh, 'beautiful'), but שְׁפַר carries broader connotations including what is satisfactory, agreeable, or appropriate. Later rabbinic Hebrew also uses forms from this root for 'to improve' or 'to make good.' English translations often choose 'it seemed good' or 'it pleased,' but this can obscure the nuance of a judgment of quality or appropriateness, not merely subjective preference. The word appears in formal or administrative settings, often expressing approval of a decision or policy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁפַר; to be beautiful; be acceptable, please, [phrase] think good.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שפר (š-p-r) — to be fair, to be beautiful, to be pleasing
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8208 | שָׁפִיר | Beautiful-Town |
| H8209 | שַׁפִּיר | splendid |
| H8231 | שָׁפַר | she became splendid |
| H8233 | שֶׁפֶר | beauty |
| H8236 | שִׁפְרָה | Fair-one |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8232-01 |
שְׁפַ֥ר | shefar | AVqp3ms |
he excelled | he was pleasing | 2 |
H8232-02 |
יִשְׁפַּ֣ר | yishepar | AVqi3ms |
let it be acceptable | he will be pleasing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8232-01 |
Daniel 3:32 | שְׁפַ֥ר | shefar | AVqp3ms |
it is fitting | he was pleasing |
H8232-02 |
Daniel 4:24 | יִשְׁפַּ֣ר | yishepar | AVqi3ms |
let it be acceptable | he will be pleasing |
H8232-01 |
Daniel 6:2 | שְׁפַר֙ | shefar | AVqp3ms |
he excelled | he was pleasing |