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צֹהַר

𐤑𐤄𐤓

tsôhar

H6672 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צהר to shine, be bright, radiate light

Definition

An architectural aperture or opening designed to admit light, typically rendered as 'window' (e.g., the 'window' in the ark, Genesis 6:16); by extension, the brightest part of the day, i.e., 'noon' or 'midday,' when sunlight is at its zenith. The primary sense reflects either a physical source of illumination or the period characterized by full daylight.

Semantic Range

window, architectural opening for light, aperture, source of daylight; midday, high noon, time of brightest light; by metonymy, brightness or radiance

Root / Etymology

From the root צָהַר (צ־ה־ר), meaning 'to be bright' or 'to shine.' The word derives from this root in two distinct semantic developments: as a substantive denoting an opening that allows in brightness ('window'), and as an abstract noun referencing the peak of brightness during the day ('noon').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the early Israelite context, צֹהַר refers specifically to a type of opening that admits daylight into an enclosed structure, notably in non-urban or early architectural settings. In Genesis 6:16, the term denotes an architectural feature of the ark, the exact nature of which is debated; some suggest a skylight, lattice, or translucent aperture rather than a glass window. The extension of the term to denote 'noon' or 'midday' (cf. Psalm 37:6, Song of Songs 1:7) is grounded in the association of this period with maximum sunlight. In later periods, other terms such as חַלּוֹן (ḥallôn) became more common for 'window' in urban architecture. English translations often simplify צֹהַר as 'window,' but this does not always convey the precise physical or metaphorical sense. Renderings as 'noon' appropriately capture the temporal reference but may obscure the underlying imagery of brightness and illumination. Distinguish from similar terms such as אוֹר (’ôr, 'light') and חַלּוֹן (ḥallôn, 'window'), which have distinct uses.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָהַר; a light (i.e. window); dual double light, i.e. noon; midday, noon(-day, -tide), window.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צהר (ṣ-h-r) — shine, brightness, radiance

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3323 יִצְהָר the bright oil
H3324 יִצְהָר and Yitshar
H3325 יִצְהָרִי the Yitzharite clansman
H6671 צָהַר they press out oil
H6889 צֶרֶת Bright-One

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6672-01 בַּֽ/צָּהֳרָֽיִם batsahorayim HRd/Ncmpa at noon in the double-brightness 8
H6672-02 הַֽ/צָּהֳרָֽיִם hatsahorayim HTd/Ncmpa noon the twin-brightnesses 4
H6672-07 בַֽ/צָּהֳרַ֜יִם vatsahorayim HRd/Ncmpa at noon at the double-brightness 4
H6672-04 צָהֳרָ֑יִם tsahorayim HNcmpa at noonday high noons 3
H6672-03 כַּֽ/צָּהֳרָֽיִם katsahorayim HRd/Ncmpa as the noonday like high noons 2
H6672-05 צֹ֣הַר tsohar HNcfsa a window light-opening 1
H6672-06 וּֽ֭/מִ/צָּהֳרַיִם umitsahorayim HC/R/Ncmpa than noonday and from noonday brightnesses 1
H6672-08 וְ֭/צָהֳרַיִם vetsahorayim HC/Ncmpa and-noon and double-bright noon 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6672-05 Genesis 6:16 צֹ֣הַר tsohar HNcfsa a window light-opening
H6672-01 Genesis 43:16 בַּֽ/צָּהֳרָֽיִם batsahorayim HRd/Ncmpa at noon in the double-brightness
H6672-01 Genesis 43:25 בַּֽ/צָּהֳרָ֑יִם batsahorayim HRd/Ncmpa at noon in the double-brightness
H6672-01 Deuteronomy 28:29 בַּֽ/צָּהֳרַ֗יִם batsahorayim HRd/Ncmpa at noon in the double-brightness
H6672-02 2 Samuel 4:5 הַֽ/צָּהֳרָֽיִם hatsahorayim HTd/Ncmpa of noon the twin-brightnesses
H6672-02 1 Kings 18:26 הַ/צָּהֳרַ֤יִם hatsahorayim HTd/Ncmpa noon the twin-brightnesses
H6672-07 1 Kings 18:27 בַֽ/צָּהֳרַ֜יִם vatsahorayim HRd/Ncmpa at noon at the double-brightness
H6672-02 1 Kings 18:29 הַֽ/צָּהֳרַ֔יִם hatsahorayim HTd/Ncmpa the midday the twin-brightnesses
H6672-01 1 Kings 20:16 בַּֽ/צָּהֳרָ֑יִם batsahorayim HRd/Ncmpa at noon in the double-brightness
H6672-02 2 Kings 4:20 הַֽ/צָּהֳרַ֖יִם hatsahorayim HTd/Ncmpa noon the twin-brightnesses
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