שָׁחֹר (H7838) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁחֹר

𐤔𐤇𐤓

shâchôr

H7838 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שחר to be black, to be dark

Definition

A color term denoting black, dark, or very dark (dusky) hue. Used to describe the appearance of human features, objects, or animals as distinctly black or dark-colored. The term may indicate actual color (black hair or skin, as in poetic descriptions), or metaphorical darkness. In some contexts, may connote attractiveness or value (as in black goats prized for their wool).

Semantic Range

black (of color), dark (of appearance), jet-black (intensely black), dusky (shadowy/dark-skinned or -haired), metaphorical for intense darkness or depth

Root / Etymology

Root: שחר (shin-chet-resh), to be or become black, to dawn (as the dark fading into light). שָׁחֹר is a stative adjective formed from the root and means 'black' or 'dark-colored.' There is also a homonymous root meaning 'to seek, to seek early,' but this is unrelated etymologically to the color term. Derived by typical adjectival pattern.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁחֹר appears in poetic and wisdom literature (e.g., Song of Songs 1:5–6, where it describes the skin or hair of the beloved), and is also used in narrative contexts (e.g., Gen 30:32, 35 for goats). The term is primarily descriptive and not pejorative. In Song of Songs, שָׁחֹר is parallel to 'beautiful' (נָאוָה), indicating an aesthetic appreciation of dark/clouded beauty, contrasting with potential cultural associations of light and darkness seen in later literature. In English translations, 'black' is standard, but the Hebrew usage does not always coincide with later Western color symbolism or connotations of ‘blackness.’ The term can also refer generically to animals (e.g., black goats), where it designates a specific breed or color and may have economic value. No religious or ethnic attribution is implied by the term in biblical usage. Distinct from comparable terms such as קָדַר (to be darkened), which more often describes gloom or darkness in a metaphorical or meteorological sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שָׁחוֹר; from שָׁחַר; properly, dusky, but also (absol.) jetty; black.

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Root Family

שחר (š-ḥ-r) — to be black, to be dark

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
H7837	שַׁחַר	the dawn
H7839	שַׁחֲרוּת	and the dawn-youth
H7840	שְׁחַרְחֹרֶת	dark-complexioned
H7841	שְׁחַרְיָה	and Yah has sought
H7842	שַׁחֲרַיִם	Double Dawn
H7883	שִׁיחוֹר	the Dark River
H7884	שִׁיחוֹר לִבְנָת	Whiteness-of

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7838-02`	שָׁחֹ֖ר	shachor	`HAamsa`	black	black	2
`H7838-05`	שְׁחֹר֖וֹת	shechorot	`HAafpa`	black	black ones	1
`H7838-01`	הַ/שְּׁחֹרִ֗ים	hashechorim	`HTd/Aampa`	the-black	the black ones	1
`H7838-04`	שְׁחֹרִֽים	shechorim	`HAampa`	black	black ones	1
`H7838-03`	שְׁחוֹרָ֤ה	shechorah	`HAafsa`	dark	black	1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7838-02`	Leviticus 13:31	שָׁחֹ֖ר	shachor	`HAamsa`	black	black
`H7838-02`	Leviticus 13:37	שָׁחֹ֧ר	shachor	`HAamsa`	black	black
`H7838-04`	Zechariah 6:2	שְׁחֹרִֽים	shechorim	`HAampa`	black	black ones
`H7838-01`	Zechariah 6:6	הַ/שְּׁחֹרִ֗ים	hashechorim	`HTd/Aampa`	the-black	the black ones
`H7838-03`	Song of Songs 1:5	שְׁחוֹרָ֤ה	shechorah	`HAafsa`	dark	black
`H7838-05`	Song of Songs 5:11	שְׁחֹר֖וֹת	shechorot	`HAafpa`	black	black ones

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