שַׁחֲרַיִם
𐤔𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤌
Shacharayim
H7842 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Shacharayim is a proper noun referring to a specific individual in the Hebrew Bible, specifically an Israelite man from the tribe of Benjamin. The name's primary lexical meaning is 'double dawn,' derived from the dual form of the word for 'dawn.' The semantic spectrum includes: (1) a personal name with the sense 'double dawn,' (2) potential symbolic connotation of new beginnings or prominent timing (arising twice, or a particularly bright/radiant dawn), though such symbolism should not be overly pressed in historical usage.
Semantic Range
proper name (Israelite male), double dawn (literal meaning of the name), possible poetic or auspicious overtone
Root / Etymology
From the root שחר (shaḥar), meaning 'dawn,' with dual ending -יִם (-ayim), forming שַׁחֲרַיִם (Shacharayim), 'double dawn.' The form indicates either the idea of two dawns or a particularly emphatic or intensified dawn. The specific application as a personal name does not necessarily retain the concrete sense but may function as a poetic or auspicious designation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Shacharayim is found in 1 Chronicles 8:8 and 8:9, listed among the descendants of Benjamin. As is often the case with biblical personal names, the literal root meaning may only partially account for the motivation for the name. There is no indication of a broader usage outside of a personal name in the Hebrew Bible. While some English translations render the name as 'Shaharaim' or with variant spellings, it consistently refers to the same individual. The construction as a dual is relatively rare and may convey distinction, plurality, or emphasis rather than a numeric sense. Later translations—including the Septuagint and Vulgate—retain the name as a proper noun. The meaning ‘double dawn’ is not directly reflected in the narrative and should not be anachronistically associated with any later theological symbolism. No evidence suggests a specific Israelite cultic or liturgical significance to the term beyond its use as a personal name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
dual of שַׁחַר; double dawn; Shacharajim, an Israelite; Shaharaim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שחר (š-ḥ-r) — break forth (of light), become light, dawn, seek 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7842-01 |
וְ/שַׁחֲרַ֗יִם | veshacharayim | HC/Np |
And Shaharaim | Double Dawn | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7842-01 |
1 Chronicles 8:8 | וְ/שַׁחֲרַ֗יִם | veshacharayim | HC/Np |
And Shaharaim | Double Dawn |