שִׁיר
𐤔𐤉𐤓
shîyr
H7891 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To sing, chant, or produce music with the voice; the act of vocal musical expression encompassing both formal and informal singing. The verb שִׁיר denotes the action of singing, typically in praise, rejoicing, or ceremonial contexts, but is also used for lament, daily life, or narrative recounting. It also occasionally means to compose or create a song.
Semantic Range
to sing, to chant, to make music vocally, to compose a song, to perform a song, to celebrate in song, to lament in song
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁי״ר (שׁ-י-ר), meaning 'to sing' or 'to make music with the voice.' The connection to the form שׁוּר (to look, behold) is likely due to later confusion or scribal error, not genuine etymology. The root שִׁיר relates fundamentally to musical vocalization, whether solo or communal. The noun שִׁיר (song) and participial forms derive regularly from this root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb שִׁיר and its derivatives appear throughout the Hebrew Bible in various contexts: religious worship (e.g., singing in the Temple), celebration, victory, and daily life, as well as in expressions of lament (Job 30:9). Earliest Israelite uses center on group singing (Exod 15:1, Miriam's song), individual performance (e.g., David before Saul), and orchestration with instruments. In later texts (Psalms, Chronicles), the term is closely associated with Levitical singers and formal liturgical performance. Although translations often render שִׁיר as 'song' or 'sing,' in biblical contexts the semantic coverage includes chant, poetical recitation, or the spontaneous outburst of music. Related terms: זִמְרָה (zᵉmirah, 'singing, music'), תְּהִלָּה (tehillah, 'praise song'), and מִזְמוֹר (mizmor, 'psalm'). Standard English translations sometimes obscure the rich nuances, especially distinguishing between different Hebrew words for 'song.' The ancient context did not sharply separate 'song' from 'poetry' or 'chant.' Later tradition at times conflates שִׁיר with other words (e.g., שׁוּר, 'to look'), but these are etymologically and semantically separate.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (the original form) שׁוּר; (1 Samuel 18:6), a primitive root (rather identical with שׁוּר through the idea of strolling minstrelsy); to sing; behold (by mistake for שׁוּר), sing(-er, -ing man, -ing woman).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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שׁיר (sh-y-r) — singing, chanting, vocal music-making
Word Forms
33 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7891-17 |
שִׁ֤ירוּ | shiru | HVqv2mp |
Sing | Sing, you men! | 15 |
H7891-05 |
הַֽ/מְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים | hameshorerim | HTd/Vormpa |
the singers | the singing-ones | 13 |
H7891-02 |
אָשִׁ֤ירָה | ashirah | HVqh1cs |
I will sing | Let me sing | 11 |
H7891-23 |
וְ/הַ/מְשֹׁרְרִ֧ים | vehameshorerim | HC/Td/Vormpa |
and the singers | and the singing-ones | 10 |
H7891-16 |
שָׁרִ֣ים | sharim | HVqrmpa |
for the singers | the singing-ones | 4 |
H7891-31 |
יָשִֽׁירוּ | yashiru | HVqi3mp |
they sang | they sing | 2 |
H7891-30 |
יָשִֽׁיר | yashir | HVqi3ms |
sang | he will sing | 2 |
H7891-03 |
הַ/מְשֹׁ֣רֲרִ֔ים | hameshorarim | HTd/Vormpa |
the singers | the singing men | 2 |
H7891-22 |
וְ/הַ/מְשֽׁוֹרֲרִים֙ | vehameshorarim | HC/Td/Vormpa |
and the singers | and the singing-ones | 2 |
H7891-28 |
וְ/שָׁר֑וֹת | vesharot | HC/Vqrfpa |
and singing women | and singing women | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
88 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7891-30 |
Exodus 15:1 | יָשִֽׁיר | yashir | HVqi3ms |
sang | he will sing |
H7891-02 |
Exodus 15:1 | אָשִׁ֤ירָה | ashirah | HVqh1cs |
I will sing | Let me sing |
H7891-17 |
Exodus 15:21 | שִׁ֤ירוּ | shiru | HVqv2mp |
Sing | Sing, you men! |
H7891-30 |
Numbers 21:17 | יָשִׁ֣יר | yashir | HVqi3ms |
sang | he will sing |
H7891-21 |
Judges 5:1 | וַ/תָּ֣שַׁר | vatashar | HC/Vqw3fs |
and she sang | and she sang |
H7891-02 |
Judges 5:3 | אָשִׁ֔ירָה | ashirah | HVqh1cs |
will sing | Let me sing |
H7891-09 |
1 Samuel 18:6 | ל/שור | lshvr | HR/Vqc |
to sing | to sing |
H7891-08 |
1 Samuel 18:6 | לָ/שִׁ֣יר | lashir | HR/Vqc |
and to dance | to sing |
H7891-16 |
2 Samuel 19:36 | שָׁרִ֣ים | sharim | HVqrmpa |
singing men | the singing-ones |
H7891-28 |
2 Samuel 19:36 | וְ/שָׁר֑וֹת | vesharot | HC/Vqrfpa |
and singing women | and singing women |