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שִׁיר

𐤔𐤉𐤓

shîyr

H7892 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שיר to sing, to chant, to compose (a song)

Definition

A song, poetic composition set to music, or musical piece; also, the act or performance of singing. The term denotes both individual songs (whether sacred or secular), the collective act of singing or musical performance, and at times is used to highlight poetic or artistic expression within Hebrew literature.

Semantic Range

song, singing, poetic composition, lyrical poem, musical performance, chant

Root / Etymology

From the root שִׁיר (ש-י-ר), which fundamentally signifies 'to sing.' The noun שִׁיר is a direct formation from the verbal root and refers to the product of singing—a song or chant. It may be used in both masculine (שִׁיר) and feminine (שִׁירָה) forms, the distinction sometimes indicating nuance but often interchangeable.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, שִׁיר appears in a variety of contexts: individually, as in the 'Song of Moses' (Deut 31:19), or commonly in the titles of Psalms (e.g., 'A Song of Ascents,' שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת). It can refer both to religious compositions and to more general songs, including love songs (e.g., Song of Songs – שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים). The term is often closely related to or paired with מִזְמוֹר (mizmor, 'psalm'), which emphasizes the aspect of instrumental accompaniment, while שִׁיר focuses on vocal music or poetic form. Over time, especially in later Hebrew, שִׁיר became the standard word for 'song' in all contexts. English translations may render שִׁיר as 'song,' 'singing,' or in some cases 'hymn' or 'psalm,' but the original encompasses a broader category than liturgical use alone. In early periods (patriarchal, monarchic), שִׁיר could include epic, victory, and lament songs, not just religious compositions. In later, Second Temple and post-exilic use, the term's range expanded even further, but always retains the core association with vocal musical expression.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or feminine שִׁירָה; from שִׁיר; a song; abstractly, singing; musical(-ick), [idiom] sing(-er, -ing), song.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שיר (š-y-r) — to sing, to chant, to compose

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7891 שִׁיר Let me sing

Word Forms

22 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7892-10 שִׁ֑יר shir HNcbsa song song 52
H7892-05 הַ/שִּׁירָ֤ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa the song the song 10
H7892-04 הַ/שִּׁיר hashir HTd/Ncbsa of song the song 5
H7892-01 בַּ/שִּׁ֖יר bashir HRd/Ncbsa for the music in the song 3
H7892-19 וּ/בְ/שִׁ֔יר uveshir HC/R/Ncbsa and with singing and with a song 2
H7892-15 שִׁיר֖/וֹ shiro HNcbsc/Sp3ms his song his song 2
H7892-20 וּ/בְ/שִׁרִ֖ים uveshirim HC/R/Ncbpa and with songs and with songs 2
H7892-13 שִׁרֶ֑י/ךָ shireykha HNcbpc/Sp2ms of your songs your songs 1
H7892-09 מִ/שִּׁ֥יר mishir HR/Ncbsc one of the from song of 1
H7892-08 כְּ/שִׁירַ֖ת keshirat HR/Ncbsc like the song of as song of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

91 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7892-20 Genesis 31:27 וּ/בְ/שִׁרִ֖ים uveshirim HC/R/Ncbpa and with songs and with songs
H7892-05 Exodus 15:1 הַ/שִּׁירָ֤ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa this song the song
H7892-05 Numbers 21:17 הַ/שִּׁירָ֖ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:19 הַ/שִּׁירָ֣ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa this song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:19 הַ/שִּׁירָ֥ה hashirah-2 HTd/Ncbsa the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:21 הַ/שִּׁירָ֨ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:22 הַ/שִּׁירָ֥ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:30 הַ/שִּׁירָ֖ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 32:44 הַ/שִּׁירָֽה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa of the song the song
H7892-10 Judges 5:12 שִׁ֑יר shir HNcbsa a song song
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