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שִׁיר

𐤔𐤉𐤓

shîyr

H7892 noun

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "song" 50 occurrences

'Song' is the most natural, widely used English equivalent and matches the dominant usage (79 of 91 occurrences). It covers individual poetic compositions, musical pieces, and the general idea of singing or musical performance, making it the best single base word to use consistently for שִׁיר.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שיר (shîyr) — to sing, to chant, to compose (a song)

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

Word Forms

22 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7892-10 שִׁ֖יר shir HNcbsa song song song 52
H7892-05 הַ/שִּׁירָ֣ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa the song the song the song 10
H7892-04 הַ/שִּׁ֗יר hashir HTd/Ncbsa of song the song the song 5
H7892-01 בַּ/שִּׁ֔יר bashir HRd/Ncbsa for the music in the song in the song 3
H7892-15 שִׁיר֖/וֹ shiro HNcbsc/Sp3ms his song his song his song 2
H7892-19 וּ/בְ/שִׁ֑יר uveshir HC/R/Ncbsa and with singing and with a song and with a song 2
H7892-20 וּ/בְ/שִׁירִ֤ים uveshirim HC/R/Ncbpa and with songs and with songs and with songs 2
H7892-02 בַּ֝/שִּׁרִ֗ים bashirim HRd/Ncbpa songs in the songs in the songs 1
H7892-03 בְּ/שִׁ֑יר beshir HR/Ncbsa with a song in a song with a song 1
H7892-06 הַ/שִּׁירִ֖ים hashirim HTd/Ncbpa of songs the songs the songs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

91 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7892-20 Genesis 31:27 וּ/בְ/שִׁרִ֖ים uveshirim HC/R/Ncbpa and with songs and with songs and with songs
H7892-05 Exodus 15:1 הַ/שִּׁירָ֤ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa this song the song the song
H7892-05 Numbers 21:17 הַ/שִּׁירָ֖ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa song the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:19 הַ/שִּׁירָ֣ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa this song the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:19 הַ/שִּׁירָ֥ה hashirah-2 HTd/Ncbsa the song the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:21 הַ/שִּׁירָ֨ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa the song the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:22 הַ/שִּׁירָ֥ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa the song the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 31:30 הַ/שִּׁירָ֖ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa the song the song the song
H7892-05 Deuteronomy 32:44 הַ/שִּׁירָֽה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa of the song the song the song
H7892-10 Judges 5:12 שִׁ֑יר shir HNcbsa a song song song
H7892-05 2 Samuel 22:1 הַ/שִּׁירָ֣ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa of the song the song the song
H7892-15 1 Kings 5:12 שִׁיר֖/וֹ shiro HNcbsc/Sp3ms his songs his song his songs
H7892-11 Isaiah 5:1 שִׁירַ֥ת shirat HNcbsc song of song of song of
H7892-08 Isaiah 23:15 כְּ/שִׁירַ֖ת keshirat HR/Ncbsc like the song of as song of like the song of
H7892-10 Isaiah 23:16 שִׁ֔יר shir HNcbsa songs song song
H7892-01 Isaiah 24:9 בַּ/שִּׁ֖יר bashir HRd/Ncbsa with song in the song in the song
H7892-04 Isaiah 26:1 הַ/שִּׁיר hashir HTd/Ncbsa song the song the song
H7892-04 Isaiah 30:29 הַ/שִּׁיר֙ hashir HTd/Ncbsa the song the song the song
H7892-10 Isaiah 42:10 שִׁ֣יר shir HNcbsa song song a song
H7892-12 Ezekiel 26:13 שִׁירָ֑יִ/ךְ shirayikhe HNcbpc/Sp2fs of your songs your songs your songs
H7892-07 Ezekiel 33:32 כְּ/שִׁ֣יר keshir HR/Ncbsc like-song like a song like a song
H7892-13 Amos 5:23 שִׁרֶ֑י/ךָ shireykha HNcbpc/Sp2ms of your songs your songs your songs
H7892-10 Amos 6:5 שִֽׁיר shir HNcbsa music song song
H7892-16 Amos 8:3 שִׁיר֤וֹת shirot HNcbpc the songs songs of songs of
H7892-14 Amos 8:10 שִֽׁירֵי/כֶם֙ shireykhem HNcbpc/Sp2mp your-songs your songs your songs
H7892-05 Psalms 18:1 הַ/שִּׁירָ֣ה hashirah HTd/Ncbsa of the song the song the song
H7892-18 Psalms 28:7 וּֽ/מִ/שִּׁירִ֥/י umishiri HC/R/Ncbsc/Sp1cs and with my song and from my song and with my song
H7892-10 Psalms 30:1 שִׁיר shir HNcbsc a Song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 33:3 שִׁ֣יר shir HNcbsa song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 40:4 שִׁ֥יר shir HNcbsa a-song song song
H7892-17 Psalms 42:9 שיר/ה shyrh HNcbsc/Sp3ms his song his song song
H7892-15 Psalms 42:9 שִׁיר֣/וֹ shiro HNcbsc/Sp3ms his song his song his song
H7892-10 Psalms 45:1 שִׁ֣יר shir HNcbsc a song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 46:1 שִֽׁיר shir HNcbsa A song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 48:1 שִׁ֥יר shir HNcbsa A Song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 65:1 שִֽׁיר shir HNcbsa A Song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 66:1 שִׁ֣יר shir HNcbsa a Song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 67:1 שִֽׁיר shir HNcbsa a song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 68:1 שִֽׁיר shir HNcbsa a song song song
H7892-03 Psalms 69:31 בְּ/שִׁ֑יר beshir HR/Ncbsa with a song in a song with a song
H7892-10 Psalms 75:1 שִֽׁיר shir HNcbsa a Song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 76:1 שִֽׁיר shir HNcbsa song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 83:1 שִׁ֖יר shir HNcbsa A Song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 87:1 שִׁ֑יר shir HNcbsa a song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 88:1 שִׁ֥יר shir HNcbsa A song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 92:1 שִׁ֗יר shir HNcbsa a Song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 96:1 שִׁ֣יר shir HNcbsa song song a song
H7892-10 Psalms 98:1 שִׁ֣יר shir HNcbsa song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 108:1 שִׁ֖יר shir HNcbsa A Song song song
H7892-10 Psalms 120:1 שִׁ֗יר shir HNcbsc A song song song
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