What does שָׁחַר (šāḥar) mean in the Bible?
שָׁחַר (šāḥar): Early rising implies earnest, diligent pursuit; dawn-action metaphor conveys sincere seeking or persistent striving.
Hebrew · H7836
שָׁחַר
Properly, to dawn , i.e. (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
שָׁחַרH7836
Pronunciationšāḥar
What does שָׁחַר (šāḥar) mean in the Bible?
שָׁחַר (šāḥar): Early rising implies earnest, diligent pursuit; dawn-action metaphor conveys sincere seeking or persistent striving.
Full entry for שָׁחַר (H7836) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7836?
The BSB source-word alignment has 12 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and searched for (1), and those who seek me early (1), diligently (1), Earnestly I seek (1), foraging (1).
Where does שָׁחַר (šāḥar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 7:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (5), Job (3), Psalms (2), Hosea (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand searched for1×Psalms 78:34
and those who seek me early1×Proverbs 8:17
diligently1×Proverbs 13:24
Earnestly I seek1×Psalms 63:1
foraging1×Job 24:5
He who searches out1×Proverbs 11:27
I sought you1×Proverbs 7:15
seeks You1×Isaiah 26:9
they {will} earnestly seek me1×Proverbs 1:28
they will earnestly seek Me1×Hosea 5:15
would earnestly seek1×Job 8:5
You will seek me1×Job 7:21
Show sample aligned rows
Job 7:21וְשִׁ֖חֲרְתַּ֣נִיtoYou will seek meConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularJob 8:5תְּשַׁחֵ֣רtowould earnestly seekVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularJob 24:5מְשַׁחֲרֵ֣יtoforagingVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural constructPsalms 63:1אֲֽשַׁחֲ֫רֶ֥ךָּtoEarnestly I seekVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularPsalms 78:34וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־toand searched forConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralProverbs 1:28יְ֝שַׁחֲרֻ֗נְנִיtothey {will} earnestly seek meVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular, Paragogic nunProverbs 7:15לְשַׁחֵ֥רtoI sought youPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructProverbs 8:17וּ֝מְשַׁחֲרַ֗יtoand those who seek me earlyConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularProverbs 11:27שֹׁ֣חֵֽרtoHe who searches outVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularProverbs 13:24שִֽׁחֲר֥וֹtodiligentlyVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJob 7:21
Aligned rows12
Books represented5
Job3Psalms2Proverbs5Isaiah1Hosea1
Source forms
אֲֽשַׁחֲ֫רֶ֥ךָּ1x’ăša·ḥă·re·kāPsalms 63:1
אֲשַֽׁחֲרֶ֑ךָּ1x’ă·ša·ḥă·re·kāIsaiah 26:9
וּ֝מְשַׁחֲרַ֗י1xū·mə·ša·ḥă·rayProverbs 8:17
וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־1xwə·ši·ḥă·rū-Psalms 78:34
וְשִׁ֖חֲרְתַּ֣נִי1xwə·ši·ḥăr·ta·nîJob 7:21
יְ֝שַׁחֲרֻ֗נְנִי1xyə·ša·ḥă·run·nîProverbs 1:28
יְשַׁחֲרֻֽנְנִי׃1xyə·ša·ḥă·run·nîHosea 5:15
לְשַׁחֵ֥ר1xlə·ša·ḥêrProverbs 7:15
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular2xPsalms 63:1, Isaiah 26:9
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular, Paragogic nun2xProverbs 1:28, Hosea 5:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular1xJob 7:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1xPsalms 78:34
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular1xProverbs 8:17
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1xProverbs 7:15
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1xJob 8:5
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct1xJob 24:5
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Early rising implies earnest, diligent pursuit; dawn-action metaphor conveys sincere seeking or persistent striving.
Strong'sH7836
Lexical occurrences12 versesWord forms2 forms3 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 11:27Source Gloss
properly, to dawn , i.e. (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Early rising implies earnest, diligent pursuit; dawn-action metaphor conveys sincere seeking or persistent striving.
properly, to dawn, i.e. (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking) BDB: look early Usage: (do something) betimes, enquire early, rise (seek) betimes, seek diligently) early, in the morning).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms3
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
ImperfectJob 8:51×
Participle activeJob 24:51×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
Participle activeProv 11:271×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
diligent searching or seeking with earnest effort and care
Showing 1 selected witness from 12 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁחַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.