Lexical Summary
zahar: To warn, to admonish, to shine
Original Word:זָהַר
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:zahar
Pronunciation:zah-HAR
Phonetic Spelling:(zaw-har')
KJV: admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing)
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to gleam
2. (figuratively) to enlighten (by caution)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
admonish, shine, teach, give warning
A primitive root; to gleam; figuratively, to enlighten (by caution) -- admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [] (Arabic
shine, adjective
bright (compare Lag
BN 120); Aramaic ,
; Late Hebrew in derivatives; see also below II. ) —
. (late)send out light, shine, figurative of everlasting glory of teachers of righteousness:Daniel 12:3and they that make wise shall shine like the shining of the firmament ("" ).
II. [] only
(Late Hebrew Hiph`il,admonish, compare Aramaic (Aph`el, Pa`el etc.),
(Arabic
VIII.take care of, be mindful of is perhaps Aramaic loan-word, so Tel Amarna compare Lane). — Most identify with I. =give light, enlighten, instruct, admonish; this possible, but not certain, meaningshine is late in Hebrew; usual sense as given below is notenlighten, illumine mentally, butwarn; see also construction with two accusativesExodus 18:20); —
Perfect consecutiveEzekiel 33:3; suffix2 Kings 6:10; 2masculine singularEzekiel 3:19;Ezekiel 33:9,Ezekiel 3:17;Ezekiel 33:7,Exodus 18:20, suffixEzekiel 3:18,20,21, consecutiveEzekiel 3:17;Ezekiel 33:7; consecutive 2 Chronicles 19:10;Infinitive constructEzekiel 3:18;Ezekiel 33:8; —instruct, teach, warn:Exodus 18:20 (E)teach them ordinances (2 accusative);2 Kings 6:10 the placewhich ()the man of God told him of () andwarned him (suffix)of; elsewhere only Ezra, Chronicles;warn, give a warning to, always followed by accusative of person only:Ezekiel 3:18,19,20;Ezekiel 33:3;give them (accusative)a warning from me (, speaks)Ezekiel 3:17;Ezekiel 33:7;warn the wicked ()from (away from, )his wayEzekiel 3:18;Ezekiel 33:8,9;warn the righteous ()Ezekiel 3:21 followed by Infinitivein order that the righteous sin not, compare 2 Chronicles 19:10 followed by accusative of person + final clause with .
Perfect3masculine singularEzekiel 3:21;Ezekiel 33:4,5,6; alsoEzekiel 33:5 (read perhaps , so We Sm Co);ImperativeEcclesiastes 12:12;Infinitive constructEcclesiastes 4:13; ParticiplePsalm 19:12; —be instructed, admonished, warned (passive of Hiph`il): —Psalm 19:12yea thy servant, he is instructed (orwarned)by them (i.e. lets himself be instructed or warned by thePsalm 19:10); in Ezekiel distinctlytake warning, absoluteEzekiel 3:21 (compare
)Ezekiel 33:4,5a; soEcclesiastes 12:2 and, more Generally,Ecclesiastes 4:13who knoweth not how to take admonition; be warned, receive warningEzekiel 33:6 (of people, with , i.e. if no warning be given them), alsoEzekiel 33:5b, but read perhaps Hiph`il (see above)but he (i.e. the watchman)gave warning, he hath delivered his (own)soul.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewStrong’s Hebrew 2094, zahar, gathers two strands of meaning that Scripture weaves together: (1) to warn or admonish, and (2) to shine or radiate. The Spirit’s choice to pair moral alertness with luminous brilliance underscores a single truth—divine warning is itself light. Across twenty-two Old Testament occurrences, zahar functions as a gracious alarm that rescues from danger and as a gleam that guides toward covenant faithfulness.
Usage in the Torah
Exodus 18:20 records Moses instructed to “warn them of the statutes and laws, and show them the way to walk and the work they must do.” Here zahar establishes a pastoral pattern: God’s people are safeguarded when leaders plainly set before them the revealed will of God. The verse creates the template followed by prophets, priests, and kings in later books.
Warning in the Historical Books
When the Arameans plotted ambush, Elisha repeatedly sent word to Israel’s king “and warned him, so that he was on his guard” (2 Kings 6:10). Likewise, King Jehoshaphat charged the judges, “warn them not to incur guilt before the LORD” (2 Chronicles 19:10). In both narratives, zahar exposes hidden peril—military or moral—so that covenant heads may act decisively. Spiritual oversight and protective leadership are inseparable.
Illumination in the Psalms and Wisdom Literature
Psalm 19:11 celebrates the radiance of divine precepts: “By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.” The psalmist unites warning with delight; the same light that reveals error also promises joy.
Ecclesiastes employs the verb twice (4:13; 12:12) to caution learners about headstrong folly and endless books. The Preacher’s warnings safeguard the heart from vanities that dim the fear of God.
The Watchman Motif in Ezekiel
Half of zahar’s occurrences cluster inEzekiel 3 and 33, where the prophet receives the solemn office of watchman. His mandate is to hear God’s word and “warn” the wicked and the righteous alike (Ezekiel 3:17-21; 33:3-9). The repeated pattern—hear, warn, deliver your soul—teaches that silent shepherds share guilt for unrepented sin. Yet faithful warning liberates both speaker and hearer. The watchman sections ground the theology of pastoral responsibility later echoed inActs 20:26-27 andHebrews 13:17.
Eschatological Brilliance in Daniel
Daniel 12:3 employs zahar in its radiant sense: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” The prophetic horizon reveals the fullest convergence of the verb’s two facets. Those who have faithfully warned others during history will themselves blaze with everlasting splendor in resurrection glory.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Preaching and teaching: Zaharian ministry brings Scripture’s light to bear on every conscience, coupling exhortation with exposure.
• Pastoral care: Elders follow the watchman paradigm, discharging duty through timely admonition that prevents bloodguilt.
• Discipleship: Mutual warning within the body (compareHebrews 3:13) preserves fellowship and fosters holiness.
• Evangelism: The gospel itself is a warning that also shines, calling sinners from darkness to light (Acts 26:18).
Christological and New Testament Connections
Jesus embodies the ultimate zahar ministry—both “the Light of the world” (John 8:12) and the prophetic voice that warns of judgment (Matthew 24). His followers mirror this dual role as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8) who “admonish one another” (Colossians 3:16). Paul’s declaration, “I am innocent of the blood of all” (Acts 20:26), consciously recalls Ezekiel’s watchman theology.
Summary
Zahar integrates moral urgency with radiant guidance. Whether issued from Sinai, royal courts, prophetic watchtowers, or the lips of Wisdom, its warnings are beams of grace steering God’s people away from ruin and toward everlasting brightness. The verb therefore calls every generation to faithful proclamation, diligent obedience, and confident hope in the Day when the warned and the shining become one and the same.
Forms and Transliterations
הִזְהַ֣רְתָּ הִזְהַ֨רְתָּ הִזְהַרְתּ֗וֹ הִזְהַרְתּ֣וֹ הִזְהַרְתּוֹ֙ הִזָּהֵ֑ר הזהר הזהרת הזהרתו וְהִזְהִ֥יר וְהִזְהִירֹ֖ו וְהִזְהַרְתֶּ֣ם וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֥ והזהיר והזהירו והזהרת והזהרתה והזהרתם יַזְהִ֖רוּ יזהרו לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר לְהַזְהִ֥יר להזהיר להזהר נִזְהָ֔ר נִזְהָ֖ר נִזְהָ֣ר נזהר hiz·har·tā hiz·har·tōw hiz·zā·hêr hizHarta hizhartā hizharTo hizhartōw hizzaHer hizzāhêr lə·haz·hîr lə·hiz·zā·hêr lehazHir ləhazhîr lehizzaHer ləhizzāhêr niz·hār nizHar nizhār vehizharTa vehizharTah vehizharTem vehizHir vehizhiRo wə·hiz·har·tā wə·hiz·har·tāh wə·hiz·har·tem wə·hiz·hî·rōw wə·hiz·hîr wəhizhartā wəhizhartāh wəhizhartem wəhizhîr wəhizhîrōw yaz·hi·rū yazHiru yazhirū
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