Lexical Summary
shir: Song, Sing
Original Word:שַׁיר
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:shiyr
Pronunciation:sheer
Phonetic Spelling:(sheer)
KJV: behold (by mistake for H7789), sing(-er, -ing man, -ing woman)
NASB:singers, sing, sang, singing, sung, singer, sings
Word Origin:[a primitive root (identical withH7788 (שׁוּר - carriers) through the idea of strolling minstrelsy)]
1. to sing
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
behold
Or (the original form) shuwr (1 Sam. 18:6) {shoor}; a primitive root (identical withshuwr through the idea of strolling minstrelsy); to sing -- behold (by mistake forshuwr), sing(-er, -ing man, - ing woman).
see HEBREWshuwr
see HEBREWshuwr
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origindenominative verb from
shirDefinitionto sing
NASB Translationsang (6), sing (32), singer (1), singers (34), singing (3), sings (1), song leaders (1), sung (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[]
86 (denominative according to Nö
ZMG xxxvii (1883), 537 Gerb
172, but, if so, an old one); —
49Perfect3masculine singularPsalm 7:1;Imperfect3masculine singularExodus 15:1;Numbers 21:17 (readJob 33:27 for , √II. , so SS Bu Gerber; in this sense also Ew De Di RV and all modern); 3 feminine singularJudges 5:1, etc.;Imperative masculine pluralExodus 15:21 +;Infinitive construct1 Samuel 18:6 Kt ( < Qr , so Bu;B omitted, compare Dr KitKau HPS Now);ParticipleProverbs 25:20; plural2 Samuel 19:36 +; feminine2 Samuel 19:36 2t. +Amos 8:3 (read for ; see ); —sing, with accusativeIsaiah 42:10;Psalm 33:3 5t.;Exodus 15:1;Numbers 21:17 (E)Isaiah 5:1;Proverbs 25:20;Psalm 137:3;Psalm 7:1 ( ),Psalm 106:12; with accusative of themePsalm 59:17;Psalm 89:2; absoluteJudges 5:1;1 Samuel 18:6; withPsalm 13:6;Psalm 96:1;Psalm 96:2 =1 Chronicles 16:23;Exodus 15:1,21;Jeremiah 20:13; ""Psalm 68:5;Psalm 68:33;Psalm 101:1;Psalm 104:33;Psalm 105:2 =1 Chronicles 16:9;Judges 5:3; + absolutePsalm 57:8 =Psalm 108:2 with accusative themePsalm 21:14; with personPsalm 27:6; of naturePsalm 65:14 (after );Job 33:27 (see above); participlesingers2 Samuel 19:36;1 Kings 10:12 6t. (Ezekiel 40:44 read Hi Co modern);songstresses2 Samuel 19:36; 2Chronicles 35:25;Ecclesiastes 2:8 +Amos 8:3 (see above). —Psalm 138:5 read .
36Perfect3masculine pluralJob 36:24;Imperfect3masculine singularZephaniah 2:14;Participle1 Chronicles 6:18; 2Chronicles 29:28; pluralEzra 2:65 +, etc.; —sing: birdsZephaniah 2:14; menJob 36:24; elsewhere participle of Levitical singers1 Chronicles 6:18;1 Chronicles 9:33 31t., + feminine pluralEzra 2:65songstresses =Nehemiah 7:67.
be sung: ImperfectIsaiah 26:1
Topical Lexicon
Biblical Panorama of שַׁיר (Strong 7891)The verb denotes the active exercise of singing, whether in private devotion, public worship, festal celebration, military triumph, lamentation, or prophetic vision. Spanning the Pentateuch to the post-exilic books, it consistently portrays song as a divinely sanctioned vehicle for truth, memory, and joy.
1. Personal Praise and Devotion
Song often rises spontaneously from individuals whose hearts overflow with gratitude to God.
• Moses and Israel after the Red Sea: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD” (Exodus 15:1).
• Deborah and Barak: “On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang” (Judges 5:1).
• Hannah: “My heart rejoices in the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:1).
These instances reveal that worship is not merely ritual but an intimate response to divine intervention.
2. Corporate Temple Worship and the Levitical Office
David institutionalized singing as an essential component of sanctuary life. Levites were “appointed … to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments” (1 Chronicles 15:16). Under Solomon, the ministry continued (2 Chronicles 5:12–13), and after the exile Ezra restored it (Ezra 3:10–11). The verb underscores that music is not ornamental but integral to covenantal worship.
3. Song as Victory Proclamation
Israel’s victories are sealed with singing. After Saul’s triumph, “the women sang out: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’” (1 Samuel 18:7). Jehoshaphat’s singers went before the army and “began to sing and praise” (2 Chronicles 20:22), demonstrating that praise can be both weapon and witness.
4. Teaching, Memory, and Covenant Renewal
Song fixes doctrine in the communal consciousness. The “Song of Moses” was given “so that this song may serve as a witness” (Deuteronomy 31:19). Asaph’s Psalm recounts Israel’s history to instruct future generations (Psalm 78 superscription; cf.Psalm 78:1–72). Thus singing is Scripture’s mnemonic aid, binding heart and mind to God’s acts and statutes.
5. Lament and Repentance
Although predominantly joyful, שַׁיר also voices sorrow. Captives in Babylon refused to “sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land” (Psalm 137:4). The absence of song signaled judgment: “The mirth of tambourines has ceased, the noise of revelers has stopped” (Isaiah 24:8). When sin interrupts fellowship, song falters; when grace restores, singing returns (Isaiah 35:10).
6. Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions
Prophets envision redeemed creation erupting in song. “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah” (Isaiah 26:1). Future Gentile inclusion is anticipated: “Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise from the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 42:10). Zephaniah hears the LORD Himself “singing loudly” over His people (Zephaniah 3:17), an ultimate reversal of lament.
7. Christological Trajectory
The Messianic Psalms foretell the Anointed One amid singing assemblies (Psalm 22:22, quoted inHebrews 2:12). At the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples “sang a hymn” (Matthew 26:30), linking the Old Covenant’s songs to the New. In Revelation, redeemed saints “sing a new song before the throne” (Revelation 14:3), showing the verb’s telos in Christ’s consummated kingdom.
8. Ministry Application for the Church
• Worship: Congregational singing continues the Levitical pattern, anchoring doctrine in melody (Colossians 3:16).
• Evangelism: Victorious songs testify to God’s mighty acts, drawing outsiders to faith (Psalm 40:3).
• Spiritual Warfare: Praise precedes and precipitates deliverance (Acts 16:25–26 mirrors2 Chronicles 20).
• Pastoral Care: Lament songs validate grief and guide repentance, offering hope through voiced sorrow.
9. Selected Thematic Occurrences
Genesis 31:27;Exodus 15:1;Numbers 21:17;Deuteronomy 31:19, 22;Judges 5:1;1 Samuel 18:6–7;2 Samuel 19:35;1 Kings 10:12;1 Chronicles 15:16;2 Chronicles 5:13;2 Chronicles 20:21–22;Nehemiah 12:42;Job 29:13;Psalm 13:6;Psalm 33:3;Psalm 40:3;Psalm 47:6–7;Psalm 95:1;Psalm 137:3–4;Isaiah 12:5;Isaiah 26:1;Isaiah 52:9;Jeremiah 20:13;Zephaniah 3:17.
Conclusion
Wherever שַׁיר appears, Scripture presents singing as a God-ordained expression that unites truth and emotion, commemorates salvation history, equips the saints, declares victory, comforts the broken, and anticipates eternal praise.
Forms and Transliterations
אָ֝שִׁ֗ירָה אָשִׁ֑ירָה אָשִׁ֔ירָה אָשִׁ֣יר אָשִׁ֣ירָה אָשִׁ֤ירָה אָשִׁ֥ירָה אשיר אשירה הַ֠מְשֹׁרְרִים הַֽמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים הַמְשֹֽׁרְרִ֑ים הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים הַמְשֹׁ֣רֲרִ֔ים הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֜ים הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֥ים הַמְשֹׁרֲרִ֣ים הַמְשׁוֹרֵ֔ר הַשָּׁרִ֣ים ׀ המשורר המשררים השרים וְ֠הַשָּׁרוֹת וְ֭יָשִׁירוּ וְהַמְשֹֽׁרֲרִ֨ים וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧ים וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֨ים וְהַמְשֽׁוֹרֲרִים֙ וְלַמְשֹֽׁרֲרִ֜ים וְשָׁ֥ר וְשָׁר֑וֹת וְשָׁר֗וֹת וְשָׁרִ֥ים וַתָּ֣שַׁר וּֽמְשֹׁרְר֖וֹת וּמְשֹׁ֣רֲר֔וֹת והמשוררים והמשררים והשרות וישירו ולמשררים ומשררות ושר ושרות ושרים ותשר יְשׁוֹרֵ֤ר יָ֝שִׁ֗ירוּ יָשִֽׁיר־ יָשִֽׁירוּ׃ יָשִׁ֣יר יוּשַׁ֥ר יושר ירו ישורר ישיר ישיר־ ישירו ישירו׃ לַשָּׁרִ֑ים לָשִׁ֣יר לשיר לשרים מְשֹֽׁרֲרִים֙ מְשֹׁרְרִ֥ים מְשׁוֹרֵ֔ר משורר משררים נָשִׁ֥יר נָשִׁ֥ירָה נשיר נשירה רים שִֽׁירוּ־ שִׁ֚ירוּ שִׁ֣יר שִׁ֣ירוּ שִׁ֤ירוּ שִׁ֤ירוּ ׀ שִׁ֥ירוּ שָׁ֥ר שָׁ֭רִים שָׁרִ֗ים שָׁרִ֣ים שֹׁרְר֣וּ שיר שירו שירו־ שר שרים שררו ’ā·šî·rāh ’ā·šîr ’āšîr ’āšîrāh ·rū aShir aShirah ham·šō·ră·rîm ham·šō·rə·rîm ham·šō·w·rêr hamshoraRim hamshoRer Hamshorerim hamšōrărîm hamšōrərîm hamšōwrêr haš·šā·rîm hashshaRim haššārîm lā·šîr laš·šā·rîm laShir lashshaRim lāšîr laššārîm mə·šō·ră·rîm mə·šō·rə·rîm mə·šō·w·rêr meshoraRim meshoRer meshoreRim məšōrărîm məšōrərîm məšōwrêr nā·šî·rāh nā·šîr naShir naShirah nāšîr nāšîrāh rim rîm ru rū šā·rîm šār šārîm shar shaRim shir Shiru shoreRu šî·rū šî·rū- šîr šîrū šîrū- šō·rə·rū šōrərū ū·mə·šō·ră·rō·wṯ ū·mə·šō·rə·rō·wṯ umeShoraRot umeshoreRot ūməšōrărōwṯ ūməšōrərōwṯ vatTashar vehamshoraRim vehamShoreRim Vehashsharot velamshoraRim veShar veshaRim veshaRot Veyashiru wat·tā·šar wattāšar wə·ham·šō·ră·rîm wə·ham·šō·rə·rîm wə·ham·šō·w·ră·rîm wə·haš·šā·rō·wṯ wə·lam·šō·ră·rîm wə·šā·rîm wə·šā·rō·wṯ wə·šār wə·yā·šî·rū wəhamšōrărîm wəhamšōrərîm wəhamšōwrărîm wəhaššārōwṯ wəlamšōrărîm wəšār wəšārîm wəšārōwṯ wəyāšîrū yā·šî·rū yā·šîr yā·šîr- yashir yaShiru yāšîr yāšîr- yāšîrū yə·šō·w·rêr yeshoRer yəšōwrêr yū·šar yūšar yuShar
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