Lexical Summary shur: To behold, to look, to observe Original Word: שׁוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance behold, lay wait, look, observe, perceive, regard, see A primitive root (identical with shuwr through the idea of going round for inspection); to spy out, i.e. (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for -- behold, lay wait, look, observe, perceive, regard, see. see HEBREW shuwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to behold, regard NASB Translation behold (5), beholds (1), lie in wait (1), look (2), notices (1), regard (1), regards (1), see (1), watch (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [שׁוּר] verb behold, regard (especially Job); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יָשׁוּר Jeremiah 5:26, suffix יְשׁוּרֶנּוּ Job 34:29, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שׁוּר Job 35:5; — 1 behold, with accusative of person Numbers 23:9; Numbers 24:17 (poems in J E, "" רָאָה), לֹא תְּשׁוּרֵנִי, subject eye, Job 24:15, and (= I shall not exist) Job 7:8, compare Job 20:9 (subject מְקוֺמוֺ), Job 17:15; God object Job 34:29; Job 35:14; look, gaze, absolute, מִן local Songs 4:8. 2 regard with watchful care (subject ׳י) Hosea 14:9; so, = notice, Job 35:13; regard, observe, accusative of thing, God's word Job 33:14 (Hi De Da and others), so, (reading 2 masculine singular), Siegf Bu; Du יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ he (God) retracts it not. 3 watch stealthily, lie in wait, בְּנָמֵר עַלדֶּֿרֶךְ אָשׁוּר Hosea 13:7 (subject ׳י; Meinh Marti אֶשְׁקֹד; ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 We Now and others אַשּׁוּר), Jeremiah 5:26 (subject wicked). — Job 33:27 see שׁיר. Topical Lexicon Core Concept שׁוּר carries the idea of concentrated sight—looking with intent, surveying, inspecting or keeping watch. The verb goes beyond a casual glance; it suggests a fixed, discerning gaze that evaluates what is seen. Whether used of a prophet scanning distant hills, a sinner hiding in darkness, or God observing His people, the word consistently implies purposeful perception. Canonical Distribution Sixteen occurrences span five literary zones: The highest concentration is in Job, where the theme of being seen—or not seen—drives the dialogue about human suffering and divine justice. Prophetic Vision and Messianic Hope In Balaam’s oracles the verb anchors one of the clearest early messianic prophecies. “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth out of Jacob, a scepter will rise from Israel” (Numbers 24:17). The double use of שׁוּר underscores the prophet’s Spirit-given ability to pierce the centuries and glimpse the Messiah. The passage ties the act of beholding with divine revelation, affirming that God discloses redemptive history to chosen seers. Human Limitation and Mortality Job employs שׁוּר to lament life’s brevity: “The eye that has seen me will behold me no more” (Job 7:8). Similar wording in Job 20:9 echoes the finality of death—once a person departs, the watching eye will never rest on him again. Job 17:15 raises the bleak question, “Where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?” The verb lays bare the inability of human observation to find certainty apart from God. Hidden Sin and Moral Vigilance “The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight, thinking, ‘No eye will see me’” (Job 24:15). Jeremiah 5:26 pictures wicked men “watching like fowlers lying in wait.” Here שׁוּר paints sin as a clandestine surveillance operation. The same root in Hosea 13:7 flips the image: God says He will “lurk” like a leopard against the rebellious nation, turning sinful vigilance back on itself. These texts warn that the gaze used to conceal evil will encounter the omniscient gaze of the Lord. Divine Oversight and Grace In Hosea 14:8 God assures repentant Israel, “It is I who answer and watch over him.” Job 33:14 reminds sufferers that “God speaks once and again, though a man may not perceive it.” The contrast is striking: while people often fail to recognize divine messages, the Lord’s watching never ceases. Job 35:5 urges the sufferer, “Look to the heavens and see,” redirecting human eyes from earthly injustice to the transcendent Watcher whose judgments are sure. Elevation and Perspective “Come with me from Lebanon… look from the top of Amana” (Song of Solomon 4:8). As the bride is invited to survey the landscape from lofty peaks, שׁוּר becomes a metaphor for new perspective gained through intimate fellowship. Likewise, Balaam “sees” Israel from mountain heights (Numbers 23:9), illustrating that true evaluation of God’s people must be made from the vantage point God provides. Imagery of Predator and Protector Hosea 13:7 combines vigilance with ferocity: “So I will be like a lion to them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.” The same verb that describes adultery’s stealth (Job 24:15) now conveys covenant wrath. Yet in Hosea 14:8, after repentance, the Lord turns the verb toward protection, “watching over” His restored son. The word therefore spans judgment and mercy, capturing both sides of covenant faithfulness. Pastoral and Homiletic Application 1. Watchfulness: Believers are called to spiritual alertness, mirroring God’s constant gaze (compare Mark 13:37). Summary שׁוּר moves fluidly between human sight and divine oversight. It calls attention to what is truly seen—by prophets, by sinners, by God Himself—and urges every reader of Scripture to adopt the holy vigilance that befits those who live before the all-seeing Lord. Forms and Transliterations אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ אָשֽׁוּר׃ אשור׃ אשורנו וְשׁ֥וּר וַאֲשׁוּרֶ֗נּוּ ואשורנו ושור יְשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ יְשׁוּרֶֽנָּה׃ יָשֹׁ֤ר ׀ יָשׁוּר֙ ישור ישורנה׃ ישורנו ישר תְ֭שׁוּרֵנִי תְּשׁוּרֶ֥נּוּ תְשׁוּרֵ֣נִי תְשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ תָּשׁ֣וּרִי ׀ תשורי תשורנו תשורני ’ă·šū·ren·nū ’ā·šūr ’āšūr ’ăšūrennū aShur ashuRennu tā·šū·rî taShuri tāšūrî ṯə·šū·rê·nî tə·šū·ren·nū ṯə·šū·ren·nū Teshureni teshuRennu ṯəšūrênî təšūrennū ṯəšūrennū vaashuRennu veShur wa’ăšūrennū wa·’ă·šū·ren·nū wə·šūr wəšūr yā·šōr yā·šūr yaShor yaShur yāšōr yāšūr yə·šū·ren·nāh yə·šū·ren·nū yeshuRennah yeshuRennu yəšūrennāh yəšūrennūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 23:9 HEB: אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ הֶן־ עָם֙ NAS: of the rocks, And I look at him from the hills; KJV: him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people INT: see the hills look Behold A people Numbers 24:17 Job 7:8 Job 17:15 Job 20:9 Job 24:15 Job 33:14 Job 33:27 Job 34:29 Job 35:5 Job 35:13 Job 35:14 Songs 4:8 Jeremiah 5:26 Hosea 13:7 Hosea 14:8 16 Occurrences |
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