7805. shazaph

Lexical Summary

shazaph: To scorch, to burn, to gaze upon

Original Word: שָׁזַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shazaph
Pronunciation: shah-zaf'
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-zaf')
KJV: look up, see
NASB: burned, caught sight, saw
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to tan (by sun-burning)
2. figuratively (as if by a piercing ray) to scan

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

look up, see

A primitive root; to tan (by sun-burning); figuratively (as if by a piercing ray) to scan -- look up, see.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to catch sight of, look on
NASB Translation
burned (1), caught sight (1), saw (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[שָׁזַף] verb catch sight of, look on (of eye); —

Qal Perfect3feminine singular suffix person, subject עַיִן, שְׁוֶפַתּוּ Job 20:9, so (of thing) Job 28:7; compare שֶׁשְּׁזָפַתְנִי הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ Songs 1:6 because the sun hath looked on me.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The verb שָׁזַף occurs only three times and pictures an intense, penetrating look that can leave a lasting effect—whether the scorching stare of the sun, the sharp eye of a falcon, or the once-familiar gaze of neighbors now erased by judgment.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Job 20:9 – “The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place behold him any longer”.
• Job 28:7 – “No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it”.
• Song of Solomon 1:6 – “Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me”.

Historical and Cultural Insights

In the Ancient Near East, the falcon symbolized unrivaled sight, and the midday sun symbolized both life and hardship. The verb’s range allows it to address military vigilance, agricultural realities, and social perception.

Theological Themes

1. Limits of human perception—Job 28:7 shows that even the keenest natural vision cannot discover divine wisdom.
2. Certainty of judgment—Job 20:9 depicts the wicked’s disappearance so complete that no eye will ever see him again.
3. Intrinsic worth—Song of Solomon 1:6 resists superficial appraisal and anticipates the biblical priority of inner beauty (1 Peter 3:3-4).

Practical Application for Ministry

• Lead believers to ask God for wisdom, recognizing natural sight is insufficient (James 1:5).
• Warn that hidden sin will end in sudden removal from view (Psalm 37:35-36).
• Affirm those who feel judged by outward appearance; the Lord’s gaze looks deeper (1 Samuel 16:7).

Related Texts for Study

Psalm 121:6; Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 10:31; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11.

Forms and Transliterations

זפתו שְׁ֝זָפַ֗תּוּ שְׁ֭זָפַתּוּ שֶׁשֱּׁזָפַ֖תְנִי ששזפתני šeš·šĕ·zā·p̄aṯ·nî šeššĕzāp̄aṯnî sheshshezaFatni zā·p̄at·tū zafattu zāp̄attū

Englishman's Concordance

Job 20:9
HEB: עַ֣יִן שְׁ֭זָפַתּוּ וְלֹ֣א תוֹסִ֑יף
NAS: The eye which saw him sees him no
KJV: The eye also [which] saw him shall [see him] no more;
INT: the eye saw no more

Job 28:7
HEB: עָ֑יִט וְלֹ֥א שְׁ֝זָפַ֗תּוּ עֵ֣ין אַיָּֽה׃
NAS: eye caught sight of it.
KJV: eye hath not seen:
INT: bird Nor caught eye has the falcon's

Songs 1:6
HEB: שֶׁאֲנִ֣י שְׁחַרְחֹ֔רֶת שֶׁשֱּׁזָפַ֖תְנִי הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ בְּנֵ֧י
NAS: For the sun has burned me. My mother's
KJV: because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's
INT: I swarthy has burned the sun sons

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7805
3 Occurrences

šeš·šĕ·zā·p̄aṯ·nî — 1 Occ.
zā·p̄at·tū — 2 Occ.