Lexical Summary Shichor: Shihor Original Word: שִׁיחוֹר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shihor, Sihor Or Shichowr {shee-khore'}; or Shichor {shee-khore'}; probably from shachar; dark, i.e. Turbid; Shichor, a stream of Egypt -- Shihor, Sihor. see HEBREW shachar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a stream on the border of Eg. NASB Translation Nile (2), Shihor (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׁיחוֺר proper name, of a river on border of Egypt, probably east branch of Nile; — ׳הַשּׁ Joshua 13:3, מִצְרַיִם ׳שׁ 1 Chronicles 13:5; clearly = Nile, זֶרַע שִׁחֹר Isaiah 23:3 ("" יְאוֺר קְצִיר), מֵי שִׁחוֺר Jeremiah 2:18; compare DlPa 311 WilsonHast. DB SHIHOR (usually derived from I. שׁחר, as black water, but doubtful). Topical Lexicon Entry: ShihorOccurrences in Scripture Joshua 13:3; 1 Chronicles 13:5; Isaiah 23:3; Jeremiah 2:18 Geographical Setting Shihor designates the easternmost watercourse associated with Egypt that formed the southwestern boundary of the land promised to Israel. Most scholars identify it with the Pelusiac branch of the Nile near the ancient city of Pelusium, although a minority equates it with Wadi el-Arish (“the Brook of Egypt”). Either identification places it at the strategic juncture where the African and Asiatic worlds met—precisely where divine covenant boundaries distinguished Israel from her powerful southern neighbor. Historical Significance in the Conquest and United Monarchy 1. Joshua 13:3 lists Shihor when allotting territory yet to be fully possessed, reminding Israel that God’s grant extended all the way to Egypt’s doorstep. Role in Prophetic Literature Isaiah 23:3 depicts Tyre’s merchants thriving on “the grain of Shihor,” a poetic reference to Egypt’s Nile harvest carried by sea to the Phoenician emporium. The prophet uses Shihor to illustrate the economic magnitude of an empire yet to be judged by the Lord of Hosts. Jeremiah 2:18 rebukes Judah for seeking security in Egypt: “Now what will you gain by traveling along the way to Egypt to drink the waters of Shihor?” The imagery of drinking Shihor’s waters exposes the futility of political alliances that replace trust in the covenant-keeping God. The river that once marked promise-boundaries becomes a symbol of misplaced confidence. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Boundaries: Shihor represents the precision with which God marks out inheritance. Borders fixed by divine decree are not merely geographic but covenantal, teaching Israel—and the Church by extension—to receive and defend God’s appointed sphere (Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 17:26). Typological and Prophetic Foreshadowings Shihor’s dark, silt-laden waters prefigure the world’s systems that promise fertility yet carry hidden bondage. In the Gospel, Jesus calls disciples to the pure “river of living water” flowing from Himself (John 7:38). The eschatological river of life in Revelation 22:1 completes the contrast: crystal-clear, proceeding from the throne, unrestricted by political borders. Practical Ministry Applications • Boundary Stewardship: Churches and families should recognize God-given assignments and resist overreach or neglect, modeling the discipline of Joshua’s generation. Related References Genesis 15:18; Numbers 34:5; 2 Chronicles 32:7-8; Psalm 20:7; Revelation 22:1 Summary Shihor stands at the intersection of promise and temptation—an Egyptian river that marks God’s territory, supplies Gentile commerce, and exposes misplaced trust. Remembering Shihor encourages God’s people to honor His boundaries, avoid reliance on worldly powers, and center life and mission on the true source of living water. Forms and Transliterations הַשִּׁיח֞וֹר השיחור שִׁח֑וֹר שִׁחֹ֔ר שִׁיח֥וֹר שחור שחר שיחור haš·šî·ḥō·wr hashshiChor haššîḥōwr shiChor ši·ḥō·wr šî·ḥō·wr ši·ḥōr šiḥōr šiḥōwr šîḥōwrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 13:3 HEB: מִֽן־ הַשִּׁיח֞וֹר אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ עַל־ NAS: from the Shihor which is east KJV: From Sihor, which [is] before Egypt, INT: from the Shihor which is 1 Chronicles 13:5 Isaiah 23:3 Jeremiah 2:18 4 Occurrences |
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