Lexical Summary shir: Song, Sing Original Word: שַׁיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beholdOr (the original form) shuwr (1 Sam. 18:6) {shoor}; a primitive root (identical with shuwr through the idea of strolling minstrelsy); to sing -- behold (by mistake for shuwr), sing(-er, -ing man, - ing woman). see HEBREW shuwr see HEBREW shuwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from shir Definition to sing NASB Translation sang (6), sing (32), singer (1), singers (34), singing (3), sings (1), song leaders (1), sung (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שִׁיר]86 verb sing (denominative according to NöZMG xxxvii (1883), 537 Gerb172, but, if so, an old one); — Qal49 Perfect3masculine singular שָׁר Psalm 7:1; Imperfect3masculine singular יָשִׁיר Exodus 15:1; Numbers 21:17 (read יָשִׁר Job 33:27 for יָשִׁר, √II. שׁוּר, so SS Bu Gerber; in this sense also Ew De Di RV and all modern); 3 feminine singular וַתָּ֫שַׁר Judges 5:1, etc.; Imperative masculine plural שִׁירוּ Exodus 15:21 +; Infinitive construct לָשׁוּר 1 Samuel 18:6 Kt ( < Qr לָשִׁיר, so Bu; ᵐ5B omitted, compare Dr KitKau HPS Now); Participle שָׁר Proverbs 25:20; plural שָׁרִים 2 Samuel 19:36 +; feminine שָׁרוֺת 2 Samuel 19:36 2t. + Amos 8:3 (read for שִׁירוֺת; see שִׁירָה); — sing, with accusative שִׁיר Isaiah 42:10; Psalm 33:3 5t.; שִׁירָה Exodus 15:1; Numbers 21:17 (E) Isaiah 5:1; בשׁרים ׳שׁ Proverbs 25:20; מִשִּׁיר שִׁיּוֺן Psalm 137:3; שׁגיון Psalm 7:1 (ᵐ5 מזמור), תהלה Psalm 106:12; with accusative of theme Psalm 59:17; Psalm 89:2; absolute Judges 5:1; 1 Samuel 18:6; with לְ Psalm 13:6; Psalm 96:1; Psalm 96:2 = 1 Chronicles 16:23; Exodus 15:1,21; Jeremiah 20:13; "" זמּר Psalm 68:5; Psalm 68:33; Psalm 101:1; Psalm 104:33; Psalm 105:2 = 1 Chronicles 16:9; Judges 5:3; + זמּר absolute Psalm 57:8 = Psalm 108:2 with accusative theme Psalm 21:14; with לְ person Psalm 27:6; of nature Psalm 65:14 (after החְרוֺעֵעַ); על אנשׁים Job 33:27 (see above); participle שָׁרִים singers 2 Samuel 19:36; 1 Kings 10:12 6t. (Ezekiel 40:44 read שְׁתַּיִם ᵐ5 Hi Co modern); שָׁרוֺת songstresses 2 Samuel 19:36; 2Chronicles 35:25; Ecclesiastes 2:8 + Amos 8:3 (see above). — Psalm 138:5 read וְיָשִׂיחוּ. Po`l.36 Perfect3masculine plural שֹׁרְרוּ Job 36:24; Imperfect3masculine singular יְשׁוֺרֵר Zephaniah 2:14; Participle מְשׁוֺרֵר 1 Chronicles 6:18; 2Chronicles 29:28; plural מְשֹׁרְרִים Ezra 2:65 +, etc.; — sing: birds Zephaniah 2:14; men Job 36:24; elsewhere participle of Levitical singers 1 Chronicles 6:18; 1 Chronicles 9:33 31t., + feminine plural Ezra 2:65 songstresses = Nehemiah 7:67. Hoph`al be sung: Imperfect יוּשַׁר הַשִׁיר הַזֶּה Isaiah 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. 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 in Hebrews 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). 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 yuSharLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 15:1 HEB: אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר־ מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י NAS: and the sons of Israel sang this song KJV: Then sang Moses and the children INT: Then sang Moses and the sons Exodus 15:1 Exodus 15:21 Numbers 21:17 Judges 5:1 Judges 5:3 1 Samuel 18:6 2 Samuel 19:35 2 Samuel 19:35 1 Kings 10:12 1 Chronicles 6:33 1 Chronicles 9:33 1 Chronicles 15:16 1 Chronicles 15:19 1 Chronicles 15:27 1 Chronicles 15:27 1 Chronicles 16:9 1 Chronicles 16:23 2 Chronicles 5:12 2 Chronicles 5:13 2 Chronicles 9:11 2 Chronicles 20:21 2 Chronicles 23:13 2 Chronicles 29:28 2 Chronicles 35:15 87 Occurrences |
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