Lexical Summary shiyr: Song Original Word: שִׁיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance musicalick, singer song Or feminine shiyrah {shee-raw'}; from shiyr; a song; abstractly, singing -- musical(-ick), X sing(-er, -ing), song. see HEBREW shiyr Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׁיר77 noun masculine song (Late Hebrew id.; so Ecclus 40:21 +); — ׳שׁ absolute Judges 5:12 +, construct 2 Chronicles 29:27 +; suffix שִׁירִי Psalm 28:7, etc.; plural שִׁירִים 1 Chronicles 13:8; Songs 1:1; שִׁרִים Genesis 31:27; Proverbs 25:20; suffix שִׁרֶ֫יךָ Amos 5:23, etc.; — 1 lyric song, + מָשָׁל 1 Kings 5:12, opposed to קִינָה Amos 8:10; joyous Genesis 31:27 (J) Isaiah 30:29; עגבים ׳שׁ Ezekiel 33:32; triumphal Judges 5:12; love song Songs 1:1 (twice in verse) (title שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים), Psalm 45:1 (שִׁיר יְדִידֹת); noisy Amos 5:23; Ezekiel 26:13, in drunken revels Isaiah 24:9, compare Isaiah 23:16; כסילים ׳שׁ Ecclesiastes 7:5; not for sorrow Proverbs 25:20; Psalm 137:3 (twice in verse); בְּנוֺת הַשִּׁיר Ecclesiastes 12:4 songstresses (probably birds). 2 religious song, in worship, "" תפלה Psalm 42:9; usually praise, הלל בשׁיר Psalm 69:31; מִשִּׁירִי אֲהוֺדֶנּוּ Psalm 28:7; שִׁרִ תְּהִלָּה וְהוֺדוֺת Nehemiah 12:46; ׳שׁיר י Psalm 137:4; 2Chronicles 29:27; שׁיר חדשׁ Isaiah 42:10 (fresh outburst), + 6 t., see חָדָשׁ; in Psalm-titles, שׁיר Isaiah 46:1, compare Isaiah 26:1; שׁיר המעלות pilgrim songs Psalm 120:1 14t. (see II. מַעִַלָה p.752); with מִמְוֺר Psalm 48:1 12t. (see ׳מִז p. 274); מַשְׁכִּיל שִׁיר Psalm 45:1 (׳שׁ originally alone in all except Psalm 30:1; Psalm 92:1; Psalm 108:1, see BrJBL xviii (1899), 138). 3 specifically song of Levitical choirs, with musical accompare, 1 Chronicles 6:16; 1 Chronicles 6:17; 1 Chronicles 13:8 (so read also "" 2 Samuel 6:5 for בְּרוֺשִׁים, ᵐ5 Th and modern, compare ׳ב), 1 Chronicles 25:6; 1 Chronicles 25:7; 2Chronicles 23:18; 29:28; Nehemiah 12:27; כלי (ה)שׁיר instrument to accompany song 1 Chronicles 15:16 6t. (see כְּלִי 2b); compare Amos 6:5. שִׁירָה noun feminine song (plural ירות[שׁ] Ecclus 39:15); — absolute ׳שׁ Exodus 15:1 9t.; construct שִׁירַת Isaiah 5:1; Isaiah 23:15; plural construct שִׁירוֺת Amos 8:3 (read שָׁרוֺת ᵐ5 HoffmZAW iii (1883) We and others); — song, ode, Exodus 15:1 (E), 2 Samuel 22:1 = Psalm 18:1; Deuteronomy 31:19 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 31:21,22,30; Deuteronomy 32:44; Numbers 21:17 (E) Isaiah 5:1; Isaiah 23:15. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope שִׁיר (shir) denotes a “song,” whether vocal, instrumental, or poetic. Spanning Genesis 31:27 to Zechariah 3:7 (LXX numbering), it appears about ninety times, often in parallel with זִמְרָה (zemer, “praise”) or תְּהִלָּה (tehillah, “hymn”), underscoring music’s inseparable place in Israel’s worship and communal life. Variety of Songs in the Old Testament The word embraces many genres—victory songs (Exodus 15:1), royal anthems (Psalm 98:1), laments (Lamentations 3:14), wisdom poems (Psalm 45:1), bridal odes (Song of Songs 1:1), and prophetic dirges (Amos 8:3). Its distribution in Torah, Prophets, and Writings indicates that singing functioned not merely as ornament but as inspired proclamation, prayer, instruction, and memorial. Liturgical and Corporate Worship Shir is frequently paired with “new song,” a phrase found in Psalm 33:3; Psalm 40:3; Psalm 96:1; Psalm 98:1; Psalm 144:9; Psalm 149:1; and Isaiah 42:10, signaling fresh gratitude for specific redemptive acts. Temple liturgy mandated daily “song” by Levites (1 Chronicles 23:27–30). Under David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun organized choirs and instrumentalists “to raise sounds of joy” (1 Chronicles 15:16). Hezekiah revived this ministry (2 Chronicles 29:27) and Ezra later restored it (Nehemiah 12:46–47), revealing song as vital to national and covenant identity. Personal and Spontaneous Praise Individual believers employ shir to voice adoration and testimony. Hannah rejoices, “My heart exults in the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:1). David affirms, “He put a new song in my mouth” (Psalm 40:3). Such private worship often becomes public witness, transforming personal deliverance into communal encouragement. Songs of Victory and Deliverance Major redemptive milestones are memorialized in song: the Exodus (Exodus 15:1), Deborah and Barak’s triumph (Judges 5:1), the dedication of Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 7:6), Jehoshaphat’s victory (2 Chronicles 20:21), and post-exilic joy (Psalm 126:2). These songs preserve historical memory and reinforce faith, teaching subsequent generations to interpret events through the lens of Yahweh’s sovereignty. Prophetic and Didactic Songs Shir carries prophetic weight. Isaiah 5:1–7 delivers the “Song of the Vineyard,” indicting Judah’s unfruitfulness. Moses’ farewell “Song of Witness” (Deuteronomy 32) teaches, warns, and calls Israel to covenant fidelity. Proverbs 25:20 contrasts song’s proper and improper use, revealing moral dimensions to music. Songs of Lament and Contrition Psalm superscriptions link shir with distress (e.g., Psalms 30; 102). Lamentations 3:14 pictures the singer mocked in suffering. Yet lament ultimately turns to hope (Psalm 42:8), showing that even sorrowful song advances faith by directing grief toward God. Eschatological and Messianic Hope Several “new song” passages anticipate worldwide worship. Psalm 96:1–13 and Isaiah 42:10–12 summon “all the earth” to sing, foreshadowing universal praise fulfilled in Revelation 5:9 and Revelation 14:3. Shir thus bridges Old and New Covenants, pointing to Messiah’s global reign. Musical Setting and Liturgical Leadership Shir is commonly joined to instruments—harps, lyres, cymbals (Psalm 33:2–3). The Hebrew root שׁור (“sing”) and noun form can refer to the accompanying choir (Nehemiah 12:28). Levitical singers served full-time (1 Chronicles 9:33), illustrating God’s valuation of skilled, consecrated artistry. Integration with Israel’s Historical Memory Songs act as mnemonic devices. Children learned theology through Psalms; soldiers marched to victory songs; festivals rehearsed salvation history (Psalm 118:14–21). When exiles “hung their harps on the poplars” (Psalm 137:2), the absence of shir symbolized covenant estrangement; its restoration marked renewal (Ezra 3:11). New Covenant Echoes and Fulfillment While שִׁיר appears only in the Hebrew canon, the Greek New Testament counterpart ᾠδή (ōdē) continues the theme—“speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19). Thus Old Testament shir shapes Christian worship: gratitude (Colossians 3:16), evangelism (Acts 16:25), and eschatological praise (Revelation 15:3). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Scripture-saturated singing reinforces doctrine. Shir, therefore, is more than artistic expression; it is God-ordained testimony, teaching, remembrance, and foretaste of glory. Forms and Transliterations אָשִׁ֣ירָה אשירה בְּשִׁ֑יר בַּ֝שִּׁרִ֗ים בַּשִּׁ֔יר בַּשִּׁ֖יר בַּשִּׁ֜יר בשיר בשרים הַשִּֽׁיר׃ הַשִּׁ֔יר הַשִּׁ֗יר הַשִּׁיר֙ הַשִּׁירִ֖ים הַשִּׁירָ֖ה הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַשִּׁירָ֥ה הַשִּׁירָ֨ה הַשִּׁירָֽה־ הַשִּׁיר־ השיר השיר־ השיר׃ השירה השירה־ השירים וְהַשִּׁ֣יר וְשִׁיר־ וּֽמִשִּׁירִ֥י וּבְשִׁ֑יר וּבְשִׁ֔יר וּבְשִׁירִ֤ים וּבְשִׁרִ֖ים ובשיר ובשירים ובשרים והשיר ומשירי ושיר־ יר כְּשִׁ֣יר כְּשִׁירַ֖ת כשיר כשירת מִשִּׁ֥יר משיר שִֽׁירֵיכֶם֙ שִֽׁיר׃ שִׁ֑יר שִׁ֔יר שִׁ֖יר שִׁ֗יר שִׁ֛יר שִׁ֣יר שִׁ֤יר שִׁ֥יר שִׁ֭יר שִׁיר֖וֹ שִׁיר֤וֹת שִׁירַ֥ת שִׁירָ֑יִךְ שִׁיר־ שִׁרֶ֑יךָ שִׁירֹ֣ו שיר שיר־ שיר׃ שירו שירות שיריך שיריכם שירת שריך ’ā·šî·rāh ’āšîrāh aShirah baš·ši·rîm baš·šîr bashShir bashshiRim baššîr bašširîm bə·šîr beShir bəšîr haš·šî·rāh haš·šî·rāh- haš·šî·rîm haš·šîr haš·šîr- hashShir hashshiRah hashshiRim haššîr haššîr- haššîrāh haššîrāh- haššîrîm kə·šî·raṯ kə·šîr keShir keshiRat kəšîr kəšîraṯ miš·šîr mishShir miššîr r Shir shiRat shiRayich shiReicha shireiChem shiRo shiRot šî·rā·yiḵ šî·raṯ ši·re·ḵā šî·rê·ḵem šî·rō·wṯ šî·rōw šîr šîr- šîraṯ šîrāyiḵ šireḵā šîrêḵem šîrōw šîrōwṯ ū·ḇə·ši·rîm ū·ḇə·šî·rîm ū·ḇə·šîr ū·miš·šî·rî ūḇəšîr ūḇəširîm ūḇəšîrîm umishshiRi ūmiššîrî uveShir uveshiRim vehashShir veshir wə·haš·šîr wə·šîr- wəhaššîr wəšîr-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 31:27 HEB: וָֽאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ֛ בְּשִׂמְחָ֥ה וּבְשִׁרִ֖ים בְּתֹ֥ף וּבְכִנּֽוֹר׃ NAS: with joy and with songs, with timbrel KJV: with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, INT: have sent joy songs timbrel lyre Exodus 15:1 Numbers 21:17 Deuteronomy 31:19 Deuteronomy 31:19 Deuteronomy 31:21 Deuteronomy 31:22 Deuteronomy 31:30 Deuteronomy 32:44 Judges 5:12 2 Samuel 22:1 1 Kings 4:32 1 Chronicles 6:31 1 Chronicles 6:32 1 Chronicles 13:8 1 Chronicles 15:16 1 Chronicles 16:42 1 Chronicles 25:6 1 Chronicles 25:7 2 Chronicles 5:13 2 Chronicles 7:6 2 Chronicles 23:13 2 Chronicles 23:18 2 Chronicles 29:27 2 Chronicles 29:28 90 Occurrences |
    |