Lexical Summary shaah: To look, gaze, regard, pay attention Original Word: שָׁעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance depart, be dim, be dismayed, look away, regard, have respect, spare, turnA primitive root; to gaze at or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or bewildered -- depart, be dim, be dismayed, look (away), regard, have respect, spare, turn. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to gaze NASB Translation gaze away (1), had regard (1), had...regard (1), have regard (3), look (3), looked (1), pay...attention (1), turn your eyes (1), turn your gaze (2), turn your gaze away (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁעָה verb gaze (steadily, with interest, etc.) (Assyrian še°û, behold, look for, aim at); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Genesis 4:5, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁעֶה Isaiah 17:7,8, with apocope וַיִּ֫שַׁע Genesis 4:4, 1singular אֶשְׁעָה (Ges§ 75 1) Psalm 119:117, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שְׁעֵה Job 14:6; masculine plural שְׁעוּ Isaiah 22:4; — gazeat, regard (with favour), ׳י subject, with אֶל Genesis 4:4,5 (J); with מִן person = turn gaze away Isaiah 22:4; Job 7:19 Thes Ew Che, + probably Job 10:20 (for יָשִׁית), with מֵעַל person Job 14:6; man subject, regard God (with trust, devotion), with עַל Isaiah 17:7; Isaiah 31:1; with אֶל of thing Isaiah 17:8; with בְּ of words, statutes, Exodus 5:9 (J) Psalm 119:117; absolute 3feminine plural תִּשְׁעֶינָה Isaiah 32:3 shall not behold makes no sense, read probably תְּשֹׁעֶינָה (√ I. שׁעע, Ew and most); 3 masculine plural יִשְׁעוּ 2 Samuel 22:42 they look (about) for help, < as "" Psalm 18:42 יְשַׁוְּעוּ. Hiph`il Imperative masculine singular הָשַׁע מִמֶּנִּי Psalm 39:14 cause thy gaze to turn away from me (see also √I. שׁעע), < Qal שְׁעֵה as Job 14:6 (compare Job 7:19; Isaiah 22:4) Hup Bae Du Ges§ 75gg. Hithpa`el Imperfect2masculine singular with apocope אַלתִּֿשְׁתָּע Isaiah 41:10 gaze not about (in anxiety, "" אַלתִּֿירָא); 1 plural וְנִשְׁתָּ֫עָה (Ges§ 75 1) Isaiah 41:23 let us look at each other (in rivalry, see ראה Hiph`il). שׁעט (√of following; Arabic Topical Lexicon Overview The verb שָׁעָה describes an act of turning the face or the inner attention toward someone or something. In Scripture it is never a casual glance; it signals decisive regard, whether in gracious favor, desperate appeal, or stern refusal. The word’s distribution (fifteen times, from Genesis through Isaiah) traces a theological thread that binds worship, covenant loyalty, and prophetic hope. Divine Favor and Rejection (Genesis 4) • Genesis 4:4-5 introduces the verb as the Lord “looked with favor” on Abel’s sacrifice yet “had no regard” for Cain’s. The contrast establishes the concept that divine attention is morally discerning; God’s gaze affirms acceptable worship and exposes empty ritual. This scene becomes paradigmatic for later teaching on sacrifice, faith, and righteousness (compare Hebrews 11:4). Human Appeal for God’s Attention (Job and Psalms) Job 7:19 and Job 14:6 cry out for a moment when the Almighty will “look away,” illustrating that even the righteous may feel overwhelmed by the intensity of God’s scrutiny. Likewise Psalm 39:13 pleads, “Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.” Such laments acknowledge divine sovereignty while expressing honest anguish, teaching believers that reverent transparency before the Lord is legitimate prayer. Conversely, Psalm 119:117 voices confidence: “Uphold me, and I will be saved, that I may always regard Your statutes.” Here the psalmist’s own “regard” (שָׁעָה) for God’s word mirrors his assurance of being upheld. Mutual attentiveness—God to the worshiper and the worshiper to God—forms the heart of covenant relationship. Misplaced or Neglected Regard (Exodus and Isaiah) Pharaoh commands Israel to “pay no attention to lies” (Exodus 5:9), attempting to redirect their focus away from the Lord’s promise. Isaiah repeatedly confronts Judah’s temptation to misdirect its gaze: • Isaiah 31:1 rebukes those who “do not look to the Holy One of Israel.” These texts reveal that where one looks determines one’s allegiance. Turning from God toward human schemes invites judgment; turning back signals repentance and restoration. Prophetic Grief and Compassion (Isaiah 22:4) Isaiah’s heartache over Jerusalem—“Turn away from me; let me weep bitterly”—illustrates prophetic identification with divine sorrow. The prophet’s plea for others to divert their gaze underscores the gravity of looming discipline and the holiness offended by persistent sin. Eschatological Assurance (Isaiah 41) Isaiah 41:10 records God’s promise, “I will surely help you,” where the underlying verb reflects His proactive, attentive care. The same chapter (Isaiah 41:23) challenges idols to demonstrate a comparable ability to “look” into the future, exposing their impotence. The faithful are thus invited to rest in the One whose regard guarantees strength and deliverance. Salvation History Perspective (2 Samuel 22:42) David recounts how his enemies “looked, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but He did not answer.” The verb here underscores divine justice: the same God who attentively rescues His anointed refuses to heed the wicked. Salvation history therefore pivots on whether God chooses to regard or disregard. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Worship: Genuine offerings flow from hearts God is pleased to regard. Public ministry must emphasize faith over form (Genesis 4:4-5). New Testament Resonance While שָׁעָה itself is Hebrew, its concept carries into the Greek Scriptures. Peter exhorts believers to humble themselves, “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). The Father’s attentive care culminates in Christ, whose eyes are “like blazing fire” (Revelation 1:14), searching and sustaining His people. Thus the canonical witness forms a unified call: fix your eyes on the Lord who first fixed His gracious gaze on you. Forms and Transliterations הָשַׁ֣ע השע וְאֶשְׁעָ֖ה וְנִשְׁתָּ֖עָה וַיִּ֣שַׁע ואשעה וישע ונשתעה יִשְׁע֖וּ יִשְׁעֶ֔ה יִשְׁעֶ֥ה ישעה ישעו שְׁע֥וּ שְׁעֵ֣ה שָׁעָ֑ה שָׁעוּ֙ שעה שעו תִּשְׁתָּ֖ע תִשְׁעֶ֖ינָה תִשְׁעֶ֣ה תשעה תשעינה תשתע hā·ša‘ hāša‘ haSha šā‘āh šā‘ū šā·‘āh šā·‘ū šə‘êh šə‘ū šə·‘êh šə·‘ū shaAh shaU sheEh sheU ṯiš‘eh ṯiš‘enāh ṯiš·‘e·nāh ṯiš·‘eh tiš·tā‘ tishEh tishEinah tishTa tištā‘ vaiYisha veeshAh venishTaah way·yi·ša‘ wayyiša‘ wə’eš‘āh wə·’eš·‘āh wə·niš·tā·‘āh wəništā‘āh yiš‘eh yiš‘ū yiš·‘eh yiš·‘ū yishEh yishULinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 4:4 HEB: צֹאנ֖וֹ וּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ן וַיִּ֣שַׁע יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־ NAS: And the LORD had regard for Abel KJV: thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel INT: of his flock their fat had and the LORD about Genesis 4:5 Exodus 5:9 2 Samuel 22:42 Job 7:19 Job 14:6 Psalm 39:13 Psalm 119:117 Isaiah 17:7 Isaiah 17:8 Isaiah 22:4 Isaiah 31:1 Isaiah 32:3 Isaiah 41:10 Isaiah 41:23 15 Occurrences |
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II. pound to pieces).