Lexical Summary shaqar: To lie, to deceive, to deal falsely Original Word: שָׁקַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fail, deal falsely, lie A primitive root; to cheat, i.e. Be untrue (usually in words) -- fail, deal falsely, lie. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from sheqer Definition to do or deal falsely NASB Translation deal falsely (4), dealt falsely (1), lie (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁקַר] verb denominative do or deal falsely; — Qal Imperfect2masculine singular; תִּשְׁקֹר Genesis 21:23 thou wilt not do falsely to me (׳לִ). Pi`el Perfect1plural שִׁקַּ֫רְ נוּ Psalm 44:18; Imperfect3masculine singular יְשַׁקֵּר 1 Samuel 15:29; 3masculine plural יְשַׁקֵּ֑רוּ Isaiah 63:8, etc; — deal falsely 1 Samuel 15:29; Isaiah 63:8, with ב person Leviticus 19:11 ("" כחשׁ); with ב of thing Psalm 44:18; Psalm 89:34. שֹׁקֶת, שִׁקֲתוֺת see שׁקה. שֹׁרsee שׁרר. שַׁרְאֶ֫צֶר proper name, masculine see שַׂרְאֶ֫צֶר שׁרב (√ of following, parch; Late Hebrew שָׁרַב be scorched (by sun), שָׁרָב parching heat (of sun); Ecclus 43:22 דש ן שרב parched grass; Aramaic שְׁרב, שְׁרֵיב, Topical Lexicon The Call to TruthfulnessFrom the patriarchal period onward, שָׁקַר confronts God’s people with the demand for transparent integrity. Abimelech’s plea to Abraham—“swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me” (Genesis 21:23)—shows that even the nations expected the covenant bearer to reflect the character of the God he served. The prohibition is later codified for the whole community: “You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another” (Leviticus 19:11). In both passages שָׁקַר functions as the antithesis of covenant loyalty; to lie is to violate relationship, whether with neighbor or with God. Divine Veracity Three of the six occurrences declare that שָׁקַר is utterly foreign to the Lord: • “The Glory of Israel does not lie” (1 Samuel 15:29). These texts root moral truthfulness in God’s own immutable nature. Because the Lord cannot שָׁקַר, His promises cannot fail. This is more than an ethical statement; it is the foundation of covenant assurance. Redemption history rests on a God who never misleads. Human Accountability in Covenant Psalm 44:17 affirms the ideal response: “we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant.” Yet Israel’s account repeatedly exposes the gap between profession and practice. By tying covenant blessing to honesty and covenant discipline to deceit, the prophets and psalmists press God’s people toward consistent integrity. The presence of שָׁקַר signals infidelity; its absence marks true worship. Ministry and Community Ethics 1. Worship leaders: The Psalms call congregations to examine their hearts lest song and sacrifice mask deceit. Christological Fulfillment The New Testament reveals Jesus Christ as “the Truth” who embodies the opposite of שָׁקַר (John 14:6). His sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection vindicate every divine promise. In Him, the believer receives both pardon for past deceit and power to “speak truth each one with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25, echoing Leviticus 19:11). Pastoral Application • Assurance: Point doubters to 1 Samuel 15:29—God’s word is as unchangeable as His nature. Homiletical Outline 1. The Sin of שָׁקַר (Genesis 21:23; Leviticus 19:11) Summary שָׁקַר is more than a Hebrew term for lying; it is a moral fault line separating the Holy One who never deceives from creatures tempted to distort truth. Scripture repeatedly summons the covenant community to mirror God’s veracity, assuring them that ultimate faithfulness is secured in Him who “does not lie.” Forms and Transliterations אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר אשקר יְשַׁקֵּ֑רוּ יְשַׁקֵּ֖ר ישקר ישקרו קרנו שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ תְשַׁקְּר֖וּ תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר תשקר תשקרו ’ă·šaq·qêr ’ăšaqqêr ashakKer Karnu qar·nū qarnū ṯə·šaq·qə·rū ṯəšaqqərū teshakkeRu tiš·qōr tishKor tišqōr yə·šaq·qê·rū yə·šaq·qêr yəšaqqêr yəšaqqêrū yeshakKer yeshakKeruLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 21:23 HEB: הֵ֔נָּה אִם־ תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר לִ֔י וּלְנִינִ֖י NAS: by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring KJV: by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, INT: here you will not deal my offspring my posterity Leviticus 19:11 1 Samuel 15:29 Psalm 44:17 Psalm 89:33 Isaiah 63:8 6 Occurrences |
    |
, 
, be parched, שְׁרב heat, drought: compare probably also Assyrian proper name, of divinity Šarrabu(-pu) ZimKAT3. 415; > compare Arabic 
mirage [RobBR i. 42] GesIsaiah 35:7 and others; see against this especially CheIntrod. Is. 269).