Word Study for H7836 (שָׁחַר)

shâchar /shaw-khar'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningproperly, to dawn, i.e. (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking)

KJV usage(do something) betimes, enquire early, rise (seek) betimes, seek diligently) early, in the morning).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâchar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word shâchar, represented by H7836, is a primitive root that properly means to dawn. Appearing 13 times in 12 unique verses, its figurative meaning extends to being early at any task with an implication of earnestness. By extension, it signifies searching for something with painstaking effort, often translated as to "seek diligently," "enquire early," or "rise betimes."

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

Biblically, H7836 is often used to describe an intense and urgent seeking of God. In Psalms 63:1, the psalmist expresses a deep longing, stating, "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee." This sense of urgent desire is echoed in Isaiah 26:9. The word also carries a principle of consequence. In Proverbs 8:17, wisdom promises, "those that seek me early shall find me," yet in Proverbs 1:28, there is a warning that a time may come when "they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me." The term is not limited to spiritual seeking; it is also used for a father's diligent discipline Proverbs 13:24 and even for predators "rising betimes for a prey" Job 24:5, highlighting its core meaning of proactive, early action.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the concept of seeking and desire:

H1245 bâqash (to search out): This word means to search out, often in worship or prayer, and to strive after. It is used alongside H7836 to describe Israel's response in affliction, when they will "seek my face...they will seek me early" Hosea 5:15. In another context, it is a command to the meek of the earth to "seek ye the LORD" Zephaniah 2:3.
H1875 dârash (to seek or ask): This term implies following in pursuit or search, often to worship. In a moment of repentance, Israel "returned and enquired early after God" Psalms 78:34, where "enquired early" is a form of H7836. The call to "seek ye the LORD while he may be found" Isaiah 55:6 uses this word to convey the urgency of the search.
H183 ʼâvâh (to wish for): This primitive root signifies a deep wish or desire. Its connection to H7836 is explicit in Isaiah 26:9: "With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early."

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7836 is significant, revealing key aspects of one's relationship with God.

The Posture of Earnest Seeking: The word emphasizes that seeking God is not a passive or casual act. It is a diligent, heartfelt pursuit, undertaken with the urgency of one rising at dawn. This is seen in David's cry in the wilderness Psalms 63:1 and Isaiah's deep spiritual longing Isaiah 26:9.
A Conditional Relationship: The use of H7836 establishes a clear condition for finding God. Those who seek Him early and earnestly are promised success Proverbs 8:17, while those who ignore Him will eventually seek Him without result Proverbs 1:28. This principle is also applied in times of affliction, where suffering prompts an early seeking of God Hosea 5:15.
God's Responsiveness to Love: The promise in Proverbs 8:17, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me," directly links earnest seeking with a reciprocal, loving relationship with the divine. It is not just the act of searching, but the loving heart behind it, that yields a response.

Summary

In summary, H7836 conveys much more than simply acting in the morning. It encapsulates the ideas of diligence, earnestness, and painstaking effort. Whether describing a heartfelt search for God, the proactive love of a father, or even the intent of a predator, the word highlights a focused and urgent pursuit. Theologically, shâchar serves as a powerful descriptor for the kind of relationship God invites: one characterized by a wholehearted, eager, and early turning toward Him, with the promise that such a seeker will be found.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 12 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

אֲשַׁחֲרֶ
יְשַׁחֲרֻ
מְשַׁחֲרֵי
שִׁחֲרְתַּ
תְּשַׁחֵר
שַׁחֵר
שִׁחֲרוּ
שִׁחֲר
שֹׁחֵר

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (5 verses); never once in the other 34.

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Isaiah

Hosea

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.