Word Study for H8160 (שָׁעָה)

shâʻâh /shaw-aw'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to שָׁעָה

Meaningproperly, a look, i.e. a moment

KJV usagehour.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâʻâh — 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 Aramaic word shâʻâh, represented by H8160, designates a specific point in time, defined as a moment or hour. It appears 5 times, exclusively within 5 verses of the book of Daniel. Its usage highlights moments of sudden, critical action, whether of divine judgment or supernatural events.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the book of Daniel, H8160 consistently marks a pivotal and immediate occurrence. It is used to describe the instant consequence for those who disobey King Nebuchadnezzar's decree, stating they will be cast into the fiery furnace "the same hour" (Daniel 3:6, Daniel 3:15). This same immediacy is seen in God's judgment upon the king, where the prophecy was fulfilled "The same hour" Daniel 4:33. It also marks the moment of supernatural revelation, as when fingers appeared and wrote on the palace wall "In the same hour" Daniel 5:5. The word can also denote a period of profound human reaction, as when Daniel was "astonied for one hour" by the gravity of a dream Daniel 4:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help establish the context of immediacy and consequence surrounding H8160:

H7412 rᵉmâh (cast (down), impose): This word describes the action to be taken in the designated hour, specifically to cast dissenters into the furnace Daniel 3:6.
H861 ʼattûwn (furnace): This is the location of the immediate punishment threatened by the king, directly linked to the "same hour" of disobedience Daniel 3:15.
H5487 çûwph (consume, fulfill): This verb shows the immediate completion of God's judgment upon Nebuchadnezzar in the very hour it was pronounced Daniel 4:33.
H5312 nᵉphaq (to issue): This describes the sudden appearance of the fingers that wrote on the wall, which "came forth" in that specific hour Daniel 5:5.

Theological Significance

The use of H8160 in Daniel underscores several key themes:

Immediacy of Judgment: The term emphasizes that consequences, whether human or divine, can be instant. Nebuchadnezzar's threat of punishment in "the same hour" Daniel 3:6 is mirrored by the divine judgment that was fulfilled upon him in "The same hour" Daniel 4:33.
Supernatural Manifestation: The word is used to frame moments when the divine realm intersects with the human world. A hand supernaturally appears to write a message of judgment "In the same hour" Daniel 5:5, signaling a turning point in the narrative.
Moment of Human Contemplation: Beyond judgment, it can signify a period of intense human emotion in response to a divine message. Daniel was "astonied for one hour," reflecting on the troubling interpretation of the king's dream Daniel 4:19.

Summary

In summary, shâʻâh H8160 is more than a simple measurement of time. Within its limited appearances in the book of Daniel, it functions as a literary device to signal a moment of definitive, often startling, action. Whether marking the instant of a king's decree, the fulfillment of divine judgment, or a prophet's stunned silence, this word captures the gravity and immediacy of pivotal events.

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 noun across 5 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

שַׁעֲתָ
שָׁעָה

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

5 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.