שָׁחַר (sha.char)
sha.char
be black
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shaḥar means simply to be black, specifically describing the darkening of human skin. It appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Job 30:30 where the patriarch laments his physical deterioration. In this context, Job uses the word to describe how his body has turned black from heat and suffering, a stark contrast to its former state.
This rare usage highlights the visceral reality of Job’s affliction. The term does not carry metaphorical weight here but serves as a direct, physical description of his condition. Translators typically render it as "blackened" or "turned black," preserving the literal sense of skin discoloration caused by extreme exposure and pain.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Job describes his skin turning black, he is sharing a raw, physical truth about his suffering. This single Hebrew word captures the visible toll that extreme pain and exposure take on the human body. It reminds us that our faith does not shield us from the harsh realities of illness or hardship.
In moments when we feel broken or changed by trial, this verse offers companionship. Job’s honesty shows that bringing our deepest struggles to God is an act of trust. We do not need to hide the marks of our pain; instead, we can lay them before Him with the same transparency.
This passage invites us to view suffering not as a sign of abandonment, but as a space where God meets us in our vulnerability. Your current struggles are seen and known. There is comfort in knowing that even in the darkest physical states, you are held by a faithful Creator who values your honest cry.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it has become black1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁחַ֣ר1×
Key Verses
-
Job 30:30
My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burned with heat.
This verse uses the word to physically describe Job's skin darkening from heat and disease, grounding his spiritual lament in tangible bodily decay.