Original Word: שָׁחַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shachar
Pronunciation: shah-khar
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-khar')
KJV: (do something) betimes, enquire early, rise (seek) betimes, seek diligently) early, in the morning)
NASB: seek, diligently, diligently seek, diligently seeks, earnestly seek, searched diligently, seek me diligently
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

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

do something betimes, enquire early, seek betimes, seek diligently early, in the morning

A primitive root; properly, to dawn, i.e. (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking) -- (do something) betimes, enquire early, rise (seek) betimes, seek diligently) early, in the morning).

Word Origin
denominative verb from shachar
Definition
to look early or diligently for
NASB Translation
diligently (1), diligently seek (1), diligently seeks (1), earnestly seek (1), searched diligently (1), seek (2), seek me diligently (1), seek you earnestly (1), seek your earnestly (1), seeking (1), seeks you diligently (1).

[שָׁחר] verb denominative look early, diligently for (late; originally look for dawn); —

Qal Participle שֹׁחֵר טוֺב Proverbs 11:27 ("" בִּקֵּשׁ, דָּרַשׁ), elsewhere

Pi`el with accusative (suffix) Perfect3masculine singular suffix שִׁחֲרוֺ מוּסָר Proverbs 13:24 seeks him early (with) discipline (chastises him be-times); 2 masculine singular suffix consecutive וְשִׁחַרְתַּ֫נִי וְאֵינֶנִּי Job 7:21; literally Infinitive לְשַׁחֵר מָּנֶיךָ Proverbs 7:15; of wild asses, Participle מְשַׁחֲרֵי לַטָּ֑רֶף Job 24:5 (Ges^{§ 130a}) seeking eagerly for their food; usually of seeking God (׳י) earnestly, Perfect וְשִׁחֲרוּאֵֿל Psalm 78:34 ("" דָּרַשׁ), Imperfect2masculine singular תְּשַׁחֵר אֶלאֵֿל Job 8:5 (si vera lectio), 3masculine singular suffix יְשַׁחֲרֻנְנִי (Ges^{§ 60e}) Hosea 5:15 ("" בִּקֵּשׁ), + Hosea 6:3 (see שַׁחַר), and, accusative wisdom, Proverbs 1:28, Participle suffix מְשַׁחֲרַי Proverbs 8:17; seek with longing, long for (׳י), אֲשַׁחֲרֶ֑ךָּ Isaiah 26:9; Psalm 63:2.

שַׁחֲרוּת see I. שָׁחַר. above

שָׁחַר (shāchar)

Imagery and Semantics

The verb evokes daybreak pursuit. It is not mere casual inquiry but the focused, pre-dawn resolve of one who rises before light to secure what is most precious. The dawn setting links the act of seeking with fresh mercies, vigilance, and an undistracted heart.

Occurrences and Literary Distribution

Twelve appearances span Wisdom, Poetry, and Prophets: Job 7:21; 8:5; 24:5, Psalm 63:1; 78:34, Proverbs 1:28; 7:15; 8:17; 11:27; 13:24, Isaiah 26:9, Hosea 5:15. In every context the verb underscores urgency—whether seeking God, wisdom, blessing, or even prey.

Job: Agony and Appeal

• Job 7:21 sets the tone of despair: Job wonders if God will “look for me” after his death, revealing the tension between divine pursuit and human frailty.
• Job 8:5 records Bildad’s orthodox counsel: “But if you will earnestly seek God and plead with the Almighty…”—right theology in a flawed pastoral delivery.
• Job 24:5 pictures oppressed workers who “seek food early” like wild donkeys; diligent effort is contrasted with societal injustice.

Psalms: Covenant Longing

Psalm 63:1 anchors devotional use: “O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You.” The dawn pursuit models wholehearted worship for believers of every age. Psalm 78:34 recalls Israel’s history: “When He slew them, they sought Him; they repented and earnestly sought God.” Affliction awakens earnest seeking, a pattern still evident in church history and personal revival.

Proverbs: Wisdom and Moral Diligence

• Warning (Proverbs 1:28): the unrepentant “will seek me diligently but will not find me,” exposing the tragedy of delayed response.
• Seduction (Proverbs 7:15): the adulteress “came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you,” illustrating corrupted zeal.
• Promise (Proverbs 8:17): “I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.” Wisdom rewards prompt devotion.
• Benevolence (Proverbs 11:27): “He who seeks good finds favor,” linking early pursuit with ethical fruit.
• Discipline (Proverbs 13:24): the father who chastens “diligently seeks” his son’s welfare, demonstrating love that rises early to correct.

Prophets: Repentance and Restoration

Isaiah 26:9 integrates eschatology with present piety: “My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You earnestly, for when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.” In Hosea 5:15 the Lord withdraws until Israel “earnestly seek” His face, forecasting the future national turning to Messiah. The verb thus frames judgment as a redemptive summons.

Theological Themes

1. Priority of God: Dawn-seeking highlights the first-place claim of the Lord (Matthew 6:33 echoes the principle).
2. Accessibility of Wisdom: Divine insight is not hidden from the diligent.
3. Urgency of Repentance: Delayed seeking may encounter closed doors (Proverbs 1:28; Luke 13:25).
4. Loving Discipline: Earnest pursuit undergirds parental training and pastoral care.
5. Providence and Suffering: Crisis often precedes earnest seeking, showing God’s sovereignty in using pain to draw hearts.

Historical and Cultural Notes

Ancient Near-Eastern labor began before sunrise; hunters and shepherds moved at first light. Scripture borrows this rhythm to call believers into a spiritual discipline that predates daily toil. Early church fathers adopted pre-dawn prayer as normative, and revival movements have consistently featured morning intercession.

Pastoral and Devotional Application

• Encourage believers to dedicate the first moments of the day to Scripture and prayer, emulating Psalm 63:1.
• Use shāchar texts to counsel those procrastinating repentance.
• Frame parental discipline within the earnest love of Proverbs 13:24.
• When affliction strikes, direct sufferers to Hosea 5:15, assuring them God is ready to be found.

Christological Perspective

Jesus Christ personifies the One who is sought and the Seeker Himself (Luke 19:10). His early-morning prayer life (Mark 1:35) embodies shāchar. Believers’ communion with the risen Lord fulfills the anticipatory thrust of Isaiah 26:9 and Hosea 5:15, assuring that those who rise to seek Him will indeed find Him.

Summary

שָׁחַר calls God’s people to decisive, dawn-like zeal—whether for God, wisdom, righteousness, or the welfare of others. From patriarchal poetry to prophetic promise, Scripture portrays earnest seeking as both command and gracious invitation, culminating in the believer’s daily pursuit of Christ until the everlasting morning breaks.

אֲ‍ֽשַׁחֲ֫רֶ֥ךָּ אֲשַֽׁחֲרֶ֑ךָּ א‍שחרך וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־ וְשִׁ֖חֲרְתַּ֣נִי וּ֝מְשַׁחֲרַ֗י ומשחרי ושחרו־ ושחרתני יְ֝שַׁחֲרֻ֗נְנִי יְשַׁחֲרֻֽנְנִי׃ ישחרנני ישחרנני׃ לְשַׁחֵ֥ר לשחר מְשַׁחֲרֵ֣י משחרי שִֽׁחֲר֥וֹ שֹׁ֣חֵֽר שחר שחרו תְּשַׁחֵ֣ר תשחר ’ă·ša·ḥă·re·kā ’ăša·ḥă·re·kā ’ăšaḥărekā ashaChaReka lə·ša·ḥêr ləšaḥêr leshaCher mə·ša·ḥă·rê məšaḥărê meshachaRei shichaRo Shocher ši·ḥă·rōw šiḥărōw šō·ḥêr šōḥêr tə·ša·ḥêr təšaḥêr teshaCher ū·mə·ša·ḥă·ray ūməšaḥăray umeshachaRai veShicharTani veshicharu wə·ši·ḥă·rū- wə·ši·ḥăr·ta·nî wəšiḥărtanî wəšiḥărū- yə·ša·ḥă·run·nî yəšaḥărunnî yeshachaRunniInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts