Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary
שיר
The root שיר (syr) isn't used in the Bible as verb, and contrary to its usual thoroughness, BDB Theological Dictionary gives no hints at etymology or relations to roots in cognate languages. In the Bible the following derivations remain:
- The masculine noun שיר (shir), meaning song in much the same way as our English word. It's used for religious songs (Psalm 42:8, Nehemiah 12:46), triumphal songs (Judges 5:12), festive songs (Genesis 31:27), love songs (Song of Solomon 1:1), etcetera.
- The feminine noun שירה (shira), also meaning song (Exodus 15:1, Isaiah 5:1). This feminine noun seems to denote the more odic song.
- The denominative verb שיר (shir), meaning to sing (Exodus 15:1, 1 Samuel 18:6, Isaiah 26:1).