שעה

Hebrew[edit]

Root
שׁ־ע־ה‎ (š-ʿ-h)

From Aramaic שעתא‎ (šāʿəṯā). Cognate with Arabic سَاعَة‎ (sāʕa).

שָׁעָה • (sha'á) f (dual indefinite שעתיים / שְׁעָתַיִם‎, plural indefinite שָׁעוֹת‎, singular construct שְׁעַת־‎, plural construct שְׁעוֹת־‎)

hour: a period of time, defined variously (depending on time period, and on religious versus secular purposes), but currently usually sixty minutes.
‏מָה הַשָּׁעָה?‎‎ ― ma hasha'á? ― What time is it? (literally, “what is the hour?”)
(by extension) time
- a. 217 C.E., Mishnah, Avot 2:3:
  ‏הֱווּ זְהִירִין בָּרָשׁוּת, שֶׁאֵין מְקָרְבִין לוֹ לְאָדָם אֶלָּא לְצֹרֶךְ עַצְמָן; נִרְאִין כְּאוֹהֲבִין בִּשְׁעַת הֲנָאָתָן, וְאֵין עוֹמְדִין לוֹ לָאָדָם בִּשְׁעַת דָּחֳקוֹ.‎‎
  hevú z'hirín barashút, she'ein m'kar'vín ló l'adám 'elá l'tsórekh 'atsmán; nir'ín k'ohavín bish'át hana'atán, v'ein 'om'dín ló la'adám bish'át dokhokó.
  Beware of government, for they befriend a man only for their own benefit; they act friendly when it benefits them, but they do not stand by a man in his time of need.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

שָׁעָה • (sha'á) (pa'al construction)

(Biblical Hebrew or literary) To look, gaze at or about.
- 2 Samuel 22:42, with translation of the English Standard Version:
  ‏יִשְׁעוּ וְאֵין מֹשִׁיעַ אֶל־יְהוָה וְלֹא עָנָֽם׃‎‎
  They looked, but there was none to save; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
(Biblical Hebrew) To have respect.
- Genesis 4:5, with translation of the King James Version:
  ‏וְאֶל־קַיִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָתֹו לֹא שָׁעָה […]‎‎
  But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect […]

שעה • (sho) f, plural שעהן‎ (shoen)