לִשָּׁן
𐤋𐤔𐤍
lishshân
H3961 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A form of speech, tongue, or language; by extension, a linguistic group or nation characterized by a distinct language. The term refers primarily to the specific mode of speaking or language used by a people, and by metonymy, may denote the people themselves as a linguistic community.
Semantic Range
tongue (organ of speech), language, speech, linguistic group or nation defined by language
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root לשׁן (לשָׁן in Aramaic), meaning 'tongue,' which in Semitic languages extends to refer to language and speech. The Aramaic form לִשָּׁן is a direct cognate of the Hebrew לָשׁוֹן (lashon), carrying the same double sense of 'tongue' (anatomical) and 'language.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
לִשָּׁן appears in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, especially in Daniel and Ezra, in reference to language or a language group. Its use reflects the close relationship between Aramaic and Hebrew vocabulary, with parallel semantic fields. In historical context, the word typically refers to the various peoples found in the Persian period, categorized according to their languages (as in the phrase 'peoples, nations, and languages'). While English translations often render לִשָּׁן as 'language' or, by extension, 'nation,' the primary sense remains linguistic, not political or ethnic. The use of 'tongue' in older translations reflects the literal anatomical root, but in biblical Aramaic contexts, the operational meaning is effectively 'language.' The term does not necessarily indicate ethnicity (e.g., Israelite, Judahite) but rather linguistic distinctiveness; groups specified by לִשָּׁן may be multi-ethnic but share a common speech.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to לָשׁוֹן; speech, i.e. a nation; language.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לשן (l-š-n) — tongue, speak, language
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3961-02 |
וְ/לִשָּׁנַיָּֽ/א | velishanaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and languages | and the languages | 6 |
H3961-01 |
וְ/לִשָּׁ֗ן | velishan | AC/Ncmsa |
and-language | and tongue | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3961-02 |
Daniel 3:4 | וְ/לִשָּׁנַיָּֽ/א | velishanaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and-languages | and the languages |
H3961-02 |
Daniel 3:7 | וְ/לִשָּׁנַיָּ֗/א | velishanaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and-languages-the | and the languages |
H3961-01 |
Daniel 3:29 | וְ/לִשָּׁ֗ן | velishan | AC/Ncmsa |
and-language | and tongue |
H3961-02 |
Daniel 3:31 | וְ/לִשָּׁנַיָּ֛/א | velishanaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and languages | and the languages |
H3961-02 |
Daniel 5:19 | וְ/לִשָּׁ֣נַיָּ֔/א | velishanaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and languages | and the languages |
H3961-02 |
Daniel 6:26 | וְ/לִשָּׁנַיָּ֛/א | velishanaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and-the-languages | and the languages |
H3961-02 |
Daniel 7:14 | וְ/לִשָּׁנַיָּ֖/א | velishanaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and languages | and the languages |