עֶשְׂרִים

𐤏𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌

ʻesrîym

H6242 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root עשר to be ten, to count in tens

Definition

The cardinal number 'twenty'; designates a set, group, or sum of twenty items, persons, or units. In the ordinal form, it means 'twentieth,' referring to position in a sequence. Used to indicate age, measurements, quantities, or groupings.

Semantic Range

twenty (cardinal), twentieth (ordinal), a group of twenty, quantity of twenty, age of twenty years

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root עשר ('to be ten'), with the plural masculine ending reflecting multiplication (ten times two). Thus, עֶשְׂרִים is formed as the plural of 'ten' to denote 'twenty.' This form shows standard Semitic numeral derivation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite texts, עֶשְׂרִים occurs primarily in lists, census data, genealogies, and in descriptions of measurements (such as lengths, ages, or quantities in offerings and ritual regulations). Its use is consistent throughout the Hebrew Bible, and the meaning is stable across periods. While older English translations may sometimes use 'score' for 'twenty,' this term is archaic and not present in the Hebrew. The word does not imply a group identity or abstract concept; it is strictly quantitative. Ordinal use (as 'twentieth') reflects standard numeration patterns. Distinct from related roots such as עֶשֶׂר ('ten'), עֶשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר ('twelve'), or שְׁלֹשִׁים ('thirty'). There is no shift in semantic domain between the monarchic, exilic, and post-exilic uses; the word consistently refers to the numeral twenty.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עשר (ʿ-ś-r) — to be ten, to count in tens

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4643 מַעֲשֵׂר the tenth-portion
H6218 עָשׂוֹר group of ten
H6223 עָשִׁיר wealthy man
H6224 עֲשִׂירִי tenth
H6235 עֶשֶׂר ten

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6242-02 עֶשְׂרִ֑ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty 204
H6242-06 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֖ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty 94
H6242-01 בְּ/עֶשְׂרִ֣ים beeserim HR/Acbpa in twenty in twenty 11
H6242-03 הָֽ/עֶשְׂרִֽים haeserim HTd/Acbpa the twenty the twenty 3
H6242-04 כְּ/עֶשְׂרִ֣ים keeserim HR/Acbpa like twenty like twenty 2
H6242-05 לְ/עֶשְׂרִים֙ leeserim HR/Acbpa for the twentieth to twenty 1

Occurrences in Scripture

315 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6242-06 Genesis 6:3 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֖ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty
H6242-06 Genesis 8:14 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֛ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twentieth and twenty
H6242-06 Genesis 11:24 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֖ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 Genesis 18:31 עֶשְׂרִ֑ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty
H6242-03 Genesis 18:31 הָֽ/עֶשְׂרִֽים haeserim HTd/Acbpa the twenty the twenty
H6242-06 Genesis 23:1 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 Genesis 31:38 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty
H6242-02 Genesis 31:41 עֶשְׂרִ֣ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty
H6242-02 Genesis 32:15 עֶשְׂרִ֑ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty
H6242-02 Genesis 32:15 עֶשְׂרִֽים eserim-2 HAcbpa twenty twenty