עֶשְׂרִים
𐤏𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌
ʻesrîym
H6242 adjective
SILEX Entry
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
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot 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 |