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שָׁלִישׁ

𐤔𐤋𐤉𐤔

shâlîysh

H7991 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שלש to be three, to form a triad, to divide in three

Definition

A high-ranking military officer or chariot warrior, most often 'third man' in a chariot team; more generally, a military officer of significant authority. In other contexts, refers to a musical instrument (possibly three-stringed or triangular) or a threefold measure. Semantic range encompasses military rank, musical instrument, and unit of measure.

Semantic Range

military officer or chariot elite (third man in a chariot), aide-de-camp, elite warrior or officer, musical instrument (possibly three-stringed or triangular), threefold measure or unit

Root / Etymology

The term derives from the root שָׁלֹשׁ (to be three), indicating either 'third' or 'involving three.' As a noun שָׁלִישׁ toggles between denoting 'one of three (in rank or formation),' and by extension, specific roles in military or musical contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In earlier Israelite contexts, שָׁלִישׁ primarily refers to the third man in a chariot team—a high-ranking chariot officer or aide, not a mere driver, often with command authority (cf. Exodus 14:7, 2 Kings 7:2, 2 Kings 9:25). Over time, the term broadened to denote any distinguished military officer or aide-de-camp, especially in royal service. In poetic passages and lists of notable warriors (e.g., David's elite fighters), שָׁלִישׁ can indicate a distinct officer group, sometimes the 'thirty' or 'three' in various military orders (2 Samuel 23; 1 Kings 9:22), although translation traditions sometimes conflate these groups. The term is distinct from other military ranks (like שַׂר 'prince, commander'). In some passages (especially 1 Chronicles 11:11, 12:18, and 2 Samuel 23:13), context has led to alternative readings: musical instrument (possibly a lyre or triangular harp) or a measure, though these are secondary and less frequent. English translations ('captain', 'officer', 'lord', 'musical instrument') may not fully capture the technical nuance of military/chariot organization. Later Jewish tradition and English 'Jew' translations are anachronistic for this term, which is rooted in an early, monarchic Israelite military context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שָׁלוֹשׁ; (1 Chronicles 11:11; 1 Chronicles 12:18), or שָׁלֹשׁ; (2 Samuel 23:13), from שָׁלוֹשׁ; a triple, i.e. (as a musical instrument) a triangle (or perhaps rather threestringed lute); also (as an indefinite, great quantity) a three-fold measure (perhaps a treble ephah); also (as an officer) a general of the third rank (upward, i.e. the highest); captain, instrument of musick, (great) lord, (great) measure, prince, three (from the margin).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלש (sh-l-sh) — three, triad, threefold division

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7969 שָׁלוֹשׁ in the three
H7970 שְׁלוֹשִׁים in the thirty
H7992 שְׁלִישִׁי in the third
H8027 שָׁלַשׁ the threefold one
H8028 שֶׁלֶשׁ and Triplet

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7991-07 שָׁלִשִׁ֖ים shalishim HNcmpa officers triad officers officers 3
H7991-02 הַ/שָּׁלִ֡ישׁ hashalish HTd/Ncmsa the captain the third-rank officer the third-rank officer 3
H7991-06 שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖י/ו shalishayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his captains his third-rank officers his captains 2
H7991-08 שָֽׁלִשׁ֔/וֹ shalisho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his-captain his third-man officer his officer 2
H7991-14 וְ/שָׁלִשִׁ֖ם veshalishim HC/Ncmpa and officers third-rank officers and third-rank officers 1
H7991-10 וּ/בְ/שָׁלִשִֽׁים uveshalishim HC/R/Ncmpa and with triangles and with third-rank officers and with third-rank officers 1
H7991-13 וְ/שָׁלִשָׁ֔י/ו veshalishayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and his captains and his triad-officers and his triad-officers 1
H7991-04 הַ/שָּׁ֣לִישִׁ֔ים hashalishim HTd/Acbpa of the captains the triad-officers of the officers 1
H7991-12 וְ/לַ/שָּׁלִשִׁ֜ים velashalishim HC/Rd/Ncmpa and to the officers and to the triad-officers and to the triad-officers 1
H7991-05 שָׁלִֽישׁ shalish HNcmsa copiously third-rank officer copiously 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7991-14 Exodus 14:7 וְ/שָׁלִשִׁ֖ם veshalishim HC/Ncmpa and officers third-rank officers and third-rank officers
H7991-06 Exodus 15:4 שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖י/ו shalishayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms of his officers his third-rank officers his officers
H7991-10 1 Samuel 18:6 וּ/בְ/שָׁלִשִֽׁים uveshalishim HC/R/Ncmpa and with triangles and with third-rank officers and with third-rank officers
H7991-03 2 Samuel 23:8 הַ/שָּׁלִשִׁ֗י hashalishi HTd/Acbpa of the Three the third-one the third-one
H7991-13 1 Kings 9:22 וְ/שָׁלִשָׁ֔י/ו veshalishayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and his captains and his triad-officers and his triad-officers
H7991-02 2 Kings 7:2 הַ/שָּׁלִ֡ישׁ hashalish HTd/Ncmsa the captain the third-rank officer the third-rank officer
H7991-02 2 Kings 7:17 הַ/שָּׁלִ֜ישׁ hashalish HTd/Ncmsa the captain the third-rank officer the third-rank officer
H7991-02 2 Kings 7:19 הַ/שָּׁלִ֜ישׁ hashalish HTd/Ncmsa the-captain the third-rank officer the third-rank officer
H7991-09 2 Kings 9:25 שלשה shlshh HAcmsa his third officer third-rank officer third-rank officer
H7991-08 2 Kings 9:25 שָֽׁלִשׁ֔/וֹ shalisho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his third officer his third-man officer his third-man officer
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