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שָׁלַשׁ

𐤔𐤋𐤔

shâlash

H8027 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To divide or group into three parts; to do something for a third time or in a sequence of three. In biblical usage, refers specifically to making something threefold, repeating an action for the third time, or arranging in groups of three, often with regard to units of time (days, years), objects, or actions. The term carries a nuance of ordered repetition or structured partition into threes.

Semantic Range

to divide into three parts, to make threefold, to group into threes, to do an action for the third time, to partition by threes

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁ־ל־שׁ (שָׁלַשׁ), meaning primarily 'three' or 'to be three.' The verb form is a denominative derived from the numeral שָׁלוֹשׁ (three), with the sense extended to verbal actions involving 'three-ness' — to divide, group, or do something in threes.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb שָׁלַשׁ occurs in a limited set of contexts, and its use is mostly denominative, i.e., derived from the numeral 'three' rather than the older verbal usage. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears in technical or ritual contexts, such as dividing items or performing an action associated with the numeral three (e.g., grouping soldiers or actions in threes, performing something for the third time). Its usage is consistent across Israelite historical periods where it appears, though it is uncommon. English translations sometimes obscure the term's specifically tripartite or third-time nuance by rendering it generically as 'divide' or 'group.' The word is distinct from other numerically derived verbs such as רִבֵּעַ (to make fourfold). The meaning is best preserved by noting the action's explicit connection to the number three, which is integral in ritual, legal, and narrative settings in ancient Israelite texts.

Translation Consistency

primary "triple" 2 occurrences

"Triple" naturally and succinctly captures the primary semantic range of שָׁלַשׁ: to make threefold or arrange/partition into threes. It reads naturally in English for grouping or making something threefold, and can be inflected consistently across forms. Other candidates (e.g., "divide" or "repeat") cover only part of the range, while "triple" best fits the typical biblical usage.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"three years old" (3x) "made threefold" (2x) "make threefold" (1x) "threefold one" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root perhaps originally to intensify, i.e. treble; but apparently used only as denominative from שָׁלוֹשׁ,; to be (causatively, make) triplicate (by restoration, in portions, strands, days or years); do the third time, (divide into, stay) three (days, -fold, parts, years old).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלש (sh-l-sh) — three, divide into three, make threefold, do a third time

Root שלש three, to divide into three, to do for the third time
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7969 שָׁלוֹשׁ in the three
H7970 שְׁלוֹשִׁים in the thirty
H7991 שָׁלִישׁ in the third-rank officer
H7992 שְׁלִישִׁי in the third
H8028 שֶׁלֶשׁ and Triplet

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8027-04 מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁת meshuleshet HVPsfsa three years old made threefold three years old 2
H8027-07 וְ/שִׁלַּשְׁתָּ֙ veshilasheta HC/Vpq2ms and divide into three and you made threefold and you tripled 2
H8027-03 מְשֻׁלָּשׁוֹת֙ meshulashot HVPsfpa they were in three stories made threefold made threefold 1
H8027-02 מְשֻׁלָּ֑שׁ meshulash HVPsmsa three years old made threefold three years old 1
H8027-05 שַׁלֵּ֖שׁוּ shaleshu HVpv2mp Do it a third time Make threefold! Make threefold 1
H8027-06 וַ/יְשַׁלֵּֽשׁוּ vayeshaleshu HC/Vpw3mp and they did it a third time and they made threefold and they made threefold 1
H8027-01 הַֽ/מְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ hameshulash HTd/VPsmsa the threefold one the threefold one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8027-04 Genesis 15:9 מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁת meshuleshet HVPsfsa three years old made threefold three years old
H8027-04 Genesis 15:9 מְשֻׁלֶּ֖שֶׁת meshuleshet-2 HVPsfsa three years old made threefold three years old
H8027-02 Genesis 15:9 מְשֻׁלָּ֑שׁ meshulash HVPsmsa three years old made threefold three years old
H8027-07 Deuteronomy 19:3 וְ/שִׁלַּשְׁתָּ֙ veshilasheta HC/Vpq2ms and divide into three and you made threefold and you tripled
H8027-07 1 Samuel 20:19 וְ/שִׁלַּשְׁתָּ֙ veshilasheta HC/Vpq2ms you have stayed three days and you made threefold and you tripled
H8027-05 1 Kings 18:34 שַׁלֵּ֖שׁוּ shaleshu HVpv2mp Do it a third time Make threefold! Make threefold
H8027-06 1 Kings 18:34 וַ/יְשַׁלֵּֽשׁוּ vayeshaleshu HC/Vpw3mp and they did it a third time and they made threefold and they made threefold
H8027-03 Ezekiel 42:6 מְשֻׁלָּשׁוֹת֙ meshulashot HVPsfpa they were in three stories made threefold made threefold
H8027-01 Ecclesiastes 4:12 הַֽ/מְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ hameshulash HTd/VPsmsa the threefold one the threefold one
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