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שֵׁשׁ

𐤔𐤔

shêsh

H8336 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שׁשׁ to be white, to shine, to dazzle

Definition

A fine fabric of high quality, specifically linen, distinguished by its whiteness and brightness. The term is mainly used for textiles made from flax fibers that have been processed to create an especially white and lustrous appearance, and are often woven in fine or twined forms. By extension, the word can refer to the appearance of whiteness or shining surface, which underlies its later use in reference to marble.

Semantic Range

fine linen, shining white cloth, twined linen, white textile, by extension marble, by poetic analogy dazzling white objects

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁשׁ (sh-sh), meaning 'to be white, brilliant, or dazzling.' The word שֵׁשׁ is derived to refer to a material or object characterized by a dazzling white hue, most commonly linen but, by analogy, also marble. The development from 'white, bright' to specific objects (linen, marble) is secondary to the root's idea of brilliant whiteness. Related forms in later periods may reflect poetic or figurative expansion.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite context, שֵׁשׁ referred to fine linen made from flax, notable for its exceptional brightness and purity, used in garments of high rank, priestly robes, and for tabernacle or temple purposes. The word is sometimes rendered as 'fine linen' in English translations, which accurately reflects its core meaning, though the nuance of exceptional brilliance may be lost. Use in the context of marble (cf. Esther 1:6, Song 5:15) arises from the term's association with shining whiteness. The connection to 'silk' is based on translation tradition rather than actual use in the Hebrew Bible; 'silk' is not the primary lexical meaning. Shifts occur in late biblical and early post-biblical periods, with the term later being applied to luxurious cloth in general. The alternate spelling שְׁשִׁי for alliterative or poetic effect occurs alongside the standard form. Modern English translations sometimes render the term neutrally as 'linen,' but Ancient Near Eastern context (Egyptian and Mesopotamian parallels) confirms that שֵׁשׁ signifies textile luxury and ceremonial purity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (for alliteration with מֶשִׁי) שְׁשִׁי; for שַׁיִשׁ; bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by analogy) marble; [idiom] blue, fine (twined) linen, marble, silk.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁשׁ (sh-sh) — to be white, to shine, to dazzle

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7893 שַׁיִשׁ bright white marble
H8337 שֵׁשׁ in six
H8341 שָׁשָׁה and you shall apportion a sixth
H8343 שָׁשַׁי White-One
H8346 שִׁשִּׁים sixty

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8336-03 שֵׁ֔שׁ shesh HAcfsa fine linen shining white linen 19
H8336-07 וְ/שֵׁ֥שׁ veshesh HC/Acfsa and fine linen and fine white linen 15
H8336-02 הַ/שֵּֽׁשׁ hashesh HTd/Ncmsa the fine linen the dazzling-white linen 3
H8336-05 וּ/בַ/שֵּׁ֖שׁ uvashesh HC/Rd/Ncmsa and in fine linen and in the dazzling-white linen 2
H8336-04 ששי shshy HNcmsa fine linen dazzling white linen 1
H8336-01 בַּ/שֵּׁ֔שׁ bashesh HRd/Ncmsa in fine linen in shining white linen 1
H8336-06 וָ/שֵׁ֖שׁ vashesh HC/Acfsa and-white and six 1

Occurrences in Scripture

42 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8336-03 Genesis 41:42 שֵׁ֔שׁ shesh HAcfsa fine linen shining white linen
H8336-07 Exodus 25:4 וְ/שֵׁ֥שׁ veshesh HC/Acfsa and fine linen and fine white linen
H8336-03 Exodus 26:1 שֵׁ֣שׁ shesh HAcfsa fine linen shining white linen
H8336-07 Exodus 26:31 וְ/שֵׁ֣שׁ veshesh HC/Acfsa and fine linen and fine white linen
H8336-07 Exodus 26:36 וְ/שֵׁ֣שׁ veshesh HC/Acfsa and fine linen and fine white linen
H8336-03 Exodus 27:9 שֵׁ֣שׁ shesh HAcfsa fine shining white linen
H8336-07 Exodus 27:16 וְ/שֵׁ֥שׁ veshesh HC/Acfsa and-fine-linen and fine white linen
H8336-03 Exodus 27:18 שֵׁ֣שׁ shesh HAcfsa fine linen shining white linen
H8336-02 Exodus 28:5 הַ/שֵּֽׁשׁ hashesh HTd/Ncmsa the fine linen the dazzling-white linen
H8336-07 Exodus 28:6 וְ/שֵׁ֥שׁ veshesh HC/Acfsa and fine linen and fine white linen
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