שֵׁשׁ
𐤔𐤔
shêsh
H8337 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
The cardinal number six, used to indicate quantities, order, or grouping of six in narrative, legal, and ritual contexts. Also forms the basis for derived words indicating 'sixth' (ordinal), and appears within compound numbers (e.g., sixteen).
Semantic Range
six (cardinal number), sixth (ordinal), groups or sets of six, sextuple, six in compound numbers (e.g., sixteen), the sixth in a sequence
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁשׁ, representing the number six in Semitic languages. The form שֵׁשׁ is the standard word for 'six' in Biblical Hebrew, with its ordinal form constructed by patterning internal vowel changes and suffixation (שִׁשִּׁי). The precise derivation of the root for numerals is often lost in antiquity and may be related across Semitic languages (cf. Akkadian šedu, Ugaritic ššn, Aramaic שׁית).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שֵׁשׁ is employed throughout all periods as the ordinary cardinal number 'six'—for objects, people, periods of time, or symbolic groupings. It is commonly found in enumeration (e.g., six days of labor in the week), ritual instructions (e.g., six water jars at the wedding at Cana in later Greek texts drawing on similar Hebrew traditions), genealogical lists, and military tallies. It is regularly used in both prose and poetry. The derived ordinal form, שִׁשִּׁי, 'sixth,' appears in calendrical, genealogical, and cultic contexts. Where English translations sometimes conflate numeric and symbolic meanings, in Hebrew usage שֵׁשׁ is strictly mathematical unless contextual markers suggest symbolic intent. Distinct from similarly spelled שֵׁשׁ (meaning 'fine linen,' from another root), with which it should not be confused. Unlike some later English and rabbinic traditions, the number six in the Hebrew Bible rarely, if ever, bears independent symbolic significance—the context determines meaning. In related Northwest Semitic languages, cognate forms exist; the number is among the most stable across ancient Semitic lexicons.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁשׁ (sh-sh) — to be six, six-fold
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7893 | שַׁיִשׁ | bright white marble |
| H8336 | שֵׁשׁ | in shining white linen |
| H8341 | שָׁשָׁה | and you shall apportion a sixth |
| H8343 | שָׁשַׁי | White-One |
| H8346 | שִׁשִּׁים | sixty |
Word Forms
13 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8337-07 |
שֵׁ֥שׁ | shesh | HAcfsa |
six | six | 84 | |
H8337-11 |
וְ/שֵׁשׁ | veshesh | HC/Acfsa |
and six | and six | 36 | |
H8337-09 |
שִׁשָּׁ֣ה | shishah | HAcmsa |
six | six | 29 | |
H8337-08 |
שֵׁ֥שֶׁת | sheshet | HAcmsc |
six | six-of | 21 | |
H8337-13 |
וְ/שִׁשָּׁ֣ה | veshishah | HC/Acmsa |
and six | and six | 18 | |
H8337-10 |
וָ/שֵֽׁשׁ | vashesh | HC/Acfsa |
and six | and six | 7 | |
H8337-12 |
וְ/שֵׁ֣שֶׁת | vesheshet | HC/Acmsc |
and six | and six of | 6 | |
H8337-05 |
לְ/שֵׁ֣שֶׁת | lesheshet | HR/Acmsc |
for-the-six | to six of | 4 | |
H8337-03 |
כְּ/שֵׁשׁ | keshesh | HR/Acfsa |
about six | as six | 4 | |
H8337-01 |
בְּ/שֵׁ֣שׁ | beshesh | HR/Acfsa |
for six | in six | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
215 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8337-07 |
Genesis 7:6 | שֵׁ֥שׁ | shesh | HAcfsa |
six | six | |
H8337-07 |
Genesis 7:11 | שֵׁשׁ | shesh | HAcfsa |
six | six | |
H8337-11 |
Genesis 8:13 | וְ/שֵׁשׁ | veshesh | HC/Acfsa |
and six | and six | |
H8337-11 |
Genesis 16:16 | וְ/שֵׁ֣שׁ | veshesh | HC/Acfsa |
and six | and six | |
H8337-09 |
Genesis 30:20 | שִׁשָּׁ֣ה | shishah | HAcmsa |
six | six | |
H8337-11 |
Genesis 31:41 | וְ/שֵׁ֥שׁ | veshesh | HC/Acfsa |
and six | and six | |
H8337-07 |
Genesis 46:18 | שֵׁ֥שׁ | shesh | HAcfsa |
six | six | |
H8337-10 |
Genesis 46:26 | וָ/שֵֽׁשׁ | vashesh | HC/Acfsa |
and six | and six | |
H8337-03 |
Exodus 12:37 | כְּ/שֵׁשׁ | keshesh | HR/Acfsa |
about six | as six | |
H8337-07 |
Exodus 14:7 | שֵׁשׁ | shesh | HAcfsa |
six | six |