שֵׁשׁ

𐤔𐤔

shêsh

H8337 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שׁשׁ to be six, six-fold

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.

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Root 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