שֵׁת
𐤔𐤕
shêth
H8353 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cardinal or ordinal number indicating the quantity 'six' or the position 'sixth.' In Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, the forms שֵׁת (shêth) and שִׁת (shith) serve as the Aramaic cognates to the Hebrew numeral שֵׁשׁ (shesh), denoting the number six, or in derived forms, the ordinal 'sixth.'
Semantic Range
six (cardinal number), sixth (ordinal), numeral value; enumeration of things, designation in list or order
Root / Etymology
Root: ששׁ (ש-ש-), core meaning 'six.' שֵׁת is the Aramaic reflex of the Proto-Semitic numeral for 'six', cognate with Hebrew שֵׁשׁ (shesh) and appearing as שֵׁת or שִׁת in Aramaic. The form follows regular Aramaic consonant shifts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֵׁת/שִׁת appears exclusively in the Aramaic sections of the Tanakh, notably in the books of Daniel and Ezra, where Aramaic replaces Hebrew as the language of the narrative. The usage mirrors Hebrew שֵׁשׁ in function, but its occurrence is a marker of the linguistic milieu of the Babylonian and early Persian periods. In enumerations, the word denotes either a quantity (six) or order (sixth), depending on form and context. It does not differ significantly in semantic range from its Hebrew counterpart, but the use of the Aramaic term reflects the administrative and cultural influence of Aramaic as the lingua franca of imperial administration during the late First and Second Temple periods. Standard English translations render it 'six' or 'sixth,' but without noting the underlying linguistic nuance. Compare with Hebrew שֵׁשׁ (shesh) for similar Israelite contexts and note the functional parallel to related Semitic numerals (e.g., Akkadian šidšû, Arabic sitta).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) or שִׁת; (Aramaic), corresponding to שֵׁשׁ; {six}; six(-th).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שית (sh-y-t) — to put, to set, to place, to appoint
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6246 | עֲשִׁת | I will set |
| H7896 | שִׁית | I will set |
| H7897 | שִׁית | garment of |
| H7898 | שַׁיִת | wild overgrowth |
| H8351 | שֵׁת | Appointed One |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8353-02 |
שִׁ֑ת | shit | AAcfsa |
six | six | 1 |
H8353-01 |
שֵׁ֔ת | shet | AAcbsa |
sixth | Appointed-one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8353-02 |
Daniel 3:1 | שִׁ֑ת | shit | AAcfsa |
six | six |
H8353-01 |
Ezra 6:15 | שֵׁ֔ת | shet | AAcbsa |
sixth | Appointed-one |