StrongerBible

shesh

שֵׁשׁ

HebrewH8337six, sixth

Appears 216 times · tap a cell to see the verses

Gen 7:6Gen 7:11Gen 8:13Gen 16:16Gen 30:20Gen 31:41Gen 46:18Gen 46:26Exo 12:37Exo 14:7Exo 16:26Exo 20:9Exo 20:11Exo 21:2Exo 23:10Exo 23:12Exo 24:16Exo 25:32Exo 25:33Exo 25:35Exo 26:9Exo 26:22Exo 26:25Exo 28:10 (2×)Exo 31:15Exo 31:17Exo 34:21Exo 35:2Exo 36:16Exo 36:27Exo 36:30Exo 37:18Exo 37:19Exo 37:21Exo 38:26Lev 12:5Lev 23:3Lev 24:6Lev 25:3 (2×)Num 1:21Num 1:25Num 1:27Num 1:46Num 2:4Num 2:9Num 2:11Num 2:15Num 2:32Num 3:34Num 7:3
Root family
Word studyshayshnumber

What shesh means

six: the cardinal number 6

TranslatabilityDirectCertaintySettled

This is simply the number six. It counts people, days, years, animals, objects, and measurements all through the Hebrew Bible, with no hidden or extra meaning beyond the plain count. The form shifts a little depending on what is being counted (the word pairs with masculine and feminine nouns in slightly different shapes), but the value is always the same.

Because it is a plain number, almost all of its uses are ordinary tallies: six sons, six cities, six hundred chariots, a price of six measures of barley. Many of its appearances simply combine with other numbers to make larger totals, such as six hundred or sixty-six thousand.

Where six carries weight, that weight comes from the surrounding story, not from the number itself. Work fills six days and then rests on the seventh, so six marks the span of labor before the sabbath. A Hebrew servant works six years and goes free in the seventh. Solomon's throne is approached by six steps. In these places the number stays an ordinary six; the meaning lies in what happens on the day or year that follows.

Gen 7:6Gen 7:11Gen 8:13Gen 16:16Gen 30:20Gen 31:41Gen 46:18Gen 46:26Exo 12:37Exo 14:7Exo 16:26Exo 20:9

What scholars say about shesh

The cardinal numeral for six is uncontroversial across the standard lexica (BDB, HALOT, DCH). The Hebrew form alternates between שֵׁשׁ (with masculine nouns) and the lengthened שִׁשָּׁה (with feminine nouns), plus the construct שֵׁשֶׁת, all of the same value. It is a common Semitic numeral, cognate with Aramaic, Akkadian, Arabic, and Ugaritic forms for six. It is to be distinguished from the homograph שֵׁשׁ "byssus, fine linen," an unrelated word. No live debate attaches to its meaning.

Sources

  • HALOT, s.v. שֵׁשׁlexicon
  • BDB, s.v. שֵׁשׁlexicon
  • DCH, s.v. שֵׁשׁlexicon

All attested forms of שֵׁשׁ

c s absolute

שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה

Exo 21:2, Lev 24:6, Num 7:3, Num 35:13, Jos 15:41, Jos 15:59, Jos 15:62, Jos 19:22

c s construct

שֵׁשׁ, שֵׁשֶׁת, שֶׁשׁ

Gen 7:6, Gen 7:11, Gen 46:18, Exo 14:7, Exo 26:9, Exo 36:16, Lev 25:3, Num 1:46

conj

שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה, שֵׁשֶׁת, שִּׁשָּׁה

Gen 8:13, Gen 16:16, Gen 31:41, Gen 46:26, Exo 12:37, Exo 23:10, Exo 38:26, Lev 25:3