עַשְׁתֵּי
eleven or (ordinal) eleventh
Definition
The Hebrew word עַשְׁתֵּי (ʻashtêy) is a numeral meaning 'eleven' or, when used in an ordinal sense, 'eleventh.' It is exclusively used in combination with the word for 'ten' (עָשָׂר, ʻāsār) to form the numbers eleven and eleventh, as seen in phrases like 'eleven curtains' (Exodus 26:7-8) or 'the eleventh day' (Deuteronomy 1:3). This term functions as a specific counting word within the biblical numbering system and does not carry any symbolic or metaphorical meaning on its own. Its usage is strictly numerical, appearing in contexts involving measurements, dates, and counts of items or people.
Biblical Usage
This word appears 18 times in the Old Testament, primarily in the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, with a single occurrence in 2 Kings. It is used in two main contexts: first, in the detailed descriptions of the Tabernacle's construction, specifying the number of curtains (Exodus 26:7-8; 36:14-15), and second, in chronological references, such as dating events to the eleventh day or month (Deuteronomy 1:3; Numbers 29:20) or the eleventh year of a king's reign (2 Kings 25:2). The pattern shows it is a technical term for precise counting in ritual and historical records.
Etymology
The word עַשְׁתֵּי is derived from the root עֶשֶׁת (ʻeshet, H6247), which may relate to the idea of 'firmness' or 'hardness,' but its specific use as 'eleven' is an idiomatic development. It is considered a masculine plural form used as an 'afterthought' or supplement to the base-ten system, essentially meaning 'one (left) after ten.' It always appears with עָשָׂר (ʻāsār, 'ten'), functionally replacing the more common word for 'one' (אֶחָד, ʼeḥāḏ, H259) in the construction of the number eleven.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near Eastern context, numbers often carried symbolic weight, but 'eleven' as a specific numeral does not appear to have inherent symbolic significance in biblical culture, unlike numbers such as seven, twelve, or forty. Its use is primarily practical for measurement and chronology. The meticulous recording of eleven curtains for the Tabernacle, however, highlights the precision and obedience required in worship instructions, reflecting the cultural value of exact adherence to divine specifications for sacred objects.
אֶחָד (ʼeḥāḏ, H259) — The standard word for 'one,' used independently or in other compound numbers, whereas עַשְׁתֵּי is only used for 'eleven' in combination with 'ten.' עָשָׂר (ʻāsār, H6240) — The word for 'ten,' which is the necessary companion word to form the number eleven with עַשְׁתֵּי.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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