חֲמִישִׁי
fifth; also a fifth
Definition
The Hebrew word חֲמִישִׁי is an ordinal number meaning 'fifth'. It is used to denote the fifth in a sequence, such as the fifth day of creation (Genesis 1:23) or the fifth son in a family line. In legal and ritual contexts, it often signifies a 'fifth part' or a 20% addition, particularly in laws concerning restitution for sacrilege or fraud, where the guilty party must repay the principal plus one-fifth (Leviticus 5:16, 6:5). This dual usage covers both simple numerical order and a specific proportional measurement.
Biblical Usage
חֲמִישִׁי appears 44 times across the Pentateuch, historical books, and prophets. Its primary use is ordinal, marking the fifth item in sequences like days, months, kings, or years (e.g., Genesis 30:17, 1 Kings 14:25). A distinct, significant pattern emerges in Leviticus and Numbers, where it denotes the 'fifth part' (20%) added in restitution offerings for misuse of holy things (Leviticus 22:14) or in redemption of tithed property (Leviticus 27:13, 31). It is also used in Joseph's tax policy in Genesis 47:24, where Pharaoh takes a fifth of the produce.
Etymology
Derived from the cardinal number חָמֵשׁ (chamesh, H2568), meaning 'five'. The form חֲמִישִׁי is the standard ordinal construction (like 'fifth' from 'five'), with a variant spelling חֲמִשִּׁי also attested. It is related to other Semitic cognates for the number five, reflecting its basic numerical origin.
Semantic Range
The concept of the 'fifth part' in Levitical law carries theological weight regarding holiness, restitution, and integrity before God. Adding one-fifth to a repayment for a sacrilegious act (Leviticus 5:16) was not merely a fine but a recognition of the seriousness of violating God's holy property, emphasizing that sin has tangible consequences requiring full restoration plus an extra measure. This principle underscores God's justice and the call to honor what is consecrated to Him.
In ancient Israelite culture, a 'fifth' (20%) was a standard proportional increment used in economic and religious transactions, as seen in Joseph's grain tax (Genesis 47:24) and temple restitution laws. This fixed rate provided a clear, predictable standard for compensation, differing from modern variable fines or interest rates. It reflected an agrarian economy where produce and livestock were primary measures of value.
חָמֵשׁ (chamesh, H2568) — the cardinal number 'five', whereas חֲמִישִׁי is the ordinal 'fifth' or 'fifth part'.
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.
Full methodology & sources →