שָׁלוֹשׁ
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
Definition
The Hebrew word שָׁלוֹשׁ is a cardinal number meaning 'three'. It primarily denotes the quantity three, as in the three sons of Noah (Genesis 6:10). It can also function as an ordinal number meaning 'third', such as in the third day of creation (Genesis 1:13). In some contexts, it expresses a multiple, meaning 'thrice' or 'three times', as seen when Abraham's servant bowed down three times (Genesis 24:22). Its masculine form, שְׁלוֹשָׁה, is used when counting masculine nouns.
Biblical Usage
This word appears frequently throughout the Old Testament, from Genesis to the Prophets, to quantify people, objects, and periods of time. It is used for literal counting (e.g., three men visited Abraham in Genesis 18:2) and in symbolic or significant groupings, such as the three annual pilgrimage festivals (Exodus 23:14) or the three-part structure of the Tabernacle. The ordinal 'third' is common in chronological sequences, like the third year or third day.
Etymology
A primitive number, שָׁלוֹשׁ is a basic, foundational numeral in Hebrew. Its masculine form is שְׁלוֹשָׁה. It is cognate with the number three in other Semitic languages (e.g., Ugaritic *ṯlṯ*). It is related to the word שָׁלִישׁ (H7991), meaning 'third' or 'captain of a third', indicating a division into three parts.
Semantic Range
The number three holds significant symbolic weight in Scripture, often associated with divine completeness, testimony, and God's purposeful action. Key theological events occur on the third day, including the resurrection foreshadowed in Hosea 6:2 and realized in the New Testament. The tripartite structure of the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) and the threefold 'Holy' of the seraphim (Isaiah 6:3) point to God's perfect nature. Understanding this numeral's frequency and context can reveal patterns of divine timing and the fullness of God's work.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, numbers often carried symbolic meaning beyond mere quantity. The number three was a common literary and covenantal pattern, representing a complete cycle or a sufficient witness (as in Deuteronomy 19:15, requiring two or three witnesses). This differs from a modern, purely mathematical understanding, as the biblical authors used numbers to convey theological and narrative significance.
שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉlîyshîy, H7992) — The standard ordinal adjective for 'third'. שָׁלִישׁ (shâlîysh, H7991) — A noun meaning a 'third part' or a high-ranking military officer, derived from the same root concept of three.
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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