שִׁלְשָׁה

Shilshah, an Israelite

Definition

Shilshah is a proper name of an Israelite man, appearing only once in the Bible as a descendant of Asher. He is listed among the sons of Zophah in the genealogy of the tribe of Asher (1 Chronicles 7:37). The name itself means 'triplication' or 'third,' deriving from a root related to the number three. As a personal name, it likely carried a symbolic or numerical significance, perhaps indicating birth order or a notable characteristic.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively as a proper name in a single genealogical list. It appears only in 1 Chronicles 7:37, within a chapter dedicated to detailing the descendants of the tribes of Israel. Its usage is purely for identification within a family lineage, with no narrative context or repeated appearances elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Etymology

The name Shilshah (שִׁלְשָׁה) is a feminine noun form derived from the same root as the word for 'three' (שָׁלֹשׁ, H7969) and the related term Shelesh (שֶׁלֶשׁ, H8028). It literally means 'triplication' or 'a third (part).' This connects it to the concept of threefoldness, a common pattern in Semitic languages for forming names with numerical significance.

Semantic Range

In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful and descriptive. A name like Shilshah, meaning 'triplication' or 'third,' may have indicated that the individual was a third son, born third in a sequence, or perhaps was one of triplets. It reflects the common practice of using numbers or ordinal positions in personal naming conventions to denote family structure or significant events surrounding a birth.

Shelesh (H8028) — A related masculine proper name, also meaning 'triplet' or 'third,' borne by a different individual (1 Chronicles 11:45).

Word Details

Scripture References