שָׁלַשׁ

שָׁלַשׁ

to be (causatively, make) triplicate (by restoration, in portions, strands, days or years)

Definition

The Hebrew verb שָׁלַשׁ (shâlash) fundamentally means 'to do something a third time' or 'to make something threefold or triplicate.' It can describe the simple act of repeating an action for a third time, as when Elijah drenches the altar a third time in 1 Kings 18:34. It also denotes dividing something into three parts, as seen in Genesis 15:9-10 where Abram is instructed to divide a heifer, goat, and ram. In a more specialized sense, it can refer to a three-day period or a third day, as in 1 Samuel 20:19 where David is to hide for 'three days.'

Biblical Usage

This verb is used in various contexts across the Old Testament. It appears in narrative settings for literal division into three parts (Genesis 15:9, Ezekiel 42:6) and for repeating an action a third time (1 Kings 18:34). It is used in legal instruction for establishing cities of refuge 'three days' journey apart (Deuteronomy 19:3). It also appears in poetic wisdom literature to describe the strength of a 'threefold cord' (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Its occurrences are sparse but distributed across Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom, and Prophecy.

Etymology

The verb שָׁלַשׁ is a denominative verb derived from the cardinal number שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôsh, H7969), meaning 'three.' As a denominative, it takes the concept of 'three' and turns it into an action ('to three' or 'to triplicate'). It is considered a primitive root, and its core meaning is directly tied to this numerical foundation, with no widely attested cognates in other Semitic languages that shift the meaning significantly.

Semantic Range

While primarily a numerical verb, its usage connects to themes of completeness, preparation, and divine provision. The threefold division in Genesis 15:9 is part of a covenant ratification ceremony, a solemn act establishing God's promise. The 'threefold cord' in Ecclesiastes 4:12 becomes a proverbial image for community and resilience. The three drenchings in 1 Kings 18:34 demonstrate thorough preparation for a definitive display of God's power, moving beyond a simple repetition to a complete saturating. Thus, the concept of 'three' tied to this verb often carries a sense of sufficiency or a prepared state. In the ancient Near East, the number three often held symbolic significance representing a minimal completeness, sufficiency, or a full cycle (beginning, middle, end). Dividing something into three parts, as in Genesis 15, was a known ritual practice for formalizing agreements. The 'three days' mentioned in passages like 1 Samuel 20:19 represented a significant but manageable period for travel or waiting, a common narrative timeframe. חָלַק (châlaq, H2505) — to divide, share, or apportion; a more general term for division not specifically into three. שָׁנָה (shânâh, H8138) — to repeat or do again; a general term for repetition without specifying a number of times.

Word Details