שִׁלְשׁוֹם

שִׁלְשׁוֹם

trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday

Definition

The Hebrew word שִׁלְשׁוֹם (shilshôwm) is a temporal adverb meaning 'three days ago,' 'the day before yesterday,' or more generally, 'formerly' or 'in the past.' It denotes a point in time that is a short but distinct period prior to the present, often emphasizing a recent past event. In some contexts, such as Exodus 21:29 and 21:36, it can refer to a known past condition or warning that was given earlier. The KJV margin in 2 Samuel 3:17 interestingly translates it as 'excellent things,' though this is a debated rendering based on a different understanding of the root.

Biblical Usage

שִׁלְשׁוֹם appears 25 times, primarily in narrative and legal texts of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus) and historical books. It is often used to recall a past statement, event, or condition. For example, in Genesis 31:2 and 31:5, Jacob notes that Laban's attitude toward him 'was not as it was yesterday and the day before (shilshôwm).' In legal contexts like Exodus 21:29, it establishes prior knowledge of an animal's dangerous behavior 'from before (shilshôwm).' Its usage consistently points to a known, referenced past.

Etymology

Derived from the root שׁ-ל-שׁ (sh-l-sh), related to the number three (שָׁלוֹשׁ, shalosh, H7969). The form שִׁלְשׁוֹם literally means 'three days ago' or 'the third day back,' built from the same base as שֶׁלֶשׁ (shelosh, H8028), meaning 'a triple measure.' This etymological connection to 'three' solidifies its temporal meaning of a short, specific span of time in the recent past.

Semantic Range

While primarily a temporal marker, שִׁלְשׁוֹם can carry theological weight in narratives of covenant and warning. In Exodus 21, its use in laws about negligence (Exodus 21:29, 36) underscores the principle of prior knowledge and responsibility before God. When God or His prophets reference past words or deeds 'from before' (e.g., Exodus 4:10), it highlights divine consistency and human accountability. Understanding this term enriches reading by clarifying the timeline of God's interactions and the basis for His judgments. In ancient Israelite culture, precise time references without modern calendars were often relative. 'The day before yesterday' or 'three days ago' (שִׁלְשׁוֹם) was a common and clear way to denote the recent past within a community's shared memory. This differs from modern imprecise phrases like 'a while ago,' as it specifically points to a brief, countable duration, important for legal testimony and storytelling. תְּמוֹל (temol, H8543) — means 'yesterday' or 'recently,' a closer past than shilshôwm. אֶתְמוֹל (’etmol, H865) — variant of temol, also 'yesterday.' לְפָנִים (lᵉphanim, H6440) — 'in former times,' often a more distant, indefinite past compared to shilshôwm's specific recent past.

Word Details