שְׁלוֹשִׁים
𐤔𐤋𐤅𐤔𐤉𐤌
shᵉlôwshîym
H7970 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
The cardinal number 'thirty.' Used to indicate the quantity 30, most often of persons, objects, days, or years; sometimes as a round number or symbolic total. Rarely, by extension, as the ordinal 'thirtieth' (i.e., position 30th in a sequence). Not a qualitative or metaphorical term, but occasionally functions in stereotyped or formulaic textual contexts (such as age, years of reign, ritual numbers).
Semantic Range
thirty (numeral); thirtieth (rare); number of years, days, people, or things (thirty in count); round number or collective total (thirty as sum)
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root שלש (ש-ל-ש), which means 'three.' 'שְׁלוֹשִׁים' is formed by taking the base number three and applying the Hebrew plural and multiplicative suffix '-ִים' (im), yielding 'thirty,' i.e., three sets of ten. The formation follows standard Semitic patterning for forming decades (e.g., עֶשְׂרִים 'twenty,' אַרְבָּעִים 'forty').
Historical & Contextual Notes
'שְׁלוֹשִׁים' appears throughout the Hebrew Bible wherever the number thirty is contextually necessary, including census data, genealogies, ritual prescriptions, military units, and narrative formulas. Its use does not bear special symbolic significance in most cases, though thirty can have conventional meaning in certain ritual or legal contexts, such as thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13) or thirty-day mourning periods (Deuteronomy 34:8). The form is morphologically regular, part of the Hebrew decimal numerals. In post-biblical and later Hebrew, the word retains its function. Compare שָׁלוֹשׁ 'three' (cardinal), שְׁלִישִׁי 'third' (ordinal), and שָׁלִישׁ (a different root; officer title). English translations invariably render it as 'thirty' or, rarely, 'thirtieth,' but caution is required since ordinal usage is uncommon and other forms (שְׁלִשִּׁים) may represent actual ordinals.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שְׁלֹשִׁים; multiple of שָׁלוֹשׁ; thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth; thirty, thirtieth. Compare שָׁלִישׁ.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שלש (š-l-š) — three, tripling, dividing in three
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7969 | שָׁלוֹשׁ | in the three |
| H7991 | שָׁלִישׁ | in the third-rank officer |
| H7992 | שְׁלִישִׁי | in the third |
| H8027 | שָׁלַשׁ | the threefold one |
| H8028 | שֶׁלֶשׁ | and Triplet |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7970-08 |
שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים | sheloshim | HAcbpa |
thirty | thirty | 107 |
H7970-10 |
וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים | usheloshim | HC/Acbpa |
and thirty | and thirty | 48 |
H7970-04 |
הַ/שְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים | hasheloshim | HTd/Acbpa |
the thirty | the thirty | 6 |
H7970-06 |
כִּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים | kisheloshim | HR/Acbpa |
about thirty | thirty | 4 |
H7970-11 |
בִ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים | visheloshim | HR/Acbpa |
in-thirty | in thirty | 2 |
H7970-05 |
ה/שלושים | hshlvshym | HTd/Acbpa |
of the thirty | the thirty | 2 |
H7970-01 |
בַּ/שְּׁלֹשִׁ֑ים | basheloshim | HRd/Acbpa |
among the thirty | in the thirty | 2 |
H7970-02 |
בִּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים | bisheloshim | HR/Acbpa |
in-thirty | in thirty | 1 |
H7970-03 |
הַ/שָּׁלִישִׁים֒ | hashalishim | HTd/Acbpa |
the captains | the thirty | 1 |
H7970-07 |
מֵ/הַ/שְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים | mehasheloshim | HR/Td/Acbpa |
of the thirty | from the thirty | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
175 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7970-08 |
Genesis 5:3 | שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים | sheloshim | HAcbpa |
thirty | thirty |
H7970-10 |
Genesis 5:5 | וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים | usheloshim | HC/Acbpa |
and thirty | and thirty |
H7970-08 |
Genesis 5:16 | שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים | sheloshim | HAcbpa |
thirty | thirty |
H7970-10 |
Genesis 6:15 | וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים | usheloshim | HC/Acbpa |
and thirty | and thirty |
H7970-10 |
Genesis 11:12 | וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים | usheloshim | HC/Acbpa |
thirty-five | and thirty |
H7970-08 |
Genesis 11:14 | שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים | sheloshim | HAcbpa |
thirty | thirty |
H7970-10 |
Genesis 11:16 | וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים | usheloshim | HC/Acbpa |
and thirty | and thirty |
H7970-08 |
Genesis 11:17 | שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים | sheloshim | HAcbpa |
thirty | thirty |
H7970-08 |
Genesis 11:18 | שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים | sheloshim | HAcbpa |
thirty | thirty |
H7970-10 |
Genesis 11:20 | וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים | usheloshim | HC/Acbpa |
and thirty | and thirty |