שְׁמֹנֶה
𐤔𐤌𐤍𐤄
shᵉmôneh
H8083 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
שְׁמֹנֶה (shᵉmôneh) is the cardinal number 'eight' in Biblical Hebrew. It is used to denote the quantity eight in counting, measuring, or identifying the number of items or people. The term also has a feminine form, שְׁמֹנָה. As an ordinal, the derived form (שְׁמִינִי) means 'eighth.' The semantic range of שְׁמֹנֶה is largely numerical but may include legal, ritual, or calendrical uses where the sequence or identity of 'the eighth' is significant in Israelite texts.
Semantic Range
eight (cardinal number), eighth (ordinal as derivative), group or set of eight, day eight (ritual/legal), eighth in sequence
Root / Etymology
From the Semitic root שמן, whose core meaning in the verbal sense relates to 'being fat, plump.' The connection between 'eight' (שְׁמֹנֶה) and 'fatness' may allude to the sense of excess or that which is 'over' or 'beyond' the norm (as seven was often regarded as a number of completeness in Israelite culture). However, the precise etymological pathway from שמן to שְׁמֹנֶה is debated, and some scholars consider the numerical meaning to be primary and opaque. Parallel forms are found in other Semitic languages (e.g., Akkadian samānu, Ugaritic tmny), indicating this is a longstanding numerical term.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical Hebrew, שְׁמֹנֶה serves simply as the cardinal number eight, with no inherent symbolic meaning unless the context assigns one. Its use is widespread in legal, ritual, genealogical, and narrative settings; for example, in the description of sacrificial procedures (the 'eighth day'), age at circumcision, or as an identifier in lists and sequences. In later Hebrew literature, as well as in Greek and Latin translations, the number eight continued to function numerically, and only occasionally was given symbolic or theological significance. English translations always render שְׁמֹנֶה as 'eight,' although some contexts (notably ordinal or calendrical) may need clarification in translation notes.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שְׁמוֹנֶה; feminine שְׁמֹנָה; or שְׁמוֹנָה; apparently from שָׁמֵן through the idea of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth; eight(-een, -eenth), eighth.
Bantu Hebrew
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שמן (š-m-n) — to be fat, to be plump, to grow fat
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4924 | מַשְׁמָן | in his fat abundances |
| H8066 | שְׁמִינִי | the eighth |
| H8080 | שָׁמַן | the rich oil |
| H8081 | שֶׁמֶן | in the oil |
| H8082 | שָׁמֵן | the stout one |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8083-06 |
שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | shemoneh | HAcfsa |
eight | eight | 32 |
H8083-07 |
וּ/שְׁמֹנָ֖ה | ushemonah | HC/Acmsa |
and eight | and eight | 22 |
H8083-09 |
וּ/שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | ushemoneh | HC/Acfsa |
and eight | eight | 20 |
H8083-04 |
שְׁמֹנָ֤ה | shemonah | HAcmsa |
eight | eight | 19 |
H8083-05 |
שְׁמֹנַ֣ת | shemonat | HAcmsc |
eight | eight-of | 6 |
H8083-02 |
בִּ/שְׁמֹנֶ֤ה | bishemoneh | HR/Acfsa |
in the eighth | in eight | 4 |
H8083-03 |
לִ/שְׁמוֹנָ֑ה | lishemonah | HR/Acmsa |
to eight | to eight | 2 |
H8083-08 |
וּ/שְׁמֹֽנַת | ushemonat | HC/Acmsc |
and eight | and eight-of | 2 |
H8083-10 |
וּ/בִ/שְׁמוֹנֶ֨ה | uvishemoneh | HC/R/Acfsa |
and-in-eight | and in eight | 1 |
H8083-01 |
בִּ/שְׁמֹנָ֣ה | bishemonah | HR/Acmsa |
with eight | in eight | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
109 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8083-06 |
Genesis 5:4 | שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | shemoneh | HAcfsa |
eight | eight |
H8083-09 |
Genesis 5:7 | וּ/שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | ushemoneh | HC/Acfsa |
and eight | eight |
H8083-09 |
Genesis 5:10 | וּ/שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | ushemoneh | HC/Acfsa |
and eight | eight |
H8083-09 |
Genesis 5:13 | וּ/שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | ushemoneh | HC/Acfsa |
and eight | eight |
H8083-09 |
Genesis 5:16 | וּ/שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | ushemoneh | HC/Acfsa |
and eight | eight |
H8083-09 |
Genesis 5:17 | וּ/שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | ushemoneh | HC/Acfsa |
and eight | eight |
H8083-06 |
Genesis 5:19 | שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה | shemoneh | HAcfsa |
eight | eight |
H8083-04 |
Genesis 14:14 | שְׁמֹנָ֤ה | shemonah | HAcmsa |
three | eight |
H8083-05 |
Genesis 17:12 | שְׁמֹנַ֣ת | shemonat | HAcmsc |
eight | eight-of |
H8083-05 |
Genesis 21:4 | שְׁמֹנַ֖ת | shemonat | HAcmsc |
eight | eight-of |