הַ/שָּֽׁמֶשׁ

𐤄/𐤔𐤌𐤔

hashamesh

of the sun

from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement; [phrase] east side(-ward), sun (rising), [phrase] west(-ward), window. See also בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ.

H8121

Numbers 21:11 · Word #12

Lexicon H8121

Lemmaשֶׁמֶשׁ
Lemma (Paleo)𐤔𐤌𐤔
Transliterationshemesh
Strong'sH8121
In-contextof the sun

Morphology HTd/Ncbsa All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Subtype c — Common — Common noun
Gender b — Both — Both (masculine and feminine)
Number s — Singular — Singular
State a — Absolute — The noun stands independently

SIBI-P1 H8121-02

the Brilliant Sun

Rootשמש (š-m-š)
Core Meaningsbrilliance, radiance, shining, solar light
Semantic Rangethe physical sun; sunlight; east (direction of sunrise); west (by extension of solar movement); a ray of light; architectural projection (battlement); window (as source of light)
Conceptual SignificanceThe sun in the Hebrew Bible signifies created brilliance and ordered time (days, seasons), serving as a marker of divine governance over creation. While surrounding cultures deified the sun, Israel’s Scriptures consistently present it as a created luminary under YHWH’s authority, embodying sustained radiance rather than divinity itself.
Morphological NotesDefinite article (הַ) + noun common gender singular absolute (Ncbsa). The noun שֶׁמֶשׁ is grammatically common gender and singular in this form.
Rendering RationaleThe noun שֶׁמֶשׁ derives from a root conveying brilliance and shining. The form includes the definite article (הַ) and is a common singular absolute noun, so it is rendered as a definite singular: "the Brilliant Sun," preserving both the root sense of radiance and the grammatical definiteness and number.

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root שמש (brilliance, radiance, shining, solar light)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
H8121-01 bashemesh in the blazing sun
H8121-03 hashemesh the Brilliant Sun
H1030-01 hashimeshi the Sun-House man
H8121-04 khashemesh like the radiant sun
H8121-05 lashamesh to the shining sun
H8121-06 lashemesh to the brilliant sun
H8123-01 leshimeshon for the Sun-like one
H8121-07 shamesh radiant sun
H8121-08 shemesh shining sun
H8121-09 shimeshah her shining sun
H8121-10 shimeshekhe your shining sun (addressed to a woman)
H8123-02 shimeshon Sun-Man
H8121-11 shimeshotayikhe your suns
H8121-12 vashamesh and radiant sun
H8121-13 vehashemesh and the radiant sun
H8121-14 velashemesh and to the radiant sun
H8124-01 veshimeshay and Shimshai (the Sun-like one)

Word Usage (134 occurrences of H8121)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
Genesis 15:12 הַ/שֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ hashemesh the sun
Genesis 15:17 הַ/שֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ hashemesh the sun
Genesis 19:23 הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ hashemesh the sun