נָשִׁין
𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤍
nâshîyn
H5389 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Women, the plural form designating female human beings, particularly in distinction from men (אֱנָשׁ) or males within a human context. Used to refer collectively to adult females, without specialized emphasis on age or marital status unless determined by context. The term functions as the Aramaic feminine plural counterpart to 'men,' highlighting gender distinction.
Semantic Range
women (adult females), members of the female gender among humans; occasionally, generic plural for women in a given context
Root / Etymology
From the Aramaic root אנש (compare Hebrew root אנש), meaning 'human, person.' נָשִׁין is the feminine plural form corresponding to אֱנָשׁ ('man, person, human'). It derives specifically from a morphological pattern used in Aramaic for feminine plurals, distinct from the standard Hebrew pattern.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נָשִׁין appears in the Aramaic sections of the biblical text (notably Daniel), directly paralleling the function of Hebrew נָשִׁים (nashim, 'women'). Its usage gives insight into gender distinctions in Aramaic-speaking communities of the post-exilic period. While the underlying root אנש ('to be weak, mortal, human') in Hebrew gives rise to terms for humankind in general, here the feminine plural is exclusively used for women. English translations typically render נָשִׁין as 'women,' capturing the general sense, although the biblical text often uses it with reference to women present at royal banquets or gatherings in courtly Aramaic settings. The irregular plural form (using -ין rather than the standard Hebrew -ים or -ות) reflects its Aramaic linguistic environment. No theological or cultic connotations are inherent in the term. In later Jewish Aramaic, similar forms are found with consistent meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) irregular plural feminine of אֱנָשׁ; {a man}; women.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
אנש (ʾ-n-š) — to be mortal, to be human
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5389-01 |
וּ/נְשֵׁי/ה֑וֹן | unesheyhon | AC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp |
and their wives | and their women | and their women | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5389-01 |
Daniel 6:25 | וּ/נְשֵׁי/ה֑וֹן | unesheyhon | AC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp |
and their wives | and their women | and their women |