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עֶשְׂרִים

𐤏𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌

ʻesrîym

H6242 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

The cardinal number 'twenty'; designates a set, group, or sum of twenty items, persons, or units. In the ordinal form, it means 'twentieth,' referring to position in a sequence. Used to indicate age, measurements, quantities, or groupings.

Semantic Range

twenty (cardinal), twentieth (ordinal), a group of twenty, quantity of twenty, age of twenty years

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root עשר ('to be ten'), with the plural masculine ending reflecting multiplication (ten times two). Thus, עֶשְׂרִים is formed as the plural of 'ten' to denote 'twenty.' This form shows standard Semitic numeral derivation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite texts, עֶשְׂרִים occurs primarily in lists, census data, genealogies, and in descriptions of measurements (such as lengths, ages, or quantities in offerings and ritual regulations). Its use is consistent throughout the Hebrew Bible, and the meaning is stable across periods. While older English translations may sometimes use 'score' for 'twenty,' this term is archaic and not present in the Hebrew. The word does not imply a group identity or abstract concept; it is strictly quantitative. Ordinal use (as 'twentieth') reflects standard numeration patterns. Distinct from related roots such as עֶשֶׂר ('ten'), עֶשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר ('twelve'), or שְׁלֹשִׁים ('thirty'). There is no shift in semantic domain between the monarchic, exilic, and post-exilic uses; the word consistently refers to the numeral twenty.

Translation Consistency

primary "twenty" 49 occurrences

This Hebrew lemma is primarily the cardinal number 'twenty' (307 of 315 occurrences). It naturally and accurately renders the typical usage for counts, ages, measurements, and groups. Although an ordinal 'twentieth' occurs occasionally, the overwhelming majority use the cardinal sense, so 'twenty' gives the most consistent, natural English rendering across all forms.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"twentieth" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

עשר (Asheterah) — to count as ten, to be ten, to form a group of ten

Root עשר to be ten, to count in tens
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4643 מַעֲשֵׂר the tenth-portion
H6218 עָשׂוֹר group of ten
H6223 עָשִׁיר wealthy man
H6224 עֲשִׂירִי tenth
H6235 עֶשֶׂר ten

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6242-02 עֶשְׂרִ֤ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty 204
H6242-06 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֖ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty 94
H6242-01 בְּ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים beeserim HR/Acbpa in twenty in twenty in twenty 11
H6242-03 הָ/עֶשְׂרִֽים haeserim HTd/Acbpa the twenty the twenty the twenty 3
H6242-04 כְּ/עֶשְׂרִ֣ים keeserim HR/Acbpa like twenty like twenty like twenty 2
H6242-05 לְ/עֶשְׂרִים֙ leeserim HR/Acbpa for the twentieth to twenty for the twentieth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

315 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6242-06 1 Kings 5:25 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-06 1 Kings 6:2 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֤ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 6:3 עֶשְׂרִ֣ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 6:16 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 6:20 עֶשְׂרִים֩ eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-06 1 Kings 6:20 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֧ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-06 1 Kings 6:20 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֤ים veeserim-2 HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 8:63 עֶשְׂרִ֤ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-06 1 Kings 8:63 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֖ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 9:10 עֶשְׂרִ֣ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 9:11 עֶשְׂרִ֣ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-06 1 Kings 9:14 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֖ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-06 1 Kings 9:28 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֖ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-06 1 Kings 10:10 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֣ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 14:20 עֶשְׂרִ֥ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 15:9 עֶשְׂרִ֔ים eserim HAcbpa twentieth twenty twentieth
H6242-02 1 Kings 15:33 עֶשְׂרִ֥ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 16:8 עֶשְׂרִ֤ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 16:10 עֶשְׂרִ֣ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 16:15 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 16:29 עֶשְׂרִ֥ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 1 Kings 20:30 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-06 1 Kings 22:42 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֤ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and-twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 4:42 עֶשְׂרִֽים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 8:26 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 10:36 עֶשְׂרִ֥ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 12:7 עֶשְׂרִ֧ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 13:1 עֶשְׂרִ֤ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 14:2 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-06 2 Kings 14:2 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֤ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and-twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 15:1 עֶשְׂרִ֤ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 15:27 עֶשְׂרִ֥ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 15:30 עֶשְׂרִ֔ים eserim HAcbpa twentieth twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 15:33 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 16:2 עֶשְׂרִ֤ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 18:2 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-06 2 Kings 18:2 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֤ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 21:19 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 23:31 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 23:36 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-02 2 Kings 24:18 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-01 2 Kings 25:27 בְּ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים beeserim HR/Acbpa on twenty in twenty in twenty
H6242-06 Jeremiah 25:3 וְ/עֶשְׂרִים֙ veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-02 Jeremiah 52:1 עֶשְׂרִ֨ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-06 Jeremiah 52:28 וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים veeserim HC/Acbpa and twenty and twenty and twenty
H6242-06 Jeremiah 52:30 וְ/עֶשְׂרִים֮ veeserim HC/Acbpa and-twentieth and twenty and twenty
H6242-01 Jeremiah 52:31 בְּ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים beeserim HR/Acbpa on-twenty in twenty in twenty
H6242-02 Ezekiel 4:10 עֶשְׂרִ֥ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
H6242-04 Ezekiel 8:16 כְּ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים keeserim HR/Acbpa about twenty like twenty like twenty
H6242-02 Ezekiel 11:1 עֶשְׂרִ֥ים eserim HAcbpa twenty twenty twenty
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