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שֵׁן

𐤔𐤍

shên

H8127 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שנן to sharpen, be pointed, make sharp

Definition

Tooth; the hard, calcified structure in the mouth of humans or animals used for biting and chewing. By extension, refers figuratively to anything resembling a tooth in form or function—in particular, projecting, sharp features such as the crag or peak of a rock formation, or, metonymically, ivory (material derived from tusks, often elephantine).

Semantic Range

tooth (literal), animal tusk, ivory (material), sharp point or edge, crag, cliff, prominent projection (esp. of rock), figurative for sharpness, forefront

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁנן (sh-n-n), meaning 'to sharpen' or 'to be pointed.' The word שֵׁן likely derives from this idea of sharpness or pointedness. Occasionally compared with שֶׁנְהַבִּים (shenhabim, 'ivory'), though the lexical relationship between the two is through the shared image of a tooth/tusk rather than direct etymological descent.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שֵׁן appears primarily with the literal sense of 'tooth,' whether human or animal, in narrative, legal, and poetic texts (e.g., Exod 21:24; Prov 30:14). In poetry and figurative language, it can denote sharp projections, particularly of rock or mountain (cf. 1 Sam 14:4, 'crag' or 'tooth' of a cliff), a metaphor for sharpness and danger. In rare cases, it also stands for 'ivory,' since ivory is derived from animal (usually elephant) tusks or teeth (e.g., 1 Kgs 10:18; Amos 3:15), sometimes with the phrase 'ivory houses.' English translations typically use 'tooth' for most occurrences, but for metonymic extensions like 'crag' or 'ivory,' the meaning is context-dependent. The figurative use to mean 'forefront' or 'sharp edge' occurs especially in poetic description. The semantic overlap with שֶׁנְהַבִּים (used more specifically for 'ivory') and related roots underscores the shared imagery of pointedness or sharpness. The primary sense remained consistent throughout the First Temple and later periods, though common use of 'ivory' as a luxury item emerges more during the monarchy.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁנַן; compare שֶׁנְהַבִּים; a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff; crag, [idiom] forefront, ivory, [idiom] sharp, tooth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שנן (sh-n-n) — to sharpen, be pointed, make sharp

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8128 שֵׁן her tooth
H8148 שְׁנִינָה sharpened taunt
H8150 שָׁנַן I sharpen myself

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8127-08 שֵׁ֖ן shen HNcbsa tooth tooth 18
H8127-12 שִׁנָּֽי/ו shinayv HNcbdc/Sp3ms his teeth his teeth 7
H8127-04 הַ/שֵּׁ֧ן hashen HTd/Ncbsa of ivory the tooth 4
H8127-20 וְ/שִׁנֵּ֥י veshiney HC/Ncbdc and the teeth of and teeth of 3
H8127-13 שִׁנֵּ֣י shiney HNcbdc teeth pair of teeth of 2
H8127-10 שִׁנַּ֨יִ/ךְ֙ shinayikhe HNcbdc/Sp2fs your teeth your two teeth 2
H8127-14 שִׁנֵּי/הֶ֔ם shineyhem HNcbdc/Sp3mp their teeth their teeth 2
H8127-09 שִׁנָּֽ/י shinay HNcbdc/Sp1cs my teeth my two teeth 2
H8127-11 שִׁנַּ֖יִם shinayim HNcbda teeth two teeth 2
H8127-18 וְ/שֶׁן veshen HC/Ncbsc and-rock and tooth of 2

Occurrences in Scripture

55 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8127-11 Genesis 49:12 שִׁנַּ֖יִם shinayim HNcbda than milk two teeth
H8127-08 Exodus 21:24 שֵׁ֖ן shen HNcbsa tooth tooth
H8127-08 Exodus 21:24 שֵׁ֑ן shen-2 HNcbsa tooth tooth
H8127-08 Exodus 21:27 שֵׁ֥ן shen HNcbsc tooth tooth
H8127-08 Exodus 21:27 שֵׁ֥ן shen-2 HNcbsc tooth tooth
H8127-16 Exodus 21:27 שִׁנּֽ/וֹ shino HNcbsc/Sp3ms his tooth his tooth
H8127-08 Leviticus 24:20 שֵׁ֖ן shen HNcbsa tooth tooth
H8127-08 Leviticus 24:20 שֵׁ֑ן shen-2 HNcbsa tooth tooth
H8127-14 Numbers 11:33 שִׁנֵּי/הֶ֔ם shineyhem HNcbdc/Sp3mp their teeth their teeth
H8127-08 Deuteronomy 19:21 שֵׁ֣ן shen HNcbsa tooth tooth
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