שֵׁן
𐤔𐤍
Shen
H8129 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym referring to a specific geographic location, most likely characterized by a rocky or craggy feature, such as a prominent tooth-like crag or rock outcrop. The term "Shen" in this context is used as a proper noun denoting a place that is marked by or associated with such a physical feature. Its use is distinct from the common noun meaning 'tooth.'
Semantic Range
place name (a crag, tooth-like rock, craggy site); see also: tooth (common noun)
Root / Etymology
From the root שֵׁן (shin-nun), which in its common noun form means 'tooth.' The toponym likely derives from a metaphorical use of the word, referencing a crag, sharp rock, or tooth-like formation in the landscape. The actual place name reflects the adoption of the common noun into a geographic designation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֵׁן occurs as a proper name only in 1 Samuel 7:12 as a toponym, in the phrase מִצְפָּה וְשֵׁן (Mizpah and Shen). The name likely describes a site marked by a conspicuous rock formation resembling a tooth. This is a single occurrence in biblical narrative, and thus its precise identification remains uncertain, though it is presumed to be near Mizpah in the region of Benjamin. Ancient translations often render the word literally ('tooth') rather than as a distinctive place name, leading sometimes to confusion in early versions. Its usage here in a toponymic context is distinct from its far more common use across biblical Hebrew as the noun 'tooth,' both in human and animal contexts. In later tradition and English translations, the place sometimes becomes obscured or conflated with the common noun, so that the nuance of the location's physical feature is sometimes lost. There are no clear examples of the term being used for ethnic or religious identity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as שֵׁן; crag; Shen, a place in Palestine; Shen.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁן (sh-n) — tooth, sharp projecting point
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8129-01 |
הַ/שֵּׁ֔ן | hashen | HTd/Np |
Shen | the Tooth-Crag | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8129-01 |
1 Samuel 7:12 | הַ/שֵּׁ֔ן | hashen | HTd/Np |
Shen | the Tooth-Crag |