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שְׁנָה

𐤔𐤍𐤄

shᵉnâh

H8140 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A year; a unit of time corresponding to the cycle of one revolution of seasons (solar year) as understood in ancient Israelite and broader West Semitic calendrical systems. In Aramaic biblical texts, שְׁנָה refers specifically to a single calendrical year. The term may denote a complete cycle of months and is used primarily for marking the passage of time in historical, chronological, administrative, or liturgical contexts.

Semantic Range

year (calendar year), annual period, passage of a year

Root / Etymology

Root: שׁנה. The Hebrew root שׁנה (to change, repeat, do again) underlies both Hebrew שָׁנָה (shanah) and Aramaic שְׁנָה, derived via the notion of repetition or periodic return (i.e., the recurring cycle of the year). The Aramaic spelling and vocalization reflect dialectal forms typical of Imperial and Biblical Aramaic.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical contexts, שְׁנָה is the standard Aramaic term for 'year,' functionally parallel to Hebrew שָׁנָה but appearing only in Aramaic passages of Daniel and Ezra. Its use indicates the broader influence of Aramaic as an administrative and diplomatic language during the Persian period. The concept of 'year' is closely linked to agricultural and cultic cycles; the word is often used for dating events in official documents, royal decrees, and narrative chronologies. Hebrew and Aramaic terms are closely related, yet the Aramaic נ rather than final ה in vocalization highlights a key dialectal marker. English translations consistently render the term as 'year,' which accurately captures the core temporal concept but does not reflect the original calendar computations or socio-political implications of timekeeping in Persian-era Yehud.

Translation Consistency

primary "year" 7 occurrences

שְׁנָה consistently denotes a calendrical/annual period in Hebrew and Aramaic. 'Year' is the natural, common English equivalent that fits historical, chronological, administrative, and liturgical contexts and can be inflected as needed (years, year’s).

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁנֶה; {a year (as a revolution of time)}; year.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

שׁנה (mishneh) — to repeat, do again

Root שׁנה to change, repeat, do again
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4932 מִשְׁנֶה in the second
H8132 שָׁנָא and he altered
H8133 שְׁנָא he changed himself
H8145 שֵׁנִי in the second

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8140-01 בִּ/שְׁנַ֣ת bishenat AR/Ncfsc In (the) year in year-of in the year of 3
H8140-02 שְׁנַ֣ת shenat ANcfsc year year-of year of 2
H8140-03 שְׁנִ֖ין shenin ANcfpa years repeating years years 2

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8140-03 Daniel 6:1 שְׁנִ֖ין shenin ANcfpa years repeating years years
H8140-01 Daniel 7:1 בִּ/שְׁנַ֣ת bishenat AR/Ncfsc In the year in year-of in the year of
H8140-02 Ezra 4:24 שְׁנַ֣ת shenat ANcfsc year year-of year of
H8140-03 Ezra 5:11 שְׁנִ֣ין shenin ANcfpa years repeating years years
H8140-01 Ezra 5:13 בִּ/שְׁנַ֣ת bishenat AR/Ncfsc in the year of in year-of in the year of
H8140-01 Ezra 6:3 בִּ/שְׁנַ֨ת bishenat AR/Ncfsc In (the) year in year-of in the year of
H8140-02 Ezra 6:15 שְׁנַת shenat ANcfsc year year-of year of
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