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תְּלָת

𐤕𐤋𐤕

tᵉlâth

H8532 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

The number three in Aramaic, both as a cardinal number ('three') and as a component in ordinal constructions ('third'). Used to specify quantity, sequence, or order. Its semantic field includes expressing numerical identity and ordering in lists or sequence.

Semantic Range

three (the numeral), third (in order), third part, third time, three times, third year

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Aramaic root תלת, corresponding to the Hebrew root שלש (sh-l-sh, 'three'). The form תְּלָת is the masculine absolute form; the emphatic form is תְּלָתָא and the construct or absolute status for feminine is תְּלָת (with different vowel pointing). The root fundamentally relates to 'three' or the act/state of being third in a series.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Used in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Ezra, Daniel), תְּלָת functions equivalently to Hebrew שָׁלוֹשׁ. In biblical Aramaic, numerical references using תְּלָת can apply to both objects and people, or to express duration or sequence (e.g., 'third year'). Its use reflects the general Northwest Semitic pattern of number formation. Unlike in later periods where the word could develop additional numerological or symbolic meaning, in the biblical corpus, its use is strictly numerical and does not appear to reflect later rabbinic interpretations associated with three. Ordinal forms are typically created by combining with other terms or affixing pronouns, as in 'third part' or 'third day.'

Translation Consistency

primary "three" 10 occurrences

The primary and overwhelmingly attested sense is the cardinal number three (10 of 11 occurrences). The ordinal 'third' is a derived use; choosing the cardinal 'three' best captures the typical meaning and allows natural English rendering (with context producing 'third' when required). This keeps consistency and natural wording across all forms.

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

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) masculine תְּלָתָה; (Aramaic), or תְּלָתָא; (Aramaic), corresponding to שָׁלוֹשׁ; three or third; third, three.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

תלת (tᵉlîythay) — to be three, to be third, third in order

Root תלת to be three, to be third, to divide in three
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8523 תְּלִיתַי third
H8531 תְּלַת third
H8533 תְּלָתִין thirty

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8532-02 תְּלָתָ֜א telata AAcmsa three three three 3
H8532-03 תְּלָתָ֨ה telatah AAcbsa three three three 3
H8532-05 וּ/תְלָ֥ת utelat AC/Acbsa and three and three and three 2
H8532-01 תְּלָ֑ת telat AAcbsa three three three 1
H8532-04 תְּלָ֣תֵּ/ה֔וֹן telatehon AAcmsc/Sp3mp three-of-them three of them three of them 1
H8532-06 וּ/תְלָתָ֥ה utelatah AC/Acbsa and-three and three and three 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8532-04 Daniel 3:23 תְּלָ֣תֵּ/ה֔וֹן telatehon AAcmsc/Sp3mp three-of-them three of them three of them
H8532-02 Daniel 3:24 תְּלָתָ֜א telata AAcmsa three three three
H8532-02 Daniel 6:3 תְּלָתָ֔א telata AAcmsa three three three
H8532-03 Daniel 6:11 תְּלָתָ֨ה telatah AAcbsa three three three
H8532-03 Daniel 6:14 תְּלָתָה֙ telatah AAcbsa three three three
H8532-05 Daniel 7:5 וּ/תְלָ֥ת utelat AC/Acbsa and three and three and three
H8532-05 Daniel 7:8 וּ/תְלָ֗ת utelat AC/Acbsa and-three and three and three
H8532-01 Daniel 7:20 תְּלָ֑ת telat AAcbsa three three three
H8532-06 Daniel 7:24 וּ/תְלָתָ֥ה utelatah AC/Acbsa and-three and three and three
H8532-02 Ezra 6:4 תְּלָתָ֔א telata AAcbsa three three three
H8532-03 Ezra 6:15 תְּלָתָ֖ה telatah AAobsa third three third
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