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תֵּשַׁע

𐤕𐤔𐤏

têshaʻ

H8672 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to count nine, to be the ninth

Definition

A cardinal number meaning 'nine,' used to denote the quantity or count of nine in objects, persons, or time divisions. It can also function as an ordinal, 'ninth,' particularly when combined with other elements in enumerations. The term appears for both masculine (תִּשְׁעָה) and feminine (תֵּשַׁע) grammatical forms, matching the gender of the noun it modifies. Semantic range includes the number nine, the ninth position in order, and, in combinations (e.g., nineteen), as the second digit.

Semantic Range

nine (cardinal number), ninth (ordinal), ninefold, in combination (e.g. nineteen)

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. Sometimes associated with the root שָׁעָה (to turn, look), from the potential idea of turning towards the next or 'ten,' but this connection is speculative and generally not regarded as linguistically sound in current scholarship. The word is part of the inherited Northwest Semitic numeral system, with cognates in other ancient Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

תֵּשַׁע is the common feminine form, used with feminine nouns, while תִּשְׁעָה is the masculine form, used with masculine nouns—demonstrating the gender agreement common in Hebrew numerals. Used for both counting and sequencing (as in 'ninth month' or 'ninth day'), the word is ordinary in numeric contexts and does not carry special theological or symbolic meaning beyond numeration in biblical texts. In post-exilic and later periods, the form persists without significant semantic shift. English translations frequently obscure the gender distinction because English numerals are not gendered. Archeologically and linguistically, the form demonstrates continuity with other cognate Semitic languages (e.g., Ugaritic tṯ‘, Akkadian tešû).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (masculine) תִּשְׁעָה; perhaps from שָׁעָה through the idea of a turn to the next or full number ten; nine or (ordinal) ninth; nine ([phrase] -teen, [phrase] -teenth, -th).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תשע (t-š-ʿ) — nine, ninth

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8671 תְּשִׁיעִי the ninth
H8673 תִּשְׁעִים ninety

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8672-04 תְּשַׁ֤ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine 25
H8672-07 וָ/תֵ֖שַׁע vatesha HC/Acfsa and-nine and nine 9
H8672-05 תִּשְׁעָ֧ה tisheah HAcmsa nine nine 8
H8672-06 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine 5
H8672-01 בְּ/תִשְׁעָ֤ה betisheah HR/Acmsa on the ninth in nine 4
H8672-03 לְ/תִשְׁעַ֥ת letisheat HR/Acmsc to nine of nine 3
H8672-08 וְ/תֵ֣שַׁע vetesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine 2
H8672-02 לְ/תִשְׁעָ֤ה letisheah HR/Acmsa to the ninth to nine 1
H8672-09 וְ/תִשְׁעָֽה vetisheah HC/Acmsa and nine and nine 1

Occurrences in Scripture

58 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8672-04 Genesis 5:5 תְּשַׁ֤ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:8 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:11 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:14 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:20 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine
H8672-04 Genesis 5:27 תֵּ֤שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:27 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine
H8672-04 Genesis 9:29 תְּשַׁ֤ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine
H8672-04 Genesis 11:19 תֵּ֥שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine
H8672-04 Genesis 11:24 תֵּ֥שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine
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