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תֵּשַׁע

𐤕𐤔𐤏

têshaʻ

H8672 adjective

SILEX Entry

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).

Translation Consistency

primary "nine" 47 occurrences

The dominant sense (50 of 58 occurrences) is the cardinal number 'nine.' This is the most natural, common English rendering; ordinal and compound senses (ninth, nineteen) are rarer and can be derived compositionally from the base cardinal. Using 'nine' ensures consistent, natural translation across masculine/feminine and combined forms.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"ninth" (2x) "nineteen" (1x)

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

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

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain to count nine, to be the ninth
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8672-04 תְּשַׁ֥ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine 25
H8672-07 וָ/תֵ֤שַׁע vatesha HC/Acfsa and-nine and nine and nine 9
H8672-05 תִּשְׁעָֽה tisheah HAcmsa nine nine nine 8
H8672-06 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine 5
H8672-01 בְּ/תִשְׁעָ֣ה betisheah HR/Acmsa on the ninth in nine in nine 4
H8672-03 לְ/תִשְׁעַ֣ת letisheat HR/Acmsc to nine of nine for nine 3
H8672-08 וְ/תֵ֣שַׁע vetesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine 2
H8672-02 לְ/תִשְׁעָ֤ה letisheah HR/Acmsa to the ninth to nine to nine 1
H8672-09 וְ/תִשְׁעָֽה vetisheah HC/Acmsa and nine and nine and nine 1

Occurrences in Scripture

58 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8672-04 Genesis 5:5 תְּשַׁ֤ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:8 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:11 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:14 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:20 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-04 Genesis 5:27 תֵּ֤שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-06 Genesis 5:27 וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע utesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-04 Genesis 9:29 תְּשַׁ֤ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Genesis 11:19 תֵּ֥שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Genesis 11:24 תֵּ֥שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Genesis 11:25 תְּשַֽׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-08 Genesis 17:1 וְ/תֵ֣שַׁע vetesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-07 Genesis 17:24 וָ/תֵ֖שַׁע vatesha HC/Acfsa nine and nine and nine
H8672-04 Exodus 38:24 תֵּ֤שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-01 Leviticus 23:32 בְּ/תִשְׁעָ֤ה betisheah HR/Acmsa on the ninth in nine in nine
H8672-04 Leviticus 25:8 תֵּ֥שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-05 Numbers 1:23 תִּשְׁעָ֧ה tisheah HAcmsa nine nine nine
H8672-05 Numbers 2:13 תִּשְׁעָ֧ה tisheah HAcmsa nine nine nine
H8672-05 Numbers 29:26 תִּשְׁעָ֖ה tisheah HAcmsa nine nine nine
H8672-03 Numbers 34:13 לְ/תִשְׁעַ֥ת letisheat HR/Acmsc to nine of nine for nine
H8672-04 Deuteronomy 3:11 תֵּ֧שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-03 Joshua 13:7 לְ/תִשְׁעַ֣ת letisheat HR/Acmsc to nine of nine for nine
H8672-03 Joshua 14:2 לְ/תִשְׁעַ֥ת letisheat HR/Acmsc for nine of nine for nine
H8672-07 Joshua 15:32 וָ/תֵ֖שַׁע vatesha HC/Acfsa nine and nine and nine
H8672-04 Joshua 15:44 תֵּ֖שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Joshua 15:54 תֵּ֖שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Joshua 19:38 תְּשַֽׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Joshua 21:16 תֵּ֔שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Judges 4:3 תְּשַׁ֨ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Judges 4:13 תְּשַׁ֤ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-05 2 Samuel 2:30 תִּשְׁעָֽה tisheah HAcmsa nine nine nine
H8672-05 2 Samuel 24:8 תִשְׁעָ֧ה tisheah HAcmsa nine nine nine
H8672-07 2 Kings 14:2 וָ/תֵ֨שַׁע֙ vatesha HC/Acfsa and-nine and nine and nine
H8672-07 2 Kings 15:13 וָ/תֵ֨שַׁע֙ vatesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-07 2 Kings 15:17 וָ/תֵ֨שַׁע֙ vatesha HC/Acfsa and-nine and nine and nine
H8672-04 2 Kings 17:1 תֵּ֥שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-07 2 Kings 18:2 וָ/תֵ֨שַׁע֙ vatesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-04 2 Kings 18:10 תֵּ֗שַׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-01 2 Kings 25:3 בְּ/תִשְׁעָ֣ה betisheah HR/Acmsa in/on the ninth in nine in nine
H8672-04 2 Kings 25:8 תְּשַֽׁע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-01 Jeremiah 39:2 בְּ/תִשְׁעָ֣ה betisheah HR/Acmsa on the ninth in nine on the ninth
H8672-01 Jeremiah 52:6 בְּ/תִשְׁעָ֣ה betisheah HR/Acmsa on the ninth in nine on the ninth
H8672-04 Jeremiah 52:12 תְּשַֽׁע tesha HAcfsa nineteen nine nineteen
H8672-05 Ezra 1:9 תִּשְׁעָ֥ה tisheah HAcmsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Ezra 2:8 תְּשַׁ֥ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Ezra 2:36 תְּשַׁ֥ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-09 Ezra 2:42 וְ/תִשְׁעָֽה vetisheah HC/Acmsa and nine and nine and nine
H8672-04 Nehemiah 7:38 תְּשַׁ֥ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-04 Nehemiah 7:39 תְּשַׁ֥ע tesha HAcfsa nine nine nine
H8672-08 Nehemiah 11:1 וְ/תֵ֥שַׁע vetesha HC/Acfsa and nine and nine and nine
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