שְׁמִינִי, H8066
eighth — the ordinal number eight, marking liturgical days, calendar months, and priestly divisions
Shemini is the ordinal adjective 'eighth,' appearing 28 times across ritual, calendrical, and organizational contexts. Its most theologically charged use is the phrase 'on the eighth day' (bayyom hashshemini), which marks the boundary between a period of ritual waiting and the beginning of new status. Circumcision falls on the eighth day (Lev 12:3), and the consecration of the priests culminated on the eighth day when fire from the LORD consumed the offering (Lev 9:1). Purification rituals for skin disease and bodily discharges likewise reach resolution on the eighth day (Lev 14:10, 23; 15:14, 29; Num 6:10). The Feast of Tabernacles concludes with a solemn assembly 'on the eighth day' (Lev 23:36, 39; Num 29:35; Neh 8:18; 2 Chr 7:9). Calendrically, 'the eighth month' appears in 1 Kings 6:38 and Zechariah 1:1. In the priestly roster of 1 Chronicles 24-25, the eighth lot falls to particular divisions. The Psalm superscriptions 'al-hasheminit' (Pss 6:1; 12:1) remain enigmatic — perhaps referring to an eight-stringed instrument or an octave mode.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The ordinal 'eighth,' used predominantly in the ritual formula 'on the eighth day' to mark the completion of purification periods and consecration rites. Governs the timing of circumcision (Lev 12:3), the climax of priestly ordination when divine fire appeared (Lev 9:1), the final step in purification from skin disease (Lev 14:10, 23), and the closing assembly of the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:36; Num 29:35; 2 Chr 7:9). Also designates the eighth month (1 Kgs 6:38; Zech 1:1), priestly course assignments (1 Chr 24:10; 25:15), and the mysterious musical term 'al-hasheminit' in Psalm titles (Pss 6:1; 12:1). 28×
AR["-الثَّامِنِ", "ال-ثَّامِنِ", "الثَّامِن", "الثَّامِنَةَ", "الثَّامِنَةُ", "الثَّامِنِ", "الثّامِنِ", "الـ-ثَّامِنُ", "الـ-ثَّامِنِ", "الْـثَّامِنِ"]·ben["-অষ্টম", "অষ্টম", "অষ্টম,", "সেই-অষ্টম", "হা-শেমিনি"]·DE["der-Achte", "der-achter"]·EN["the-eighth"]·FR["der-huitième", "le-huitième"]·heb["ה-שמיני", "ה-שמינת", "הַ-שְּׁמִינִי"]·HI["-आठवीं", "आठवाँ", "आठवें"]·ID["kedelapan", "yang-kedelapan"]·IT["il-ottavo"]·jav["ingkang-kaping-wolu", "ingkang-kaping-wolung", "kaping-wolu", "kawolu"]·KO["그-여덟째", "그-여덟째에", "그-여덟째의", "여덟째", "여덟째의"]·PT["a-oitava", "o-oitavo", "oitavo"]·RU["восьмого", "восьмой", "восьмом"]·ES["el-octavo", "la-octava", "octavo"]·SW["Hshmini", "ilikamilishwa", "nane", "wa-nane", "ya-nane"]·TR["-sekizinci", "sekizinci", "sekizincisi"]·urd["-آٹھویں", "آٹھواں", "آٹھواں-", "آٹھویں", "ال-آٹھویں", "اُس"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
שְׁמִינִי, ית —ִ31 adj.num. eighth;—בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי Ex 22:29 + 16 times; הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשּׁ׳ 1 K 6:38 + 4 times; n.m. om. 1 Ch 24:10 + 4 times; הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִנִת Lv 25:22; elsewhere only phr., עַל־הַשְּׁמִינִית 1 Ch 15:21, and titles ψ 6:1; 12:1, usually acc. to the eighth key, or on the octave, but wholly dubious.