H8337 H8337
Six -- the cardinal number, used independently and as the base in compounds like sixteen and six hundred.
Shesh (masculine) and shisha (feminine) denote the cardinal number six, appearing across legal, narrative, and ritual texts. Six days of labor before the Sabbath rest (Exod 20:9) is among its most theologically resonant uses, establishing the rhythm of work and worship at the heart of Israelite life. It also appears in measurements (six cubits, 1 Sam 17:4 for Goliath's height), genealogies, and compound numerals. Spanish 'seis,' French 'six,' and German 'sechs' all translate it uniformly, reflecting its straightforward numerical function without semantic variation across contexts.
Senses
1. six (cardinal number) — The cardinal number six, appearing in masculine (shesh) and feminine (shisha) forms across absolute and construct states. Functions independently ('six days,' Exod 20:9; 'six cubits,' 1 Sam 17:4) and as a base component in compound numerals (sixteen, sixty, six hundred). Its most prominent theological context is the six days of creation and labor preceding Sabbath rest (Gen 1; Exod 23:12). All target languages render it with a single numeral equivalent -- Spanish 'seis,' French 'six,' German 'sechs' -- confirming one unified sense. 215×
AR["سِتَّ", "سِتَّةً", "سِتَّةٌ", "سِتَّةَ", "سِتَّةُ"]·ben["ছয়", "ছয়টি", "ছিয়াত্তর"]·DE["sechs"]·EN["six"]·FR["six"]·heb["שישה", "שש", "ששה", "ששת"]·HI["छः", "छत्तीस", "छह", "छिहत्तर"]·ID["Enam", "enam", "tiga-puluh", "tujuh-puluh"]·IT["sei"]·jav["Enem", "Nem", "enem", "nem", "nènem"]·KO["여섯", "여섯의", "육백"]·PT["Seis", "seis", "seis-de", "¶ Seis"]·RU["Шесть", "шесть"]·ES["Seis", "seis", "seis-de-"]·SW["Siku-sita", "mia-sita", "miaka-sita", "siku-sita", "sita"]·TR["altı", "otuz", "yetmiş"]·urd["چھ", "چھتّیس", "چھہ", "چھیالیس", "چھیہتّر"]
Gen 30:20, Exod 16:26, Exod 20:9, Exod 21:2, Exod 26:9, Exod 26:22, Exod 28:10, Exod 36:27, Num 1:21, Num 2:11, Num 3:34, Num 26:22 (+38 more)
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×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)H7970 1. thirty (cardinal number) (168×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה, n.m. et f.six;—m. שֵׁשׁ (c. n.f.) Gn 31:41 + 120 times; f. שִׁשָּׁה (c. n.m.) 30:20 + 39 times; cstr. שֵׁ֫שֶׁת Ex 23:12 + 30 times (6 + 10 = 16 are additional);—six (Hex chiefly P): 1. no other num.: a. bef. n.pl. 75 times: e.g. שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים Ex 21:2 (E) + 11 times, שֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת 1 S 17:4 + 8 times; שֵׁשׁ בָּאַמָּה †1 K 6:6; שִׁשָּׁה בָּנִים Gn 30:20 (E) + 2 times; שֵׁשֶׁת…