apparently masculine plural construction of עֶשֶׁת in the sense of an afterthought (used only in connection with עָשָׂר in lieu of אֶחָד); eleven or (ordinal) eleventh; [phrase] eleven(-th).
Transliteration:ʻashtêy
Pronunciation:ash-tay'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H6249 (עַשְׁתֵּי, *ʻashtêy*) is a unique numerical designator, exclusively employed in the formation of the numbers "eleven" and "eleventh." Its base definition suggests a masculine plural construct form of H6250 (עֶשֶׁת, *ʻesheth*), which signifies "one" or "unit." However, the critical semantic nuance lies in its combination with H6235 (עָשָׂר, *ʻasâr*), meaning "ten." Unlike a simple compound of "one" and "ten" (which would typically use H259 (אֶחָד, *ʼeḥāḏ*) for "one"), עַשְׁתֵּי conveys a sense of an "afterthought" or "addition" to a complete unit of ten. This grammatical construction (עַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר for eleven) implies "one unit added to ten," rather than a direct amalgamation. Thus, its core meaning is precisely "eleven" or "eleventh," but its etymological roots hint at a process of accumulation beyond a foundational set of ten.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H6249 appears consistently throughout the Old Testament wherever the number "eleven" or "eleventh" is required, serving primarily as a precise numerical descriptor. Its usage is consistently literal, indicating quantity, duration, or sequence.
* **Enumeration of People/Objects:**
* In the narrative of Joseph, his dream depicts "eleven stars" bowing down to him, representing his brothers [[Genesis 37:9]]. Similarly, in a subsequent dream, "eleven sheaves" bow to his sheaf [[Genesis 37:7]]. These instances highlight the numerical count of his siblings.
* The construction of the Tabernacle specifies "eleven curtains of goat hair" for the tent [[Exodus 26:7]], and "eleven loops" for their connection [[Exodus 26:10]]. This demonstrates the meticulous detail and precise measurements commanded by God for sacred structures.
* The enumeration of tribal leaders often reaches eleven before the inclusion of Levi or a different configuration, as seen in the list of tribal leaders in Numbers, though the specific count varies by context [[Numbers 7:72]].
* **Designation of Time:**
* The journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea is described as "eleven days" [[Deuteronomy 1:2]]. This provides a concrete measure of elapsed time in a significant historical journey.
* The reigns of King Jehoiakim [[2 Kings 23:36]] and King Zedekiah [[2 Kings 24:18]], both kings of Judah, are recorded as lasting "eleven years." This marks a specific duration for their rule, often preceding significant national upheaval or exile.
* The eleventh month (Shebat) is mentioned in Zechariah's vision [[Zechariah 1:7]], grounding prophetic revelation within a specific temporal framework.
* **Geographical/Spatial Contexts:**
* In the division of the land, the eleventh lot fell to the tribe of Gad [[Joshua 19:14]], indicating precise administrative and territorial assignments.
* Ezekiel's vision of the new temple includes various dimensions, such as "eleven cubits" for specific architectural elements [[Ezekiel 40:11]]. This again underscores divine precision in design.
Across these occurrences, H6249 consistently functions as a marker of exact quantity or chronological point, underscoring the ordered nature of God's dealings with His creation and His people.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is H6235 (עָשָׂר, *ʻasâr*), which means "ten." H6249 (עַשְׁתֵּי) never appears independently but always in conjunction with עָשָׂר to form "eleven" (עַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר). This grammatical pairing is crucial for understanding its function.
Another closely related term is H6250 (עֶשֶׁת, *ʻesheth*), which is the root from which עַשְׁתֵּי is grammatically derived. While עֶשֶׁת itself means "one" or "unit" (often referring to a single piece or unit of something, e.g., gold), its plural construct form in עַשְׁתֵּי is unique to the formation of "eleven." This contrasts with the more common Hebrew word for "one," H259 (אֶחָד, *ʼeḥāḏ*), which is used in other numerical compounds (e.g., אֶחָד וְעֶשְׂרִים for twenty-one). The choice of עַשְׁתֵּי instead of אֶחָד in "eleven" highlights its unique grammatical and semantic contribution as an "addition" or "afterthought" to ten.
The concept of numbers in biblical thought is also relevant. While numbers like 7 (completeness, perfection), 10 (completeness, divine order), and 12 (governmental perfection, tribal representation) carry profound symbolic weight, 11 (formed by H6249) is less frequently imbued with explicit theological symbolism. However, its position as "one beyond ten" or "one short of twelve" often places it in contexts of transition, incompleteness before a new cycle, or a specific stage within a larger sequence.
### Theological Significance
While H6249 primarily serves a quantitative function, its recurring presence in biblical texts subtly contributes to a broader theological understanding. The precise enumeration of "eleven" in various contexts—whether for Tabernacle dimensions, years of a king's reign, or the number of Joseph's brothers—underscores the meticulous order and divine precision evident in God's creation, His covenant dealings, and His providential oversight of human history. God is not a God of chaos, but of exactitude, and even seemingly mundane numerical details reflect His sovereign design.
The unique grammatical construction of עַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר as "one added to ten" rather than a simple compound of "one" and "ten" can be seen as a subtle linguistic echo of God's ability to add, to expand, and to bring about specific outcomes beyond a complete unit. It highlights that even what might seem like an "afterthought" in human language is part of God's perfect plan and precise accounting.
In contexts where 11 appears, it often marks a point of transition or a state just before a significant completion (e.g., 11 tribes before the full 12, 11 years of a king's reign before judgment or exile). This can implicitly convey a sense of anticipation, a stage of development, or a specific period leading to a subsequent, often more definitive, event. It speaks to the linear progression of God's redemptive plan and the precise timing of His interventions.
### Summary
H6249 (עַשְׁתֵּי, *ʻashtêy*) is the unique Hebrew term used in conjunction with H6235 (עָשָׂר, *ʻasâr*) to denote the number "eleven" or "eleventh." Its grammatical construction, derived from H6250 (עֶשֶׁת, *ʻesheth*), suggests "one added to ten," conveying a sense of increment beyond a complete decimal unit. Biblically, it functions primarily as a precise numerical descriptor, appearing in diverse contexts to enumerate people, objects, time periods, and spatial dimensions, thereby highlighting God's meticulous order and exactitude in all His dealings. While not bearing profound symbolic weight like other biblical numbers, its consistent usage underscores the divine precision in creation, covenant, and historical events. Theologically, it contributes to the understanding of God as a God of order, whose plans unfold with precise timing and whose attention extends to every detail, even those seemingly "added" to a completed set. It often marks a point of transition or a specific stage within a larger divine sequence.
TRV