masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shêsh**, represented by `{{H8337}}`, is the primitive number for **six**. It appears 215 times in 203 unique verses, serving as a fundamental numeral for counting, measuring, and marking time. Its definition suggests it is an overplus beyond the five fingers of a hand, and it can also be used as the ordinal **sixth**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8337}}` is central to the concept of time and divine order. The pattern of creation is defined by **six** days of work followed by a day of rest [[Exodus 20:11]]. This rhythm is reflected in the law, where a Hebrew servant is to serve for **six** years before being set free in the seventh [[Exodus 21:2]]. The number is also used to quantify immense groups, such as the **six** hundred thousand men who journeyed out of Egypt [[Exodus 12:37]], and to describe divine beings, like the seraphim who each had **six** wings [[Isaiah 6:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help contextualize the meaning and use of **six**:
* `{{H7637}}` **shᵉbîyʻîy** (seventh): This ordinal number is the direct counterpart to **six** in the foundational rhythm of work and rest. Scripture repeatedly establishes this pattern: "in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the **seventh** day he rested" [[Exodus 31:17]].
* `{{H7651}}` **shebaʻ** (seven): As a cardinal number, it often follows **six** in poetic structures to signify escalation or completeness. This is seen in lists of moral or spiritual principles, such as, "These **six** things doth the LORD hate: yea, **seven** are an abomination unto him" [[Proverbs 6:16]].
* `{{H505}}` **'eleph** (thousand): This term is frequently combined with **shêsh** to denote very large quantities of people, resources, or wealth. For example, Job's restored fortune included **six thousand** camels [[Job 42:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8337}}` is significant, often establishing patterns of work, trial, and incompleteness.
* **The Rhythm of Work and Rest:** The command "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work" [[Exodus 20:9]] sets a divine precedent for human activity, defining the workweek in imitation of God's work in creation.
* **A Number of Incompleteness:** By consistently preceding the number seven (a number of divine completion), **six** often represents a period of trial or a state that is not yet final. A person is delivered in **six** troubles, but the seventh represents a state of complete safety [[Job 5:19]].
* **Cycles of Law and Servitude:** The law dictating a **six**-year term of service for a Hebrew servant establishes a framework of labor that leads to a promised, legally mandated release, tying the number to concepts of justice and redemption [[Exodus 21:2]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8337}}` is far more than a simple digit. It is a cornerstone of biblical timekeeping, law, and poetic structure. It defines the rhythm of work that precedes holy rest, quantifies both human armies and divine blessings, and often serves as a symbolic marker of the penultimate step before divine completion or deliverance. The use of **shêsh** illustrates how a number can frame our understanding of God's patterns for creation, justice, and redemption.
TRV