### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shishshîy**, represented by `{{H8345}}`, is an ordinal number meaning **sixth** or, in a fractional sense, a **sixth (part)**. It is derived from the word for six, `{{H8337}}` **shêsh**. It appears 28 times across 26 unique verses in the Bible, playing a key role in marking time, sequence, and measure.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8345}}` is used in several significant contexts. Most notably, it marks the culmination of God's creative work on the **sixth** day, after which He saw that all He had made was very good [[Genesis 1:31]]. This day serves as a point of preparation for rest, a theme reinforced in Exodus, where the Israelites were commanded to gather a double portion of bread on the **sixth** day to prepare for the Sabbath [[Exodus 16:29]]. The term is also used to establish order in genealogies, identifying individuals like Jacob's **sixth** son [[Genesis 30:19]] and David's **sixth** son, Ithream [[2 Samuel 3:5]]. In prophetic writings, it pinpoints specific dates, such as the **sixth** month when the word of the LORD came to Haggai [[Haggai 1:1]] and Ezekiel [[Ezekiel 8:1]]. It also functions as a specific measurement, denoting a **sixth part** of a hin or an ephah in offerings ([[Ezekiel 4:11]], [[Ezekiel 46:14]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of `{{H8345}}` as a marker of order and time:
* `{{H8337}}` **shêsh** (six): This is the cardinal number from which **shishshîy** is derived. It is used to count items, such as the **six** curtains of the tabernacle [[Exodus 26:9]], which are then referenced in order with **shishshîy**.
* `{{H7637}}` **shᵉbîyʻîy** (seventh): This ordinal number often follows **shishshîy**, establishing a sequence that moves toward completion or rest. This is seen in the relationship between the **sixth** day of preparation and the **seventh** day of Sabbath [[Exodus 16:29]] and in genealogical lists [[1 Chronicles 2:15]].
* `{{H3117}}` **yôwm** (day): This word for **day** is frequently paired with `{{H8345}}` to mark specific temporal points, such as the **sixth** day of creation [[Genesis 1:31]] or the **sixth** day for offering sacrifices [[Numbers 7:42]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8345}}` is revealed in its consistent use to denote preparation and divine order.
* **Preparation for Rest:** The **sixth** day is fundamentally linked to the concept of completing work in preparation for a sacred rest. This pattern is established in creation [[Genesis 1:31]] and is later institutionalized in the law of the Sabbath, where the **sixth** day is set aside for preparing for the seventh [[Exodus 16:5]].
* **Divine Providence:** God's promise to command His blessing in the **sixth** year to provide fruit for three years demonstrates His divine provision and foreknowledge, ensuring His people are sustained during the Sabbath year [[Leviticus 25:21]].
* **Sacred Order and Appointment:** The use of **sixth** in assigning lots for tribal inheritance [[Joshua 19:32]], organizing priestly courses [[1 Chronicles 24:9]], and structuring military leadership [[1 Chronicles 27:9]] underscores a divinely instituted order within the nation of Israel.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8345}}` functions as more than a simple number. It is a significant marker of sequence and divine timing. Whether defining the final day of creation, the moment of preparation for the Sabbath, the order of a son in a royal lineage, or a precise measurement for an oblation, **shishshîy** consistently points to a world structured by God's purpose, order, and appointed times. It highlights moments of completion that precede sacred rest and moments of specific timing in which God's word is delivered to His people.
TRV