What does שָׁלִישׁ (šāliyš) mean in the Bible?
שָׁלִישׁ (šāliyš): Third rank" officer title that paradoxically denotes highest military rank, not lowest—semantic inversion based on proximity to king.
Hebrew · H7991
שָׁלִישׁ
A triple , i.e. (as a musical instrument) a triangle (or perhaps rather three -stringed lute); also (as an indefinite, great quantity) a three -fold measure (perhaps a treble ephah); also (as an officer) a general of the third rank (upward, i.e. the highest)
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שָׁלִישׁH7991
Pronunciationšāliyš
What does שָׁלִישׁ (šāliyš) mean in the Bible?
שָׁלִישׁ (šāliyš): Third rank" officer title that paradoxically denotes highest military rank, not lowest—semantic inversion based on proximity to king.
Full entry for שָׁלִישׁ (H7991) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7991?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and officers (2), his captains (2), and other instruments (1), And the officer (1), But the officer (1).
Where does שָׁלִישׁ (šāliyš) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 14:7. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Kings (6), Exodus (2), Ezekiel (2), 1 Kings (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand officers2×2 Kings 10:25
his captains2×1 Kings 9:22, 2 Chronicles 8:9
and other instruments1×1 Samuel 18:6
And the officer1×2 Kings 7:19
But the officer1×2 Kings 7:2
in a basket1×Isaiah 40:12
like officers1×Ezekiel 23:15
of his officers1×Exodus 15:4
of the Three1×2 Samuel 23:8
officers1×Ezekiel 23:23
the full measure1×Psalms 80:5
the officer1×2 Kings 7:17
Then his officer1×2 Kings 15:25
with officers1×Exodus 14:7
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 14:7וְשָׁלִשִׁ֖םtowith officersConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralExodus 15:4שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖יוtoof his officersNoun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular1 Samuel 18:6וּבְשָׁלִשִֽׁים׃toand other instrumentsConjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural2 Samuel 23:8הַשָּׁלִשִׁ֗יtoof the ThreeArticle | Noun - masculine plural1 Kings 9:22וְשָׁלִשָׁ֔יוtohis captainsConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular2 Kings 7:2הַשָּׁלִ֡ישׁtoBut the officerArticle | Noun - masculine singular2 Kings 7:17הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁtothe officerArticle | Noun - masculine singular2 Kings 7:19הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁtoAnd the officerArticle | Noun - masculine singular2 Kings 10:25וְלַשָּׁלִשִׁ֜יםtoand officersConjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural2 Kings 10:25וְהַשָּׁ֣לִשִׁ֔יםtoand officersConjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 14:7
Aligned rows16
Books represented9
Exodus21 Samuel12 Samuel11 Kings12 Kings62 Chronicles1Psalms1Isaiah1Ezekiel2
Source forms
הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁ2xhaš·šā·lîš2 Kings 7:17, 2 Kings 7:19
בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ1xbaš·šā·lišIsaiah 40:12
הַשָּׁלִ֡ישׁ1xhaš·šā·lîš2 Kings 7:2
הַשָּׁלִשִׁ֗י1xhaš·šā·li·šî2 Samuel 23:8
וּבְשָׁלִשִֽׁים׃1xū·ḇə·šā·li·šîm1 Samuel 18:6
וְהַשָּׁ֣לִשִׁ֔ים1xwə·haš·šā·li·šîm2 Kings 10:25
וְלַשָּׁלִשִׁ֜ים1xwə·laš·šā·li·šîm2 Kings 10:25
וְשָׁלִשָׁ֔יו1xwə·šā·li·šāw1 Kings 9:22
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine singular3x2 Kings 7:2, 2 Kings 7:17, 2 Kings 7:19
Noun - masculine plural2xEzekiel 23:15, Ezekiel 23:23
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular2xExodus 15:4, 2 Chronicles 8:9
Article | Noun - masculine plural1x2 Samuel 23:8
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural1xExodus 14:7
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular1x1 Kings 9:22
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural1x2 Kings 10:25
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural1x1 Samuel 18:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Third rank" officer title that paradoxically denotes highest military rank, not lowest—semantic inversion based on proximity to king.
Source Gloss
a triple , i.e. (as a musical instrument) a triangle (or perhaps rather three -stringed lute); also (as an indefinite, great quantity) a three -fold measure (perhaps a treble ephah); also (as an officer) a general of the third rank (upward, i.e. the highest)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Third rank" officer title that paradoxically denotes highest military rank, not lowest—semantic inversion based on proximity to king.
a triple, i.e. (as a musical instrument) a triangle (or perhaps rather three-stringed lute); also (as an indefinite, great quantity) a three-fold measure (perhaps a treble ephah); also (as an officer) a general of the third rank (upward, i.e. the highest) BDB: sistrum Usage: captain, instrument of musick, (great) lord, (great) measure, prince, three (from the margin).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
שָׁלִישׁ is built from this root: