עֶשְׂרִים (es.rim)
es.rim
twenty
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 240 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew word esrim functions as the cardinal number twenty, appearing frequently in the Old Testament to quantify people, items, and time periods. It serves as a foundational unit for larger counts, often combining with other numbers to form compound values like thirty or forty. The sources indicate it is used with both singular and plural nouns, reflecting its role as a standard measure in ancient Israelite society.
Beyond the simple count, esrim also carries an ordinal sense, meaning "twentieth." This dual usage allows the text to distinguish between the quantity of items and their position in a sequence. For example, it marks specific dates or generational timelines, such as the age of kings when they began to reign or the days of a festival. The word derives from the root for ten, emphasizing its position as two sets of ten.
Its occurrence is widespread across historical and prophetic books, including Chronicles, Numbers, and Ezekiel. In these contexts, it often appears in detailed census data or architectural descriptions, such as the dimensions of temple structures or the number of Levitical gates. This consistent usage highlights how numerical precision was integral to recording the history and worship life of ancient Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The number twenty often marks a season of preparation or transition in Scripture. It appears in the age when men became liable for military service and census counts, signaling a shift from childhood to adult responsibility. When Jacob mentions his twenty years with Laban, he highlights a period of faithful endurance despite changing circumstances. This usage reminds us that time is not just empty space but a container for growth and covenant faithfulness.
In the instructions for the Tabernacle, twenty boards formed the foundational structure of the sanctuary’s south and north sides. These numbers were not arbitrary; they represented stability and order in worship. For your life, this suggests that consistency and steady progress matter more than sudden leaps. God often works through the accumulation of small, faithful steps over time.
Whether counting years of service or measuring the dimensions of a holy place, twenty points to a structured journey. It invites you to view your current season not as a delay but as a necessary phase of building something lasting. Trust that the days you spend in preparation are being counted and valued by God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 240 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- twenty161×
- and/ twenty63×
- [was] twenty10×
- on/ [day] twenty8×
- and/ [was] twenty5×
- [were] twenty4×
- [is] twenty4×
- the/ twenty2×
- for/ twenty2×
- twenty [measures]1×
- about/ twenty1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֶשְׂרִ֥ים66×
- עֶשְׂרִ֤ים34×
- עֶשְׂרִ֣ים23×
- עֶשְׂרִ֨ים21×
- וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים13×
- עֶשְׂרִ֔ים10×
- וְ/עֶשְׂרִים֙10×
- וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֤ים10×
- וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֖ים8×
- וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֛ים6×
- עֶשְׂרִ֧ים5×
- וְ/עֶשְׂרִֽים\׃\ \ס5×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 31:41
These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
Jacob uses this number to quantify his long period of service, showing how it measures a lifetime of labor and covenant relationship.
-
Exodus 26:18
You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.
The text specifies twenty boards for the south side, illustrating how the number provided structural integrity and order to the Tabernacle's design.
-
Exodus 30:14
Everyone who passes over to those who are counted, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the offering to Yahweh.
This verse sets twenty as the age threshold for adult responsibility in the census, marking a significant transition into community duty.
-
Genesis 37:28
Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The merchants brought Joseph into Egypt.
The price of twenty pieces of silver quantifies Joseph’s sale, embedding the number in a narrative of betrayal and divine providence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word esrim mean?
Why is the number twenty significant in the Bible?
How is esrim used in different contexts?
Every Occurrence (240 verses across 20 books)
Genesis 8 verses
Yahweh said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; so his days will be one hundred…
Genesis 8:14In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.
Genesis 11:24Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah.
Genesis 18:31He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I…
Genesis 23:1Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah’s life.
Genesis 31:38“These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t…
Genesis 31:41These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for…
Genesis 37:28Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the…