שִׁבְעִים (shiv.im)
shiv.im
seventy
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 85 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew word shiv'im is the cardinal numeral for seventy. It functions as a plural form derived from sheva, meaning seven, which reflects how ancient Semitic languages often constructed higher numbers by combining smaller units. In Scripture, it appears frequently in genealogies and census records, such as when listing the descendants of Jacob who entered Egypt (Genesis 46:27) or enumerating the offerings brought by tribal leaders in Numbers 7.
While primarily a straightforward count, the number carries structural weight in biblical literature. It often signifies a complete group or a significant period. For instance, Jeremiah uses it to mark a specific duration of exile (Jeremiah 25:11), and Daniel references it in visions of time and judgment (Daniel 9:2). The word is also part of compound numbers, appearing in forms like "seventeen" or "seventy-one," showing its flexibility as a building block for larger quantities.
Translators consistently render shiv'im as "seventy" or occasionally "threescore and ten" in older texts. Its usage is practical and precise, anchoring historical narratives in concrete reality. Whether counting elders, years, or livestock, the term provides a clear, unambiguous measure of quantity without inherent symbolic ambiguity beyond its numerical value.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shiv'im simply means seventy. It is a specific count used throughout the Old Testament to record history, genealogies, and measurements. When you see this number in Scripture, it marks a precise moment or group size, helping us understand the scale of events like the family that entered Egypt or the offerings brought by tribal leaders.
This precision reminds us that God cares about the details of our lives. Just as the text carefully notes seventy souls or seventy years, your own story is written with care. The Bible uses these numbers to anchor truth in reality, showing that nothing in God's plan is vague or accidental. We can trust that He knows exactly where we are and how many days we have.
Whether counting elders or years, shiv'im provides a clear measure without hidden symbols. This clarity allows us to focus on the relationships and events behind the numbers. It invites us to see God's faithfulness in the ordinary counts of daily life, from family sizes to the passage of time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 85 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- seventy57×
- and/ seventy21×
- [were] seventy2×
- [was] seventy2×
- and/ the/ seventy1×
- and/ [was] seventy1×
- [are] seventy1×
- <in>/ seventy1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁבְעִ֥ים37×
- שִׁבְעִ֣ים18×
- וְ/שִׁבְעִ֖ים6×
- וְ/שִׁבְעִ֥ים5×
- וְ/שִׁבְעִ֛ים4×
- וְ/שִׁבְעִֽים\׃2×
- וְ/שִׁבְעִ֣ים2×
- שִׁבְּעִ֥ים1×
- שִׁבְעִֽים\׃\ \פ1×
- שִׁבְעִ֪ים1×
- שִׁבְעִ֤ים1×
- שִׁבְעִ֣ים\׀1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 46:27
The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, were seventy.
This verse records that seventy souls entered Egypt, marking the complete size of Jacob's household at that pivotal moment.
-
Exodus 15:27
They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They encamped there by the waters.
The mention of seventy palm trees at Elim highlights a specific place of rest and provision during the Israelites' journey.
-
Exodus 24:1
He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance.
Here seventy elders are named as part of the group invited to worship from a distance, showing their leadership role.
-
Numbers 7:13
and his offering was: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
This verse specifies a silver bowl of seventy shekels, illustrating the precise weight used in temple offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shiv'im mean in Hebrew?
Where does this word appear most often?
Is seventy a symbolic number?
Every Occurrence (85 verses across 18 books)
Genesis 8 verses
If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”
Genesis 5:12Kenan lived seventy years, then became the father of Mahalalel.
Genesis 5:31All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.
Genesis 11:26Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Genesis 12:4So Abram went, as Yahweh had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Genesis 25:7These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years.
Genesis 46:27The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into…
Genesis 50:3Forty days were used for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for Israel for seventy…