שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim)
she.lo.shim
thirty
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 152 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word shelo’shim means thirty, or sometimes the thirtieth in an ordinal sense. It is a straightforward numerical term that appears frequently in the Old Testament, particularly in Genesis, Numbers, and Judges. The sources note it occurs over 150 times, serving as a basic unit for counting people, years, and objects.
Its structure derives from the root for three (shlosh), indicating it is a multiple of that base number. In Scripture, this figure often marks significant periods or groups. For example, Genesis records that Abraham was thirty years old when he fathered Ishmael (Genesis 16:16), and Judges describes Samson’s riddle involving thirty companions (Judges 14:12). These instances show the number functioning as a concrete marker of age, lineage, or social group.
Translators consistently render shelo’shim as "thirty" or "thirtieth," depending on whether the context is cardinal or ordinal. The word itself carries no hidden metaphorical weight beyond its numerical value; its importance lies in how it anchors historical and genealogical records, providing a clear timeline for events like the reigns of kings or the ages of patriarchs.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shelo’shim simply means thirty. In the Old Testament, this number often marks a point of maturity or readiness. For instance, Joseph was thirty years old when he began serving Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46). This age suggests a time when experience and wisdom had come together, allowing him to lead Egypt through famine. It reminds us that God’s timing for our own responsibilities often aligns with seasons of growth and preparation.
Similarly, the patriarchs’ ages are recorded with precision, showing that every year in their lives mattered to God’s larger story. When we look at these timelines, we see a pattern of faithfulness across generations. The number thirty anchors these records, helping us understand the historical flow of God’s promises. It is not just a statistic; it is a marker of a life lived under God’s providence.
For your own walk, this word invites patience. Just as Joseph waited for his thirtieth year to step into his calling, we can trust that God prepares us for the tasks He sets before us. There is comfort in knowing that our current season, whether of waiting or working, is part of a purposeful timeline. We do not need to rush ahead; God’s plan unfolds with care and precision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 152 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- thirty77×
- and/ thirty42×
- [was] thirty17×
- the/ thirty6×
- [were] thirty4×
- and/ [was] thirty3×
- about/ thirty3×
- in/ thirty2×
- thirty [warriors]1×
- from/ the/ thirty1×
- and/ [will be] thirty1×
- among the/ thirty1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים40×
- שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים26×
- שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים16×
- וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים12×
- וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים10×
- שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים7×
- וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים7×
- וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים4×
- וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים3×
- שְׁלֹשִׁים֙2×
- כִּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים2×
- וּ/שְׁלֹשִֽׁים\׃\ \פ2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 41:46
Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
This verse marks the specific age when Joseph transitioned from slavery to leadership, showing thirty as a point of divine readiness.
-
Genesis 11:14
Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber.
Here the number anchors the genealogy of Shelah, highlighting how God preserves family lines through precise historical records.
-
Genesis 6:15
This is how you shall make it. The length of the ship shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
The ark’s height of thirty cubits provides a concrete dimension for the vessel that would save Noah’s family, emphasizing God’s detailed provision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shelo’shim mean in the Bible?
Why is the number thirty significant in Scripture?
How is shelo’shim different from other numbers like forty?
Every Occurrence (152 verses across 19 books)
Genesis 16 verses
Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him…
Genesis 5:5All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.
Genesis 5:16Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of other sons and…
Genesis 6:15This is how you shall make it. The length of the ship shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its…
Genesis 11:12Arpachshad lived thirty-five years and became the father of Shelah.
Genesis 11:14Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber.
Genesis 11:16Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg.
Genesis 11:17Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of more sons and…
Genesis 11:18Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu.
Genesis 11:20Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug.
Genesis 11:22Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor.
Genesis 18:30He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not…
Genesis 25:17These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was…
Genesis 41:46Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh,…
Genesis 46:15These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons…
Genesis 47:9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have…