שֵׁן (shen)
shen
tooth
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 39 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shen primarily denotes a tooth, capturing its sharp, biting function in both human and animal contexts. It appears frequently in legal texts like Exodus 21:24 to establish the principle of proportional justice, where injury is measured by the specific body part affected. The word also describes the aggressive action of enemies or wild beasts, such as lions gnashing their teeth in Psalm 35:16, illustrating a raw, physical threat.
Beyond anatomy, shen refers to ivory, the valuable material harvested from elephant tusks. This usage highlights its economic and aesthetic importance in the ancient world, seen in descriptions of King Solomon’s throne (1 Kings 10:18) or the luxurious palaces of Amos 3:15. The connection is literal: a tusk is essentially a giant tooth, making the semantic shift natural.
In a striking figurative extension, the term can describe a sharp, pointed rock or cliff face, as in 1 Samuel 14:4. This metaphorical use relies on the visual similarity between a jagged stone and a row of teeth. Translators often render this as "crag" or "precipice," preserving the image of a dangerous, tooth-like landscape.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shen, meaning tooth, appears in Scripture with surprising variety. It anchors the law of proportional justice in Exodus and Deuteronomy, reminding us that God values fairness and the dignity of every person, even a servant. It also describes the raw aggression of enemies gnashing their teeth in Psalm 35, capturing the visceral pain of betrayal. Beyond conflict, it signifies luxury in Solomon’s ivory throne or the sharpness of a rocky crag in Samuel’s time.
For your faith life, this word grounds you in a God who sees the concrete details of your existence. When Job speaks of escaping by the skin of his teeth, he expresses the fragile reality of suffering. Yet, even in that fragility, there is a witness to endurance. The text does not shy away from the physicality of pain or the value of material things, showing us that God cares about the whole of human experience.
Whether reflecting on justice, suffering, or the beauty of creation, shen invites you to look closely at the world around you. It encourages a faith that is honest about hardship and hopeful in God’s ultimate restoration. You are seen in your struggles, just as you are valued in your joys.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 39 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a tooth6×
- ivory4×
- [the] tooth of4×
- teeth/ its3×
- teeth/ his3×
- teeth/ your2×
- teeth/ their2×
- teeth/ my2×
- teeth2×
- and/ [the] teeth of2×
- <the>/ ivory2×
- with/ teeth/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֵׁ֖ן4×
- שֵׁ֔ן3×
- שֵׁ֥ן2×
- שֵׁ֣ן2×
- שֵׁ֑ן2×
- שִׁנַּ֙יִ/ךְ֙2×
- שֶׁן\־1×
- שֵׁן\־1×
- שִׁנּֽ/וֹ\׃\ \פ1×
- שִׁנָּי/ו֮1×
- שִׁנָּי/ו֙1×
- שִׁנָּֽי/ו\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 21:24
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
This verse establishes the foundational principle of proportional justice, ensuring that punishment fits the specific injury inflicted.
-
Job 19:20
My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Here the phrase 'skin of his teeth' vividly illustrates the narrow margin between life and death in extreme suffering.
-
Psalms 35:16
Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.
The image of mockers gnashing their teeth captures the intense hostility and shame faced by the psalmist.
-
I Kings 10:18
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
This reference to ivory highlights the economic and aesthetic value placed on this material in ancient royal contexts.
-
Proverbs 25:19
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
The simile of a bad tooth compares the pain of unreliable support to physical decay at a critical moment.