תֵּ֫שַׁע (te.sah)
te.sah
nine
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 57 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew word tešaʿ functions as a cardinal number meaning "nine," appearing fifty-seven times in the Old Testament. It is most frequently found in genealogical records, such as the ages of patriarchs in Genesis 5, and in historical narratives detailing reign lengths or military counts in Kings and Chronicles. The term serves a straightforward arithmetic purpose, anchoring biblical chronology and census data in precise numerical reality.
While primarily a noun for the number itself, tešaʿ also carries an ordinal sense, meaning "ninth," particularly when referring to specific days of the month or years of a reign. For example, Leviticus 23:32 uses it to designate the ninth day of the seventh month as the time for the Day of Atonement. This dual capacity allows the word to mark both quantity and sequence within the text.
Linguists suggest the term may derive from a root related to turning or completing, perhaps implying a turn toward the full number ten. This etymological hint positions nine as the final single digit before the cycle resets. Translators consistently render it as "nine" or "ninth," preserving its exact numerical value without adding metaphorical layers, which keeps the focus on the literal details of Israel’s history and law.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tešaʿ simply means nine. It appears often in the Old Testament to mark specific ages, reigns, or counts. In Genesis, it helps us track the long lives of early patriarchs like Methuselah, who lived ninety-six years after his son was born. These numbers are not random; they anchor biblical history in real time.
In Leviticus 23:32, tešaʿ designates the ninth day of the seventh month for the Day of Atonement. This shows how precise timing matters in worship. God’s people were called to observe specific days, not vague seasons. The number nine often stands just before ten, a complete cycle.
This precision reminds us that God cares about details. He knows the length of your days and the count of your steps. Whether marking a king’s reign or a festival date, these numbers ground our faith in reality. They invite us to trust a God who orders time with care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 57 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- nine24×
- and/ nine17×
- nine-6×
- on/ [day] nine4×
- to/ [the] nine2×
- [were] nine2×
- for/ nine-1×
- for/ [the] nine1×
- [was] nine1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּשַׁ֥ע6×
- וָ/תֵ֙שַׁע֙6×
- וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע5×
- תֵּ֥שַׁע4×
- תְּשַֽׁע\־4×
- תְּשַׁ֤ע3×
- בְּ/תִשְׁעָ֣ה3×
- תֵּ֤שַׁע2×
- תֵּ֖שַׁע2×
- תִּשְׁעָ֧ה2×
- לְ/תִשְׁעַ֥ת2×
- וָ/תֵ֖שַׁע2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 5:27
All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.
This verse records Methuselah’s age as ninety-six years after his son’s birth, using tešaʿ to emphasize the longevity of the early patriarchs.
-
Leviticus 23:32
It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath.”
Here tešaʿ specifies the ninth day of the month for the Day of Atonement, showing how numerical precision defined Israel’s sacred calendar.
-
Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.
Abram was ninety-nine years old when God appeared to him, marking a pivotal moment where tešaʿ highlights the human age at divine encounter.
-
Numbers 29:26
“‘On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;
The instruction for nine bulls on the fifth day of the festival uses tešaʿ to detail the exact sacrifices required for worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word tešaʿ mean?
Where does tešaʿ appear most often?
Is tešaʿ used only as a number?
Why are these numbers important?
Every Occurrence (57 verses across 14 books)
Genesis 12 verses
All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.
Genesis 5:8All of the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.
Genesis 5:11All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.
Genesis 5:14and all of the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.
Genesis 5:20All of the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.
Genesis 5:27All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.
Genesis 9:29All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, and then he died.
Genesis 11:19Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:24Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah.
Genesis 11:25Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of more sons and…
Genesis 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and…
Genesis 17:24Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.