Lexical Summary shillesh: To do something a third time, to divide into thirds, or to triple. Original Word: שִׁלֵּשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance third generation From shalash; a descendant of the third degree, i.e. Great grandchild -- third (generation). see HEBREW shalash NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as shalosh Definition pertaining to the third NASB Translation third (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [שִׁלֵּשׁ] adjective pertaining to the third; — only masculine plural as substantive שִׁלֵּשִׁים those of third Generation (grandsons); ׳בְּנֵי שׁ Genesis 50:23 (E) sons of those of third Generation, i.e. great-grandsons (see KöSK 1898, 533 ff.); וְעַלרִֿבֵּעִים ׳עַלבָּֿנִים עַלשֿׁ Exodus 20:5 (E; see [ רִבֵּעַ]} = Deuteronomy 5:9; Numbers 14:18, compare Exodus 34:7 (both J). Topical Lexicon Definition and Basic Sense שִׁלֵּשׁ (shillesh) denotes “a third generation” or “grandchildren,” marking a point three generations removed from the original ancestor. The word is never used abstractly; every occurrence is anchored in a concrete family or covenant context. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Genesis 50:23 Generations and Legacy in Genesis In Genesis 50:23, the term caps Joseph’s life story: “Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation…”. The verse underscores the preservation of covenant promises through physical lineage. Joseph, first sold into Egypt yet later exalted, witnesses God’s faithfulness extended beyond his own lifetime. The mention of the “third generation” confirms that the promises to Abraham are not merely ideals but realities traceable in the flesh-and-blood descendants of the patriarchs. In pastoral terms, the verse encourages believers to measure success not only by personal achievements but by the spiritual health of succeeding generations. Judicial Use: God’s Visitation of Sin The remaining four passages—Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9—apply שִׁלֵּשׁ in judicial statements within covenant law. Each warns that idolatry and hatred of the Lord bring consequences “to the third and fourth generations.” The emphasis is not on arbitrary vengeance but on the durable social impact of entrenched rebellion. Israel’s legal code thus sensitizes parents to the covenantal reach of their conduct. Mercy Overshadows Judgment Exodus 34:7 and Numbers 14:18 place the warning about the “third and fourth generations” alongside declarations of divine mercy “to a thousand generations.” The grammatical juxtaposition reveals proportion: judgment is real yet limited; steadfast love is abundant and expansive. Theologically, שִׁלֵּשׁ helps highlight the asymmetry between God’s punitive acts and His overwhelming covenant loyalty. Genealogical and Social Function Ancient Israel relied on generational markers for land inheritance, Levitical service rotation, and tribal identity. By designating the “third generation,” Scripture provides a practical timeframe by which lineages could be verified in an oral society, ensuring faithful transmission of property and priestly obligations. The term also served to calibrate memory: grandparents directly influenced the moral imagination of grandchildren, forming a three-generation chain of testimony. Implications for Family Discipleship • Parents are warned that secret sin embeds patterns that often harm grandchildren. Christological and Redemptive Horizons The “third generation” limitation of judgment anticipates the final resolution in Christ, who exhausts covenant curses (Galatians 3:13) and imparts blessings that extend “forever” (Luke 1:33). While temporal consequences of sin may still echo through families, the gospel institutes a new lineage in which regeneration, not heredity, is decisive (John 1:12-13). Thus שִׁלֵּשׁ, though rooted in Old Testament family structures, ultimately points to the greater family gathered in Christ, where mercy triumphs over judgment. Forms and Transliterations שִׁלֵּשִׁ֑ים שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים שלשים shilleShim šil·lê·šîm šillêšîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 50:23 HEB: לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם בְּנֵ֖י שִׁלֵּשִׁ֑ים גַּ֗ם בְּנֵ֤י NAS: saw the third generation of Ephraim's KJV: children of the third [generation]: the children INT: of Ephraim's sons the third also the sons Exodus 20:5 Exodus 34:7 Numbers 14:18 Deuteronomy 5:9 5 Occurrences |
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