Lexical Summary shilshowm: The day before yesterday, previously, formerly Original Word: שִׁלְשׁוֹם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance before that time, heretofore, three days, time past Or shilshom {shil-shome'}; from the same as Shelesh; trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday -- + before (that time, - time), excellent things (from the margin), + heretofore, three days, + time past. see HEBREW Shelesh Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׁלְשֹׁם and (less often) שִׁלְשׁוֺם25 adverb = three days ago, specifically day before yesterday (Köii. 1. 255 f. LagBN 20 Anm. BaNB § 216 b); — in phrase ׳תְּמוֺל שׁ Exodus 5:8 yesterday (and) day before, idiomatic for hitherto, so Ruth 2:11, ׳אֶתְמוֺל שׁ 1 Samuel 4:7; ׳שׁ ׳כִּת Genesis 31:2,5 (E), Exodus 5:7,14 (J), 2 Kings 13:5, compare 1 Samuel 14:21; 1 Samuel 19:7; ׳גַּםשֿׁ ׳גַּםתֿ Exodus 4:10 (J), 2 Samuel 3:17; 1 Chronicles 11:2, compare 2 Samuel 5:2; ׳שׁ ׳מִתּ from aforetime, previously Exodus 21:29,36 (E), Deuteronomy 4:42; Deuteronomy 19:4,6; Joshua 4:18 (J), Joshua 3:4; Joshua 20:5 (both R), compare 1 Samuel 10:11; ׳שׁ ׳כִּת 1 Samuel 21:6 as formerly (but Bu ׳שׁ ׳מִתּ = for some days). — ׳שׁ Proverbs 22:20 Kt is difficult; Qr שָׁלִשִׁים (see III. שָׁלִישׁ) is impossible; supply perhaps תְּמוֺל have I not thee heretofore, etc.? Topical Lexicon Meaning and ScopeShilshom marks the near past, stretching from “yesterday” through “three days ago,” and idiomatically “formerly” or “in times past.” Scripture employs it to summon collective memory, frame justice, validate leadership, and highlight God’s unbroken faithfulness. Narrative Anchors of Divine Activity • Exodus 4:10. Moses confesses, “I have never been eloquent—neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant”. Shilshom places his weakness in a timeline over which God now asserts mastery. Legal Safeguards in the Torah • Manslaughter (Deuteronomy 4:42; 19:4-6; Joshua 20:5). Refuge is granted to one who “did not hate his neighbor in the past,” preserving life through a remembered lack of malice. Covenantal Leadership Remembered • 2 Samuel 5:2; 1 Chronicles 11:2. Elders affirm David: “In times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in.” Past service undergirds present enthronement. Identity and Testimony • Ruth 2:11. Boaz knows Ruth’s devotion “since the death of your husband,” validating her noble standing. Wisdom Literature Proverbs 22:20: “Have I not written to you excellent things of counsel and knowledge?”—a reminder that truth deposited “before” continues to guide. Theological Motifs • Continuity. Shilshom links past acts of God to current obedience, revealing a covenantal through-line. Ministry Reflections • Invite believers to erect figurative “stones of shilshom” that commemorate recent mercies. Summary Shilshom functions as Scripture’s hinge between memory and mission—recalling what was, to galvanize what must now be. Yesterday’s deeds of God and His people instruct, warn, and inspire, assuring that the God who acted then remains the same today and forever. Forms and Transliterations מִשִּׁלְשֹׁ֔ם משלשם שִׁלְשֹֽׁם׃ שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם שִׁלְשֹׁ֗ם שִׁלְשֹׁם֙ שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ שִׁלְשׁ֑וֹם שִׁלְשׁ֔וֹם שִׁלְשׁ֖וֹם שִׁלְשׁ֗וֹם שָׁלִישִׁ֑ים שלישים שלשום שלשום׃ שלשם שלשם׃ miš·šil·šōm mishshilShom miššilšōm šā·lî·šîm šālîšîm shaliShim shilShom šil·šō·wm šil·šōm šilšōm šilšōwmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 31:2 HEB: עִמּ֖וֹ כִּתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ KJV: and, behold, it [was] not toward him as before. INT: toward formerly before Genesis 31:5 Exodus 4:10 Exodus 5:7 Exodus 5:8 Exodus 5:14 Exodus 21:29 Exodus 21:36 Deuteronomy 4:42 Deuteronomy 19:4 Deuteronomy 19:6 Joshua 3:4 Joshua 4:18 Joshua 20:5 Ruth 2:11 1 Samuel 4:7 1 Samuel 10:11 1 Samuel 14:21 1 Samuel 19:7 1 Samuel 21:6 2 Samuel 3:17 2 Samuel 5:2 2 Kings 13:5 1 Chronicles 11:2 Proverbs 22:20 25 Occurrences |
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