Lexical Summary shen: teeth, ivory, tooth Original Word: שֵׁן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance crag, forefront, ivory, sharp, tooth From shanan; a tooth (as sharp); specifically (for shenhabbiym) ivory; figuratively, a cliff -- crag, X forefront, ivory, X sharp, tooth. see HEBREW shanan see HEBREW shenhabbiym NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shanan Definition tooth, ivory NASB Translation crag (2), ivory (10), sharp (2), teeth (30), three-pronged* (1), tooth (9). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. שֵׁן noun feminine1Samuel 2:13 (yet masculine 1 Samuel 14:5 compare Dr) tooth, ivory; — ׳שׁ absolute Exodus 21:24 +, construct Exodus 21:27 +, ׳שֶׁן Deuteronomy 32:24; suffix שִׁנּם Exodus 21:27; dual שִׁנַּיִם Proverbs 10:26, construct שִׁנֵּי Jeremiah 31:29 +; suffix שִׁנֵּיהֶם Psalm 124:6, שִׁנֵּימוֺ Psalm 58:7, etc.; — 1 tooth: a. of man, Exodus 21:27 (3 t. in verse) (E), Numbers 11:33 (J), Genesis 49:12 (poem in J), Amos 4:6; Songs 4:2; Songs 6:6, רֹעָה ׳שׁ Proverbs 25:19, see II. רעע 2; of lex talionis, ׳תַּחַת שׁ ׳שׁ Exodus 21:24 (E), Leviticus 24:20 (H), ׳שֵׁן בְּשׁ Deuteronomy 19:21; irritated by acid Proverbs 10:26, dulled by it (in proverb of inherited guilt) Jeremiah 31:29,30; Ezekiel 18:2; ׳חָרַק שׁ Lamentations 2:16; Job 16:9; Psalm 35:16; Psalm 112:10, see חָרַק; אֶשָּׂא בְשָׂרִי בְשִׁנָּ֑י Job 13:14 = risk my life (strike out עַלמָֿה, dittograph; "" אָשִׂים בְּכַּ מִּי נַפְשִׁי); בְּעוֺר שִׁנָּ֑י Job 19:20, see מָלַט Hithpa`el (other conjectures see Di Bi Bu Du). b. of beasts : Deuteronomy 32:24, crocodile Job 41:6, locusts Joel 1:6 (teeth of lions); especially figurative of false prophets Micah 3:5, of foes Zechariah 9:7, oppressors Job 29:17, wicked Job 4:10; Psalm 3:8; Psalm 58:7; Psalm 124:6; of their weapons Proverbs 30:14; Psalm 57:5; of Israel shattered by ׳י. c. tooth of a fork, tine, 1 Samuel 2:13 (compare DrSm. 291); of cliff, שֵׁן הַסֶּלַע1Samuel 14:4 (twice in verse), compare Job 39:28, הַשֵּׁן 1 Samuel 14:5. 2 ivory, of commerce, קַרְנוֺת שֵׁן Ezekiel 27:15 (i.e. tusks?); as material, ׳מִטּוֺת שׁ Amos 6:4, ׳כִּסֵּאשֿׁ 1 Kings 10:18 2Chronicles 9:17, ׳בֵּית הַשּׁ 1 Kings 22:39, compare Amos 3:15, ׳הֵיכְלֵי שׁ Psalm 45:9, also Ezekiel 27:6; Songs 5:15; Songs 7:5. שׁנן (√ of following; see Biblical Hebrew [שָׁנַן], שֵׁן). Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew noun שֵׁן (shen) denotes a “tooth” in its literal sense and, by extension, anything tooth-like: ivory, a jagged cliff, the cutting edge of a threshing board, or the pointed teeth of a beast. Across approximately fifty-five Old Testament occurrences, the word provides vivid pictures of justice, violence, beauty, wealth, topography, and eschatological hope. Physical Teeth in Created Order Human teeth appear in blessing (Genesis 49:12), in common speech (Job 19:20), and as a metaphor for strength or weakness (Proverbs 25:19). Animal teeth are part of God’s majestic creatures—oxen (Exodus 34:20), lions (Psalm 57:4), Leviathan (Job 41:14)—underscoring His sovereign design of the natural world. Legal Texts and Covenant Justice “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21) sets proportional retribution within Israel’s civil law. The principle restrains vengeance, affirms human dignity, and foreshadows the Gospel call to satisfy justice perfectly in Christ rather than personal retaliation (Matthew 5:38-39). Imagery of Violence and Judgment Shen regularly conveys destructive power. Liturgy of Lament and Deliverance The psalmists often move from anguish to confidence: “O God, break the teeth in their mouths” (Psalm 58:6) anticipates decisive deliverance. Job’s laments—“He gnashed His teeth at me” (Job 16:9)—invite sufferers to pour out honest grief while clinging to hope. Praise and Romantic Imagery Positive metaphors highlight purity, beauty, and intimate love. Ivory in Royal Splendor and Commerce Because ivory is literally “tooth,” shen signifies luxury goods. Solomon’s “great throne of ivory” (1 Kings 10:18; 2 Chronicles 9:17) and “houses of ivory” in Israel and Phoenicia (1 Kings 22:39; Amos 3:15) display opulence that could honor God or, when excessive, indict pride. Ezekiel 27:15 lists “ivory tusks” among Tyre’s trade, reminding readers that economic glory is fleeting without righteousness. Crags, Cliffs, and Strategic High Places Topographical uses emphasize sharpness. The two cliffs Jonathan navigated—Bozez and Seneh—are each called a shen (1 Samuel 14:4). Such settings show God granting victory through daring faith. Isaiah 41:15 likens a renewed Israel to a “threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth,” promising effectiveness in God’s mission. Prophetic and Eschatological Vision Joel 1:6 pictures invading locusts: “Its teeth are those of a lion.” Micah 3:5 condemns prophets who “bite with their teeth.” These warnings call the covenant community to repentance. The iron-toothed fourth beast of Daniel 7 anticipates final judgment and the everlasting kingdom handed to the Son of Man, urging steadfast hope. Christological Echoes Old Testament portrayals of broken or shattered teeth prefigure the Messiah’s triumph over violent powers (Colossians 2:15). The “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” principle highlights humanity’s need for a perfect substitute. Jesus fulfills the law’s justice and overturns retaliatory cycles by commanding love for enemies. Pastoral and Discipleship Applications • Justice: God requires proportionate, unbiased judgment. Representative References Genesis 49:12; Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21 1 Kings 10:18; 22:39 Job 13:14; 16:9; 41:14 Psalm 3:7; 37:12; 57:4; 58:6 Proverbs 25:19; 30:14 Song of Songs 4:2; 6:6 Forms and Transliterations בְּשִׁנֵּיהֶם֙ בְּשִׁנָּ֑יו בְּשֵׁ֔ן בְשִׁנָּ֑י בשן בשני בשניהם בשניו הַשִּׁנַּ֖יִם הַשֵּׁ֑ן הַשֵּׁ֗ן הַשֵּׁ֧ן הַשֵּׁן֙ השן השנים וְשִׁנֵּ֖י וְשִׁנֵּ֥י וְשֵׁן־ וְשֶׁן־ וּ֝מִשִּׁנָּ֗יו ומשניו ושן־ ושני לְשִׁנֵּיהֶֽם׃ לַשִּׁנַּ֗יִם לשניהם׃ לשנים ן ניהם שִׁ֭נֵּיהֶם שִׁנֵּ֖י שִׁנֵּ֣י שִׁנֵּ֥ימוֹ שִׁנֵּֽימוֹ׃ שִׁנֵּיהֶ֔ם שִׁנַּ֖יִם שִׁנַּ֙יִךְ֙ שִׁנַּ֙יִם֙ שִׁנָּ֔י שִׁנָּ֔יו שִׁנָּ֣יו שִׁנָּֽי׃ שִׁנָּֽיו׃ שִׁנָּיו֙ שִׁנָּיו֮ שִׁנּֽוֹ׃ שֵׁ֑ן שֵׁ֔ן שֵׁ֖ן שֵׁ֝֗ן שֵׁ֣ן שֵׁ֥ן שֵׁן֙ שֵׁן־ שֶׁן־ שן שן־ שנו׃ שני שני׃ שניהם שניו שניו׃ שניך שנים שנימו שנימו׃ bə·šên bə·šin·nāw ḇə·šin·nāy bə·šin·nê·hem bəšên beShen beshinNav beshinneiHem bəšinnāw ḇəšinnāy bəšinnêhem haš·šên haš·šin·na·yim hashShen hashshinNayim haššên haššinnayim laš·šin·na·yim lashshinNayim laššinnayim lə·šin·nê·hem leshinneiHem ləšinnêhem n nê·hem nêhem neihem šên šen- šên- shen shinNai shinNav shinNayich shinNayim shinNei shinneiHem shinNeimov shinNo šin·na·yiḵ šin·na·yim šin·nāw šin·nāy šin·nê šin·nê·hem šin·nê·mōw šin·nōw šinnāw šinnāy šinnayiḵ šinnayim šinnê šinnêhem šinnêmōw šinnōw ū·miš·šin·nāw umishshinNav ūmiššinnāw veshen veshinNai veshinNei wə·šen- wə·šên- wə·šin·nê wəšen- wəšên- wəšinnêLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 49:12 HEB: מִיָּ֑יִן וּלְבֶן־ שִׁנַּ֖יִם מֵחָלָֽב׃ פ NAS: from wine, And his teeth white KJV: with wine, and his teeth white INT: wine white and his teeth milk Exodus 21:24 Exodus 21:24 Exodus 21:27 Exodus 21:27 Exodus 21:27 Leviticus 24:20 Leviticus 24:20 Numbers 11:33 Deuteronomy 19:21 Deuteronomy 19:21 Deuteronomy 32:24 1 Samuel 2:13 1 Samuel 14:4 1 Samuel 14:4 1 Samuel 14:5 1 Kings 10:18 1 Kings 22:39 2 Chronicles 9:17 Job 4:10 Job 13:14 Job 16:9 Job 19:20 Job 29:17 Job 39:28 55 Occurrences |
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