Lexical Summary
shillesh: To do something a third time, to divide into thirds, or to triple.
Original Word:שִׁלֵּשׁ
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:shillesh
Pronunciation:shil-laysh
Phonetic Spelling:(shil-laysh')
KJV: third (generation)
NASB:third
Word Origin:[fromH8027 (שָׁלַשׁ - three year old)]
1. a descendant of the third degree, i.e. great grandchild
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
third generation
Fromshalash; a descendant of the third degree, i.e. Great grandchild -- third (generation).
see HEBREWshalash
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
shaloshDefinitionpertaining to the third
NASB Translationthird (5).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. [] ; — only masculine plural as substantive
those of third Generation (grandsons);
Genesis 50:23 (E)
sons of those of third Generation, i.e. great-grandsons (see Kö
SK 1898, 533 ff.);
Exodus 20:5 (E; see [ ]} =
Deuteronomy 5:9;
Numbers 14:18, compare
Exodus 34:7 (both J).
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Basic Senseשִׁלֵּשׁ (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
2.Exodus 20:5
3.Exodus 34:7
4.Numbers 14:18
5.Deuteronomy 5:9
Generations and Legacy in Genesis
InGenesis 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 andNumbers 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.
• Grandparents are encouraged to remain spiritually active; Joseph’s relationship with Ephraim’s and Manasseh’s grandchildren models intentional generational mentorship.
• Congregations are reminded that children’s ministries must envision at least a three-generation horizon, aiming for faith that endures beyond immediate converts.
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 šillêšîm
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
