8028. Shelesh
Lexical Summary
Shelesh: Third, threefold, triad

Original Word: שֶׁלֶשׁ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shelesh
Pronunciation: SHEH-lesh
Phonetic Spelling: (sheh'-lesh)
KJV: Shelesh
NASB: Shelesh
Word Origin: [from H8027 (שָׁלַשׁ - three year old)]

1. triplet
2. Shelesh, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shelesh

From shalash; triplet; Shelesh, an Israelite -- Shelesh.

see HEBREW shalash

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as shalosh
Definition
an Asherite
NASB Translation
Shelesh (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שֶׁ֫לֶשׁ (van d. H. שֵׁ֫לָשׁ) proper name, masculine in Asher, 1 Chronicles 7:35, Ζεμη, A Σελλης, ᵐ5L Σελεμ.

Topical Lexicon
Place in the Tribal Record of Asher

Shēlesh appears once in Scripture, embedded in the genealogy of Asher. “The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal” (1 Chronicles 7:35). This single mention secures him a fixed point within the inspired ancestral register that chronicles how the tribe of Asher expanded in the era between the patriarchs and the monarchy. By locating Shēlesh among Helem’s sons, the Chronicler supplies a lineage that helps explain the population strength attributed to Asher in census lists (Numbers 1:40-41; Numbers 26:47). Genealogies were covenant documents; every individual named, including Shēlesh, bore witness to the faithfulness of God in preserving the tribal allotments promised in Joshua 19:24-31.

Historical Setting and Function of the Genealogy

1 Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile to reaffirm Israel’s identity and hope. The Chronicler rehearses tribal lines, not for antiquarian interest, but to re‐anchor post-exilic readers in their divine heritage. Shēlesh’s inclusion reminds the restored community that even lesser-known ancestors were engraved on the covenant scroll. Thus, Shēlesh stands as evidence that God remembered every family, however obscure, during national upheaval. His name contributes to the Chronicler’s larger purpose: to show continuity between pre-exilic Israel and the remnant returning to rebuild temple worship (Ezra 3; Haggai 2:4-5).

Theological Implications

1. Faithfulness in Detail: The Spirit-inspired record preserves Shēlesh’s name though no exploits of his are recounted. This affirms that divine faithfulness concerns itself with individuals, not merely prominent leaders (Psalm 139:16).
2. Corporate Solidarity: As part of Asher, Shēlesh shared in Jacob’s blessing—“Your strength will equal your days” (Deuteronomy 33:25). Each descendant helped fulfill that prophetic word.
3. Hope through Preservation: For exiles reading Chronicles, Shēlesh’s line proved that their families, too, might yet be remembered and restored (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

Christological and Redemptive Connections

Genealogies ultimately converge on the Messiah (Matthew 1; Luke 3). While Asher’s line is not traced directly to Jesus, its preservation underscores a broader redemptive pattern: God threads every tribe into the tapestry leading to Christ, the true “Branch” (Isaiah 11:1). Shēlesh’s place in Scripture therefore contributes, however silently, to the pedigree of promise culminating at Calvary.

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Value Every Member: Church leaders should emulate the Chronicler’s care for every individual, recording and remembering their service (1 Corinthians 12:22-25).
• Steward Family History: Believers can trace God’s providence in their own families, using testimony to bolster faith in future generations (Psalm 78:4-7).
• Encourage the Hidden Faithful: Many servants labor without public acclaim. Shēlesh’s solitary mention validates unseen obedience (Hebrews 6:10).

Intertextual Echoes and Further Study

Compare Shēlesh’s placement with other single-appearance figures such as Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) and Hurai (2 Samuel 23:35). In each case, brevity does not lessen theological weight. Study Asher’s blessing (Genesis 49:20) alongside the tribe’s later participation in Hezekiah’s Passover (2 Chronicles 30:11) to see how ancestral promises influence later revival movements.

Shēlesh may occupy only one verse, yet his name enriches Scripture’s testimony that “all the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Forms and Transliterations
וְשֵׁ֥לֶשׁ ושלש veShelesh wə·šê·leš wəšêleš
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 7:35
HEB: צוֹפַ֥ח וְיִמְנָ֖ע וְשֵׁ֥לֶשׁ וְעָמָֽל׃
NAS: [were] Zophah, Imna, Shelesh and Amal.
KJV: and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
INT: Zophah Imna Shelesh and Amal

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8028
1 Occurrence


wə·šê·leš — 1 Occ.

8027
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