Shin (ש) is the 21st letter in the twenty-two letter Hebrew Aleph-beyt. It is the letter just before the Tav, the last letter associated with the cross, one's mark or sign and agreement. Shin has a gematria value of 300.
Shin's three prongs are sometimes seen as representing the three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) or the three elements.
Bible words that come to mind for Shin include:
Shaddai - Shin also stands for the word Shaddia (Almighty) a Name of God. A Kohen forms the letter Shin with each of his hands as he recites the Priestly Blessing.
On the doorposts of a Jewish home is a Mezuzah with the letter Shin on the outside and the Shema prayer written on a scroll inside.
Shalom - Peace, well being. I've blogged about Shalom.
Sh'at haShin ('Shin hour') is the last possible moment for any action, usually in a military context. Corresponds to the English expression eleventh hour.
Shin Bet (house) is a commonly used acronym for the Israeli Department of Internal General Security.
Here are several more biblical Hebrew words that begin with Shin:
- Shamayim (שָׁמַיִם) - heavens, sky
- Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) - Sabbath
- Shofar (שׁוֹפָר) - ram's horn
- Shir (שִׁיר) - song
- Shemen (שֶׁמֶן) - oil
- Shemesh (שֶׁמֶשׁ) - sun
- Shana (שָׁנָה) - year
- Shavua (שָׁבוּעַ) - week
- Shav (שָׁוְא) - vanity
- Shaar (שַׁעַר) - gate
- Sheker (שֶׁקֶר) - falsehood
Exodus 23:7 -- The Torah commands us to distance oneself from falsehood:
"From a false (sheker) matter, you shall distance [yourself]".
The word "sheker" underscores the moral imperative to uphold truth and avoid deceit in one's actions and speech.
There are a few key associations between the Hebrew letter Shin (ש) and blood:
- Symbolism of fire and flame: Shin represents fire and flame in Kabbalah. This connects symbolically to the "fire" or life force of blood.
- Sacrificial blood: In Jewish tradition, the shape of Shin is associated with the sacrificial blood offerings in the Temple. The three prongs are said to represent the three types of blood offerings.
- Divine Name: Shin is part of one of the names of God (Shaddai). Blood is often associated with the divine presence and covenant in Judaism.
- Tefillin: The Shin appears on the head tefillin, connecting it symbolically to the head/mind and the "life blood" of Jewish practice and thought.
Christian Connection:
Below is an Aramaic form of the letter Shin:
Revelation 22:3-5
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
