New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

Genesis

11

:

15

and Shelah lived four hundred and three years after he became the father of Eber, and he had other sons and daughters.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
and Shelah a desc. of Shem Noun H7974 שֶׁ֗לַח she·lach
Analysis:
Read more about: Shelah
lived to live Verb H2421 וַֽיְחִי־ vay·chi-
four four Noun H702 וְאַרְבַּ֥ע ve·'ar·ba
Analysis:

Four: The world, four is the global number

The number "four" has a global or relates to the world. There are some common and similar expressions in the Scripture, which are "the four winds of the heavens" or "the four corners of the earth" or "the four ends of the heavens."  Each of these expressions relate to the earth or the world in a collective manner. In the book of Daniel chapter 2, one reads about a dream which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed. In this dream, he saw an image set up and this image had four distinct parts. Each of these parts represented an empire which ruled over the world.

In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 22, Israel is told to make a four-corner garment and place a tzitzit upon each corner. The tzitzit represents the Biblical commandments of the Torah (see Numbers chapter 15). These commandments are understood as being a framework for life in this world, as when one dies, the tzitzit are removed from one's four corner garment for burial. 

In the books of Ezekiel and Revelation, one encounters the four beasts, which are in the heavens and never cease to praise HaShem. It is understood that the four beasts who continuously say, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts, Who was and is and is to come" (see Revelation 4:6-9) are related to the will of God for all the world (His creation). In a similar manner, one of the Seraphim called to another saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts, all of the earth (shall be) with His Glory." 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

hundred hundred Noun H3967 מֵאֹ֖ות me·'o·vt
and three a three, triad Noun H7969 שָׁלֹ֣שׁ sha·losh
Analysis:

Three: Purposes of God in: Testing, revealing, proving, documenting, victory and if applied to God, holiness

The number "three" is one of the most significant numbers in the Scriptures. Its primary purpose is for the sake of revealing or documenting something as fact (testing to validate something). It is also connected to the outcome of the will of God. One of the most famous occurrences for the number three is found in the book of Jonah, where Jonah is in the belly of the fish "three days and three nights."  A major aspect of the book of Jonah is that the prophet was fleeing from the presence of HaShem. Instead of Jonah going to Nineveh as God had commanded, the prophet desired not to obey this commandment, even if it meant that his relationship with God would be destroyed. HaShem decided to test to see if Jonah preferred to end his relationship with God rather than go to Nineveh. By placing Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, it would be revealed whether it was true that Jonah wanted to end his relationship with God over this commandment to go to Nineveh. It is most significant that immediately after (in the next verse) the reader is informed that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.  What does Jonah do? The text states that Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from within the fish. Hence, the three days and three nights ultimately revealed, proved, or documented that what Jonah said he wanted was not true. One could also say that Jonah was tested for those three days and three nights and the test results showed that he did not want to end his relationship with God and in the end Jonah went to Nineveh.

In a similar manner, Peter rejects Yeshua's statement that he will deny Him. Therefore, Yeshua says to Peter that he will deny Him three times. These three denials prove, document, and reveal to the reader that Yeshua's statement was factual. It is not a coincidence that when Yeshua reinstated Peter after the resurrection, He asked him three times, "do you love Me?” In this context, Yeshua was testing the validity of Peter's statement. 

Yeshua also revealed that He, in a similar manner to Jonah being in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, would be in the belly of the earth three days and three nights and then rise from the dead. In this passage, the number three not only documents the fact that He died, but also the resurrection. It is also very significant that Yeshua rose on the third day.

The number three also relates to victory, as in the completion of God's purposes and plans. In the book of Genesis, one reads about the offering of Isaac. This passage has great theological significance and is one of the first passages which is read in the morning synagogue service each day. This section begins with HaShem commanding Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering on one of the mountains in the land of Moriah. The climax of this portion of Scripture comes about on the third day. It was on the third day that HaShem provided the ram so that Isaac would live. In this passage, Isaac represents the promise (of God) which would have died (ended) had not HaShem acted. There is not a conflict between the two concepts for the number three of victory (the fulfillment of God’s will) and revelation or documentation. Often, it is the climax of what HaShem wants to do, which is simply being revealed or proved with the use of the number three.

Please note that when the number three is applied to God, then it can relate to holiness; whereas the number seven relates to holiness when this number is about man (see explanation for the number seven).

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

years a year Noun H8141 שָׁנִ֔ים sha·nim,
after the hind or following part Adverb H310 אַחֲרֵי֙ a·cha·rei
he became to bear, bring forth, beget Verb H3205 הֹולִידֹ֣ו ho·v·li·dov
the father to bear, bring forth, beget Verb H3205 וַיֹּ֥ולֶד vai·yo·v·led
of Eber, "region beyond," a desc. of Shem, also the name of several Isr. Noun H5677 עֵ֔בֶר e·ver,
Analysis:
Read more about: Eber, Eber
and he had to bear, bring forth, beget Verb H3205    
[other] sons son Noun H1121 בָּנִ֖ים ba·nim
and daughters. daughter Noun H1323 וּבָנֹֽות׃ u·va·no·vt.

People

Eber

Heber, an ancestor of Christ

Eber

|region beyond,| a descendant of Shem, also the name of several Israelites

Shelah

a son of Judah

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 and Shelah lived four hundred and three years after he became the father of Eber, and he had other sons and daughters.
King James Bible and Shelah And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years after he became the father of Eber, years, and he had other begat sons and daughters.
Hebrew Greek English and Shelah lived four hundred and three years after he became the father of Eber, and he had other sons and daughters.