Meaning of Shin (ש) Hebrew Letter

Shin is the twenty-first Hebrew letter. Its pointed forms distinguish sh and s sounds, and its traditional pictographic association is teeth.

Pronunciation and form

Pronounced: SHEEN / SEEN. Sound: sh / s. Shin is sh; Sin is s depending on the pointing dot

Traditional meaning and association

Shin is traditionally associated with Teeth; related teaching associations include Consume / Press. These traditional pictures should be distinguished from the letter’s role as a consonant in actual Hebrew words.

Biblical Hebrew word examples

שמים (Shamayim) — Heavens Genesis 1:1
שלום (Shalom) — Peace Genesis 15:15
שם (Shem) — Name Genesis 2:11
שבת (Shabbat) — Sabbath Exodus 20:8

Scripture connections and Messiah

שלום — SHALOM · PEACE
Shin begins shalom, peace. Ephesians 2:14 declares that Jesus Himself is our peace.
Ephesians 2:14
שבת — SHABBAT · SABBATH
Shin begins Shabbat. Hebrews 4 develops Sabbath rest around the finished work and promised rest of God.
Hebrews 4:9-10

Psalm 119 study passage

The acrostic stanza for Shin is Psalm 119:161–168. Read the first verse of this stanza in the TOC Bible reader.