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The Letters

Shin שין

Shin (ש) is the 21st letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It stands 58,198 times in the twenty-four books — 48.6 of every 1,000 letters, the 10th most written of the twenty-two — out of 1,197,042 letters in all.

Occurrences
58,198
Per 1,000 letters
48.62
Rank of 22
10
Share of the Tanakh
4.86%

Across the books of the Tanakh

Per 1,000 letters of each book, so a long book and a short one compare honestly. Tap a bar — or drag along the chart — and that book stands in the panel, with its door. The filled dot marks the highest column, the hollow ring the lowest.

The Twelve is one of the twenty-four books, and every total on this site still counts it as one. On this axis its twelve prophets stand as their own columns, because Hosea is eight times the length of Obadiah and one column for both hides what each of them does.

0204060Genesis — 45.8 per 1,000 letters (3,574 in 78,069 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Exodus — 55.4 per 1,000 letters (3,518 in 63,531 letters, 1.14× the Tanakh rate)Leviticus — 50.9 per 1,000 letters (2,280 in 44,795 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)Numbers — 55.8 per 1,000 letters (3,548 in 63,545 letters, 1.15× the Tanakh rate)Deuteronomy — 48.7 per 1,000 letters (2,675 in 54,910 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Joshua — 49.5 per 1,000 letters (1,969 in 39,807 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Judges — 50.3 per 1,000 letters (1,958 in 38,944 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Samuel — 50.7 per 1,000 letters (4,742 in 93,532 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Kings — 53.3 per 1,000 letters (5,246 in 98,460 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Isaiah — 45.3 per 1,000 letters (3,031 in 66,888 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Jeremiah — 43.7 per 1,000 letters (3,711 in 84,912 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Ezekiel — 44.3 per 1,000 letters (3,303 in 74,499 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Hosea — 44.8 per 1,000 letters (420 in 9,385 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Joel — 46.0 per 1,000 letters (178 in 3,872 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Amos — 46.9 per 1,000 letters (377 in 8,033 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Obadiah — 57.2 per 1,000 letters (64 in 1,119 letters, 1.18× the Tanakh rate)Jonah — 40.7 per 1,000 letters (110 in 2,700 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Micah — 47.2 per 1,000 letters (263 in 5,570 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Nahum — 34.6 per 1,000 letters (78 in 2,252 letters, 0.71× the Tanakh rate)Habakkuk — 37.0 per 1,000 letters (96 in 2,598 letters, 0.76× the Tanakh rate)Zephaniah — 43.7 per 1,000 letters (131 in 2,996 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Haggai — 41.5 per 1,000 letters (97 in 2,336 letters, 0.85× the Tanakh rate)Zechariah — 41.7 per 1,000 letters (519 in 12,432 letters, 0.86× the Tanakh rate)Malachi — 42.6 per 1,000 letters (147 in 3,450 letters, 0.88× the Tanakh rate)Psalms — 43.3 per 1,000 letters (3,414 in 78,833 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Proverbs — 49.5 per 1,000 letters (1,312 in 26,507 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Job — 43.2 per 1,000 letters (1,377 in 31,862 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Song of Songs — 48.3 per 1,000 letters (249 in 5,151 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Ruth — 51.3 per 1,000 letters (254 in 4,947 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Lamentations — 42.0 per 1,000 letters (251 in 5,980 letters, 0.86× the Tanakh rate)Ecclesiastes — 54.6 per 1,000 letters (599 in 10,969 letters, 1.12× the Tanakh rate)Esther — 58.8 per 1,000 letters (712 in 12,112 letters, 1.21× the Tanakh rate)Daniel — 38.2 per 1,000 letters (927 in 24,291 letters, 0.79× the Tanakh rate)Ezra–Nehemiah — 52.0 per 1,000 letters (1,991 in 38,277 letters, 1.07× the Tanakh rate)Chronicles — 51.0 per 1,000 letters (5,077 in 99,478 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestGeneDeutKingsHoseaJonahZephPsalRuthChro

Its two ends

Highest
Esther 58.8
Lowest
Nahum 34.6

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 35 books
Shin in each of the 35 books, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Genesis בראשית3,57478,06945.780.94×20
Exodus שמות3,51863,53155.381.14×4
Leviticus ויקרא2,28044,79550.901.05×10
Numbers במדבר3,54863,54555.831.15×3
Deuteronomy דברים2,67554,91048.721.00×15
Joshua יהושע1,96939,80749.461.02×14
Judges שופטים1,95838,94450.281.03×12
Samuel שמואל4,74293,53250.701.04×11
Kings מלכים5,24698,46053.281.10×6
Isaiah ישעיהו3,03166,88845.310.93×21
Jeremiah ירמיהו3,71184,91243.700.90×25
Ezekiel יחזקאל3,30374,49944.340.91×23
Hosea הושע4209,38544.750.92×22
Joel יואל1783,87245.970.95×19
Amos עמוס3778,03346.930.96×18
Obadiah עובדיה641,11957.191.18×2
Jonah יונה1102,70040.740.84×32
Micah מיכה2635,57047.220.97×17
Nahum נחום782,25234.640.71×35
Habakkuk חבקוק962,59836.950.76×34
Zephaniah צפניה1312,99643.730.90×24
Haggai חגי972,33641.520.85×31
Zechariah זכריה51912,43241.750.86×30
Malachi מלאכי1473,45042.610.88×28
Psalms תהלים3,41478,83343.310.89×26
Proverbs משלי1,31226,50749.501.02×13
Job איוב1,37731,86243.220.89×27
Song of Songs שיר השירים2495,15148.340.99×16
Ruth רות2544,94751.341.06×8
Lamentations איכה2515,98041.970.86×29
Ecclesiastes קהלת59910,96954.611.12×5
Esther אסתר71212,11258.781.21×1
Daniel דניאל92724,29138.160.79×33
Ezra–Nehemiah עזרא־נחמיה1,99138,27752.021.07×7
Chronicles דברי הימים5,07799,47851.041.05×9

Across the fifty-four portions

The Torah alone, portion by portion, on the same measure. Fifty-four names will not fit along one axis, so most of them are not printed — but every column names itself the moment you touch it.

020406080Bereshit — 54.0 per 1,000 letters (391 in 7,234 letters, 1.11× the Tanakh rate)Noach — 55.7 per 1,000 letters (385 in 6,907 letters, 1.15× the Tanakh rate)Lech Lecha — 44.2 per 1,000 letters (280 in 6,338 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Vayera — 45.8 per 1,000 letters (360 in 7,861 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Chayei Sara — 48.5 per 1,000 letters (258 in 5,315 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Toldot — 44.4 per 1,000 letters (241 in 5,427 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Vayetzei — 40.2 per 1,000 letters (302 in 7,512 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Vayishlach — 47.1 per 1,000 letters (351 in 7,457 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Vayeshev — 45.4 per 1,000 letters (271 in 5,972 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Miketz — 43.6 per 1,000 letters (345 in 7,913 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Vayigash — 35.5 per 1,000 letters (202 in 5,684 letters, 0.73× the Tanakh rate)Vayechi — 42.3 per 1,000 letters (188 in 4,449 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)Shemot — 41.8 per 1,000 letters (283 in 6,763 letters, 0.86× the Tanakh rate)Vaera — 40.9 per 1,000 letters (274 in 6,703 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Bo — 43.1 per 1,000 letters (265 in 6,149 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Beshalach — 46.7 per 1,000 letters (300 in 6,424 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Yitro — 57.9 per 1,000 letters (233 in 4,024 letters, 1.19× the Tanakh rate)Mishpatim — 64.4 per 1,000 letters (342 in 5,312 letters, 1.32× the Tanakh rate)Terumah — 72.5 per 1,000 letters (340 in 4,691 letters, 1.49× the Tanakh rate)Tetzaveh — 59.7 per 1,000 letters (324 in 5,427 letters, 1.23× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tisa — 52.4 per 1,000 letters (389 in 7,426 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Vayakhel — 71.7 per 1,000 letters (443 in 6,180 letters, 1.47× the Tanakh rate)Pekudei — 73.3 per 1,000 letters (325 in 4,432 letters, 1.51× the Tanakh rate)Vayikra — 47.7 per 1,000 letters (297 in 6,222 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Tzav — 52.8 per 1,000 letters (269 in 5,096 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)Shmini — 42.4 per 1,000 letters (198 in 4,669 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)Tazria — 42.3 per 1,000 letters (155 in 3,667 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)Metzora — 44.1 per 1,000 letters (207 in 4,698 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Achrei Mot — 52.8 per 1,000 letters (227 in 4,296 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)Kedoshim — 54.8 per 1,000 letters (177 in 3,231 letters, 1.13× the Tanakh rate)Emor — 61.9 per 1,000 letters (378 in 6,108 letters, 1.27× the Tanakh rate)Behar — 58.6 per 1,000 letters (165 in 2,817 letters, 1.21× the Tanakh rate)Bechukotai — 51.9 per 1,000 letters (207 in 3,991 letters, 1.07× the Tanakh rate)Bamidbar — 66.4 per 1,000 letters (491 in 7,394 letters, 1.37× the Tanakh rate)Nasso — 75.0 per 1,000 letters (647 in 8,632 letters, 1.54× the Tanakh rate)Beha'alotcha — 47.3 per 1,000 letters (334 in 7,058 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Sh'lach — 47.9 per 1,000 letters (279 in 5,820 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Korach — 43.6 per 1,000 letters (232 in 5,325 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Chukat — 48.1 per 1,000 letters (225 in 4,674 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Balak — 39.0 per 1,000 letters (209 in 5,359 letters, 0.80× the Tanakh rate)Pinchas — 71.8 per 1,000 letters (564 in 7,854 letters, 1.48× the Tanakh rate)Matot — 58.4 per 1,000 letters (330 in 5,653 letters, 1.20× the Tanakh rate)Masei — 41.0 per 1,000 letters (237 in 5,776 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Devarim — 48.0 per 1,000 letters (287 in 5,973 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Vaetchanan — 48.7 per 1,000 letters (358 in 7,346 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Eikev — 45.0 per 1,000 letters (309 in 6,861 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Re'eh — 52.4 per 1,000 letters (390 in 7,443 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Shoftim — 52.9 per 1,000 letters (296 in 5,592 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)Ki Teitzei — 53.1 per 1,000 letters (311 in 5,858 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tavo — 45.8 per 1,000 letters (312 in 6,816 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Nitzavim — 44.6 per 1,000 letters (115 in 2,576 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Vayeilech — 44.7 per 1,000 letters (95 in 2,123 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Ha'Azinu — 42.5 per 1,000 letters (99 in 2,329 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)V'Zot HaBerachah — 51.7 per 1,000 letters (103 in 1,993 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestBereChayVayeShemYitroKi TTzavAchrBechSh'lPincVaetKi TV'Zo

Its two ends

Highest
Nasso 75.0
Lowest
Vayigash 35.5

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 54 portions
Shin in each of the 54 portions, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Bereshit בראשית3917,23454.051.11×15
Noach נח3856,90755.741.15×13
Lech Lecha לך לך2806,33844.180.91×40
Vayera וירא3607,86145.800.94×33
Chayei Sara חיי שרה2585,31548.541.00×25
Toldot תולדות2415,42744.410.91×39
Vayetzei ויצא3027,51240.200.83×52
Vayishlach וישלח3517,45747.070.97×31
Vayeshev וישב2715,97245.380.93×35
Miketz מקץ3457,91343.600.90×42
Vayigash ויגש2025,68435.540.73×54
Vayechi ויחי1884,44942.260.87×48
Shemot שמות2836,76341.840.86×49
Vaera וארא2746,70340.880.84×51
Bo בא2656,14943.100.89×44
Beshalach בשלח3006,42446.700.96×32
Yitro יתרו2334,02457.901.19×12
Mishpatim משפטים3425,31264.381.32×7
Terumah תרומה3404,69172.481.49×3
Tetzaveh תצוה3245,42759.701.23×9
Ki Tisa כי תשא3897,42652.381.08×21
Vayakhel ויקהל4436,18071.681.47×5
Pekudei פקודי3254,43273.331.51×2
Vayikra ויקרא2976,22247.730.98×29
Tzav צו2695,09652.791.09×19
Shmini שמיני1984,66942.410.87×46
Tazria תזריע1553,66742.270.87×47
Metzora מצורע2074,69844.060.91×41
Achrei Mot אחרי מות2274,29652.841.09×18
Kedoshim קדושים1773,23154.781.13×14
Emor אמור3786,10861.891.27×8
Behar בהר1652,81758.571.21×10
Bechukotai בחוקתי2073,99151.871.07×22
Bamidbar במדבר4917,39466.411.37×6
Nasso נשא6478,63274.951.54×1
Beha'alotcha בהעלותך3347,05847.320.97×30
Sh'lach שלח2795,82047.940.99×28
Korach קרח2325,32543.570.90×43
Chukat חקת2254,67448.140.99×26
Balak בלק2095,35939.000.80×53
Pinchas פנחס5647,85471.811.48×4
Matot מטות3305,65358.381.20×11
Masei מסעי2375,77641.030.84×50
Devarim דברים2875,97348.050.99×27
Vaetchanan ואתחנן3587,34648.731.00×24
Eikev עקב3096,86145.040.93×36
Re'eh ראה3907,44352.401.08×20
Shoftim שופטים2965,59252.931.09×17
Ki Teitzei כי תצא3115,85853.091.09×16
Ki Tavo כי תבוא3126,81645.770.94×34
Nitzavim נצבים1152,57644.640.92×38
Vayeilech וילך952,12344.750.92×37
Ha'Azinu האזינו992,32942.510.87×45
V'Zot HaBerachah וזאת הברכה1031,99351.681.06×23

Where it runs hardest and thinnest

A place is listed when Shin runs at least 1.25× its Tanakh-wide rate of 48.62 per 1,000, or at most 0.80× it. Two thresholds, applied to every letter alike — nothing here is picked by hand.

Books where it runs low

  • Nahum0.71×34.6 per 1,000 · 78 of 2,252
  • Habakkuk0.76×37.0 per 1,000 · 96 of 2,598
  • Daniel0.79×38.2 per 1,000 · 927 of 24,291

Portions where it runs high

  • Nasso1.54×75.0 per 1,000 · 647 of 8,632
  • Pekudei1.51×73.3 per 1,000 · 325 of 4,432
  • Terumah1.49×72.5 per 1,000 · 340 of 4,691
  • Pinchas1.48×71.8 per 1,000 · 564 of 7,854
  • Vayakhel1.47×71.7 per 1,000 · 443 of 6,180
  • Bamidbar1.37×66.4 per 1,000 · 491 of 7,394
  • Mishpatim1.32×64.4 per 1,000 · 342 of 5,312
  • Emor1.27×61.9 per 1,000 · 378 of 6,108

Portions where it runs low

  • Vayigash0.73×35.5 per 1,000 · 202 of 5,684

The gematria of the letter

Standard300Gadol300Katan3Siduri (ordinal)21Atbash2Perati90,000Milui360

Milui values a letter at the standard gematria of its own name spelled in full: שין = 360. Computed at render by the same engine that runs every search — nothing on this page is a stored number except the counts.

First standing

The first Shin of the Tanakh, in canonical order from Bereshit 1:1 forward, is in בראשית — Genesis 1:1, the 1st word of the verse.

Quick answers

What is the gematria of Shin?

Shin (ש) is 300 in standard gematria; it is the 21st letter of the alef-bet. Spelled out in full, שין, it is 360.

How many times does Shin appear in the Tanakh?

58,198 times in the twenty-four books — the 10th most written of the twenty-two letters.