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אַרְבַּעְתַּיִם

𐤀𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤕𐤉𐤌

ʼarbaʻtayim

H706 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root אַרב- to be four, to count four

Definition

A distributive numeral meaning 'fourfold,' denoting an action or quantity occurring or being measured in groups of four, or applying to each of four. Used in contexts of restitution or recompense, specifying that something is to be returned or recompensed four times over.

Semantic Range

in groups of four, fourfold, by fours, multiplied by four, restitution of four times

Root / Etymology

From the root ארבע (ארב-), meaning 'four,' with the dual ending -ַיִם (-ayim) used here to indicate the distributive sense of 'fourfold' rather than a literal dual (i.e., not just 'two of four,' but 'sets of four'). The underlying root meaning is numerical ('four'), but the form ארבעתים (ʼarbaʻtayim) has a distributive and multiplicative function.

Historical & Contextual Notes

This word appears rarely and occurs primarily in legal or poetic contexts to specify an amount of restitution or multiplied reckoning (e.g., if someone steals or wrongs, the compensation required may be fourfold). It does not refer to the number four as such (for which ארבע, 'arbaʻ, is used), nor to the dual in its usual grammatical sense (i.e., 'two'), but rather to an enhanced, distributive sense (multiplying a penalty or amount by four). English translations sometimes simply render the term as 'fourfold,' which captures the main sense, but may underplay the sense of distributive amplification intended in Hebrew. The form is analogous to similar distributive numerals built with the dual ending, reflecting a classical Hebrew grammatical device for expressing multiplication.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

dual of אַרְבַּע; fourfold; fourfold.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ארב (ʾ-r-b-ʿ) — to be four, to count four

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3993 מַאֲרָב in ambush of
H693 אָרַב I lay in wait
H694 אֲרָב Arav
H696 אֹרֶב his ambush
H698 אׇרֳבָה ambush-sites of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H706-01 אַרְבַּעְתָּ֑יִם arebaetayim HAcfda fourfold fourfold 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H706-01 2 Samuel 12:6 אַרְבַּעְתָּ֑יִם arebaetayim HAcfda fourfold fourfold
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