שֵׁנִי

𐤔𐤍𐤉

shênîy

H8145 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Ordinal numeral signifying 'second' in a sequence, often referring to the second person, item, occurrence, or unit in a given order. Used attributively or substantively to indicate the one that comes after the first. Can carry the sense of 'another' or 'secondary' as appropriate to the context. Occasionally may function adverbially to mean 'again' or 'a second time.'

Semantic Range

second, the one after the first, another (in sequence), secondary, again (adverbial), a second time

Root / Etymology

שֵׁנִי derives from the root שׁנה (sh-n-h), which fundamentally means 'to repeat' or 'to do again.' The form שֵׁנִי is the masculine singular ordinal form derived by affixation of the -ִי ending, yielding 'second.' It is structurally parallel to other ordinal numerals in Hebrew built on cardinal numbers with the -ִי ending.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term שֵׁנִי appears frequently in contexts involving ordered sequences, such as months (e.g., the 'second month'), days, offerings, and persons in ceremonial or legal contexts. Its basic meaning remains stable throughout the biblical period, consistently signifying the one following the first in a sequence. In some contexts, especially in ritual or calendrical passages, it can refer to the 'second' occasion for an event or observance, such as a second passover (Numbers 9:11). Unlike English, Hebrew distinguishes ordinals with the -ִי ending. The adverbial sense 'again' or 'a second time' arises from this ordinal concept. The use of 'other' or 'another' is context-dependent and should not be conflated with fully independent terms for 'other' (such as אַחֵר). Later translation traditions sometimes broaden or narrow the sense depending on phraseology, but the primary meaning in biblical Hebrew is ordinal.

Translation Consistency

primary "second" 50 occurrences

שֵׁנִי is primarily an ordinal meaning “the one after the first.” The overwhelmingly common and natural English rendering across contexts is “second” (including substantive/attributive uses and adverbial senses expressed as “a second time” or “again”). One anomalous occurrence as “its” is idiosyncratic; for consistency and clarity the base word “second” best matches typical usage and reads naturally in translation.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁנָה; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again; again, either (of them), (an-) other, second (time).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שׁנה (mishneh) — to repeat, do again

Root שׁנה to repeat, do again, change
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4932 מִשְׁנֶה in the second
H8132 שָׁנָא and he altered
H8133 שְׁנָא he changed himself
H8140 שְׁנָה in year-of

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8145-02 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one 72
H8145-03 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֑ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine) 39
H8145-06 שֵׁנִית֙ shenit HAofsa a second time second a second time 31
H8145-05 שֵׁנִי֙ sheni HAomsa second second second 10
H8145-01 בַּ/שֵּׁנִ֔י basheni HRd/Aomsa of the second in the second in the second 1
H8145-04 שְׂפָת֜/וֹ sefato HNcbsc/Sp3ms its brim his lip its lip 1
H8145-07 שְׁנִיִּ֥ם sheniyim HAompa second second ones second ones 1
H8145-08 וּ/שְׁנִיִּ֖ם usheniyim HC/Aompa second second ones the second ones 1
H8145-09 וְ/הַ/שֵּׁנִ֗ית vehashenit HC/Td/Aofsa And the second and the second and the second 1

Occurrences in Scripture

157 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8145-05 Genesis 1:8 שֵׁנִֽי sheni HAomsa second second second
H8145-02 Genesis 2:13 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֖י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-03 Genesis 4:19 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֖ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa of the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-07 Genesis 6:16 שְׁנִיִּ֥ם sheniyim HAompa second second ones second ones
H8145-02 Genesis 7:11 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-02 Genesis 8:14 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-06 Genesis 22:15 שֵׁנִ֖ית shenit HAofsa a second time second a second time
H8145-05 Genesis 30:7 שֵׁנִ֖י sheni HAomsa second second second
H8145-05 Genesis 30:12 שֵׁנִ֖י sheni HAomsa second second second
H8145-02 Genesis 32:20 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֗י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-06 Genesis 41:5 שֵׁנִ֑ית shenit HAofsa a second time second a second time
H8145-02 Genesis 41:52 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֖י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-03 Genesis 47:18 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֗ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 1:15 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֖ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the other the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-02 Exodus 2:13 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-02 Exodus 16:1 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-03 Exodus 25:12 הַ/שֵּׁנִֽית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-02 Exodus 25:32 הַ/שֵּׁנִֽי hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-03 Exodus 26:4 הַ/שֵּׁנִֽית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 26:5 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֑ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 26:10 הַ/שֵּׁנִֽית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 26:20 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֖ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 26:27 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֑ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 27:15 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 28:10 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֖ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-02 Exodus 28:18 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֑י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the-second the second one the second one
H8145-02 Exodus 29:19 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֑י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-02 Exodus 29:39 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-02 Exodus 29:41 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa second the second one the second one
H8145-03 Exodus 36:11 הַ/שֵּׁנִֽית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 36:12 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֑ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 36:17 הַ/שֵּׁנִֽית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 36:25 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֖ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 36:32 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֑ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the-second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-03 Exodus 37:3 הַ/שֵּׁנִֽית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the other the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-02 Exodus 37:18 הַ/שֵּׁנִֽי hasheni HTd/Aomsa of it the second one the second one
H8145-03 Exodus 38:15 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֗ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-02 Exodus 39:11 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֑י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the-second the second one the second one
H8145-03 Exodus 40:17 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֖ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa the second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-02 Leviticus 5:10 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֛י hasheni HTd/Aomsa second the second one the second one
H8145-02 Leviticus 8:22 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one
H8145-06 Leviticus 13:5 שֵׁנִֽית shenit HAofsa second second second
H8145-06 Leviticus 13:6 שֵׁנִית֒ shenit HAofsa a second time second a second time
H8145-06 Leviticus 13:7 שֵׁנִ֖ית shenit HAofsa again second second
H8145-06 Leviticus 13:33 שֵׁנִֽית shenit HAofsa more/second time second second
H8145-06 Leviticus 13:54 שֵׁנִֽית shenit HAofsa more second a second time
H8145-06 Leviticus 13:58 שֵׁנִ֖ית shenit HAofsa a-second-time second a second time
H8145-02 Numbers 1:1 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֜י hasheni HTd/Aomsa second the second one the second one
H8145-03 Numbers 1:1 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֗ית hashenit HTd/Aofsa second the second (feminine) the second (feminine)
H8145-02 Numbers 1:18 הַ/שֵּׁנִ֔י hasheni HTd/Aomsa the second the second one the second one