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שְׁנַיִם

𐤔𐤍𐤉𐤌

shᵉnayim

H8147 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שנה to repeat, to be double, to do again

Definition

The cardinal number 'two' in Hebrew, indicating a pair or a set of two items. Used to express quantity (exactly two of something) and, in its dual form, frequently emphasizes the concept of pairs, parallels, or complementary parts. The masculine form is שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim), while the feminine is שְׁתַּיִם (shetayim).

Semantic Range

two (cardinal number), pair, both (as a dual set), in combination in compound numbers (twelve, twenty-two, etc.), twice (as adverb), double, couple, twofold

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שנה (š-n-h), which in other forms means 'to repeat, to do again, to be double.' However, the cardinal number is likely a remnant of archaic Semitic numerals and its relation to the root is uncertain; thus, the exact etymology of שְׁנַיִם as 'two' is uncertain, although it shares forms with related Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שְׁנַיִם is used throughout the Hebrew Bible as the standard masculine form for 'two.' In construct state or when used to modify a feminine noun, the form שְׁתַּיִם appears. The number 'two' plays a significant role in legal, ritual, and narrative contexts, often marking completeness of a pair (e.g., the two tablets of the law, two witnesses, two pillars) or indicating alternate or doubled actions (such as 'twice'). Sometimes serves as an ordinal (second) in rare, formulaic contexts, though generally the derived adjective שֵׁנִי (sheni) is used for 'second.' Later English translations sometimes interpret these phrases contextually as 'both,' 'couple,' or 'pair,' each emphasizing the paired nature typical of the dual form in Hebrew. In numerals above ten (like twelve or twenty), the word is used in the traditional Hebrew construction. No significant shifts in meaning across periods, though later Jewish liturgical Hebrew often preserves the ancient usage. Compare שֵׁנִי for adjectives ('second') and consider the feminine usage in gendered noun agreement.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

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Root Family

שנה (š-n-h) — to repeat, to be double, to do again

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4932 מִשְׁנֶה in the second
H8132 שָׁנָא and he altered
H8133 שְׁנָא to cause to change
H8136 שִׁנְאָן repeated multitude
H8138 שָׁנָה I will alter
H8139 שְׁנָה and his sleep
H8140 שְׁנָה in year-of
H8141 שָׁנֶה in the year
H8142 שֵׁנָה year of
H8144 שָׁנִי year-cycles
H8145 שֵׁנִי in the second
H8153 שְׁנָת year-of

Word Forms

45 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8147-21 שְׁנֵ֥י sheney HAcmdc two two of 145
H8147-27 שְׁתֵּ֣י shetey HAcfdc two two 94
H8147-20 שְׁנַ֧יִם shenayim HAcmda two two 91
H8147-24 שְׁנֵים sheneym HAcmda twelve two 65
H8147-22 שְׁנֵי/הֶם֙ sheneyhem HAcmdc/Sp3mp both of them the two of them 58
H8147-32 וּ/שְׁנַ֖יִם ushenayim HC/Acmda and two and two 50
H8147-26 שְׁתַּ֧יִם shetayim HAcfda two two 46
H8147-33 וּ/שְׁנֵ֤י usheney HC/Acmdc and two and two of 30
H8147-30 שְׁתֵּ֤ים sheteym HAcfda two two 29
H8147-37 וּ/שְׁתֵּ֤י ushetey HC/Acfdc and two and two of 26

Occurrences in Scripture

769 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8147-21 Genesis 1:16 שְׁנֵ֥י sheney HAcmdc two two of
H8147-22 Genesis 2:25 שְׁנֵי/הֶם֙ sheneyhem HAcmdc/Sp3mp both of them the two of them
H8147-22 Genesis 3:7 שְׁנֵי/הֶ֔ם sheneyhem HAcmdc/Sp3mp both of them the two of them
H8147-27 Genesis 4:19 שְׁתֵּ֣י shetey HAcfdc two two
H8147-30 Genesis 5:8 שְׁתֵּ֤ים sheteym HAcfda twelve two
H8147-26 Genesis 5:18 שְׁתַּ֧יִם shetayim HAcfda two two
H8147-26 Genesis 5:20 שְׁתַּ֤יִם shetayim HAcfda two two
H8147-26 Genesis 5:26 שְׁתַּ֤יִם shetayim HAcfda two two
H8147-26 Genesis 5:28 שְׁתַּ֧יִם shetayim HAcfda two two
H8147-20 Genesis 6:19 שְׁנַ֧יִם shenayim HAcmda two two
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