שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim)
she.na.yim
two
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 602 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew word shenayim is the masculine form of the cardinal number two, appearing over six hundred times in the Old Testament. It serves as the basic unit for counting pairs, from the two tablets of stone given to Moses (Exodus 31:18) to the two olive trees in Zechariah’s vision. Its frequent use in Genesis and Exodus highlights its role in establishing order and structure within the biblical narrative.
Unlike English, which relies on context to distinguish between the number and the idea of duality, shenayim carries a built-in sense of pairing through its dual grammatical form. This morphology reflects a worldview where things are often understood in complementary pairs, such as male and female or day and night. The feminine counterpart, shettayim, is used for feminine nouns, maintaining this structural precision throughout the text.
Translators typically render shenayim simply as "two," but its presence often signals more than mere quantity. In passages like Genesis 7:9, where animals enter the ark two by two, the word emphasizes completeness and order rather than just a count. This dual form reminds readers that in biblical thought, twos are rarely isolated; they usually point toward relationship, balance, or a completed set.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shenayim represents more than a simple count; it signifies a pair, a relationship, or a completed set. In biblical thought, things rarely exist in isolation. When two are mentioned together, they often point toward balance, complementarity, and order. This linguistic feature reminds us that human life is designed for connection, whether in marriage, friendship, or community.
Consider the account of Noah’s ark in Genesis 6:19. God commanded that animals enter two by two, male and female. This pairing ensured the preservation of life and the continuation of creation. It highlights a divine pattern where wholeness is achieved through partnership. Similarly, in Genesis 2:25, Adam and Eve were naked but not ashamed, reflecting the perfect harmony and transparency possible in a relationship aligned with God’s design.
Understanding this concept can deepen your appreciation for the relationships in your own life. Whether you are navigating marriage, family dynamics, or friendships, the biblical emphasis on pairs suggests that we are meant to walk alongside one another. These connections provide support, reflection, and a shared journey through life’s challenges.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 602 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- two191×
- [the] two118×
- and/ two102×
- two [plus]88×
- both of/ them34×
- [the] two of/ them21×
- and/ [the] two16×
- and/ two [plus]13×
- two of12×
- for/ [the] two10×
- [were] two9×
- to/ [the] two7×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁתֵּ֣י43×
- שְׁנֵ֣י35×
- שְׁנֵ֥ים33×
- שְׁנֵ֥י24×
- וּ/שְׁנָֽיִם\׃\ \ס19×
- שְׁנֵֽי\־18×
- שְׁנֵים\־17×
- שְׁתֵּ֥י16×
- שְׁנֵ֖י15×
- שְׁנַ֥יִם14×
- שְׁנֵי֙14×
- שְׁנֵ֤י14×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:19
Of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ship, to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.
This verse establishes the pattern of preservation through pairing, showing how shenayim signifies completeness and order in God's plan for life.
-
Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
Here the word underscores the intimacy and lack of shame between the first couple, highlighting the ideal state of human relationship before the fall.
-
Genesis 19:16
But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.
The angels grabbing hands in pairs emphasizes mercy and active deliverance, showing how divine intervention often works through relational connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shenayim mean in Hebrew?
Why does shenayim appear so frequently in Genesis?
How is shenayim different from other words for two?
Every Occurrence (602 verses across 29 books)
Genesis 55 verses
God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made…
Genesis 2:25The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
Genesis 3:7Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for…
Genesis 4:19Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.
Genesis 5:8All of the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.
Genesis 5:18Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, then became the father of Enoch.
Genesis 5:20All of the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.
Genesis 5:26Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of other…
Genesis 5:28Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, then became the father of a son.
Genesis 6:19Of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ship, to keep them alive with you. They…
Genesis 6:20Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind,…
Genesis 7:2You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean,…
Genesis 7:9went by pairs to Noah into the ship, male and female, as God commanded Noah.
Genesis 7:15Pairs from all flesh with the breath of life in them went into the ship to Noah.
Genesis 9:22Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
Genesis 9:23Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of…
Genesis 10:25To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name…
Genesis 11:20Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug.
Genesis 14:4They served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
Genesis 17:20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him…
Genesis 19:1The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed…
Genesis 19:8See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to…
Genesis 19:15When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are…
Genesis 19:16But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to…
Genesis 19:30Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar.…
Genesis 19:36Thus both of Lot’s daughters were with child by their father.
Genesis 21:27Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant.
Genesis 21:31Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore an oath there.
Genesis 22:3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.…
Genesis 22:6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife.…
Genesis 22:8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together.
Genesis 24:22As the camels had finished drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her…
Genesis 25:16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes,…
Genesis 25:23Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be…
Genesis 27:9Go now to the flock and get me two good young goats from there. I will make them savory food for your father, such as…
Genesis 27:45until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you…
Genesis 29:16Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Genesis 31:33Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them.…
Genesis 31:37Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my…
Genesis 31:41These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for…
Genesis 33:1Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the…
Genesis 34:25On the third day, when they were sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword,…
Genesis 35:22While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now…
Genesis 40:2Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker.
Genesis 40:5They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the…
Genesis 41:50To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore…
Genesis 42:13They said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest…
Genesis 42:32We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of…
Genesis 42:37Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will…
Genesis 44:27Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.
Genesis 46:27The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into…
Genesis 48:1After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and…
Genesis 48:5Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and…
Genesis 48:13Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward…
Genesis 49:28All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them, and blessed them. He blessed…