Genesis 2:25
And their double106 are becoming naked-ones,107 Red-one and his woman, and they are not causing themselves shame.108
| 106 | Hebrew שְׁנֵיהֶם֙, shnehem. This is the dual construct of “two” (double) with a possessive masculine plural suffix, i.e. theirs. This word is typically interpreted as meaning both. The word, two, is a cognate of the verb shanah (#8138), to repeat, do again, fold over which is also the root of shanah (#8141) meaning a year. Gesenius wonders, “perhaps, however, the root is rather numeral, than in the verb.” The possessive suffix is rare on numbers and found only on the numerals two, three (Num. 12:4 and Eze. 40:10, 41:16), four (in Eze. 1,10,46), and seven (2 Sam. 21:9), in the Hebrew Scriptures. The Hebrew two + suffix is found much more frequently and is by far the more variegated number in the language. The numerals two and seven are the only numerals found with the dual suffix, i.e. twofold and sevenfold which give the notion of the number being repeated, doubled, or a pair. Hence the peculiar “a pair a pair” of Genesis 7:9. Two in the singular is שֵׁנִי and means second. A couple of Hebrew words exist for double—mishneh (#4932) “the double chariot” Gen. 41:43, and kaphal (#3717) “And you have doubled over the Sixth Curtain opposite toward the faces of the tent.” Exodus 26:9 literal And HE IS BECOMING as their passing-by, and Elijah has said toward Elisha, ‘Ask what I am making for thee before I am being taken from thee.’ And Elisha is saying, ‘And HE IS BECOMING, now, a mouth of two in your spirit toward me.’” 2 Kings 2:9 literal |