Biblical Hebrew Examples: The Numbers In Hebrew – Part 1

In Biblical Hebrew, numbers are far more than tools for counting – they are vessels of meaning, rhythm, and revelation. From the six days of creation to the twelve tribes of Israel, numbers shape the structure of biblical narrative, law, poetry, and prophecy. They appear in genealogies, censuses, rituals, and visions, often carrying symbolic weight that transcends their literal value.

Biblical Hebrew uses a rich system of cardinal (how many) and ordinal (what order) numbers, with gender agreement and flexible syntax. Some numbers are used for practical purposes, while others serve literary, theological, or mystical functions.

Cardinal Numbers (1–10): Quantity with Gender and Rhythm

Cardinal numbers express how many of something there are. In Biblical Hebrew, they agree in gender with the noun they modify and often appear in poetic parallelism.

Number	Masculine Form	Feminine Form	Example (Biblical)	Translation
1	אֶחָד	אַחַת	יוֹם אֶחָד	“one day”
2	שְׁנַיִם	שְׁתַּיִם	שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים	“two men”
3	שְׁלוֹשָׁה	שָׁלוֹש	שְׁלוֹשֶׁת יָמִים	“three days”
4	אַרְבָּעָה	אַרְבַּע	אַרְבַּע נָשִׁים	“four women”
5	חֲמִשָּׁה	חָמֵשׁ	חֲמִשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים	“five months”
6	שִׁשָּׁה	שֵׁשׁ	שֵׁשׁ בָּנוֹת	“six girls”
7	שִׁבְעָה	שֶׁבַע	שִׁבְעָה יָמִים	“seven days”
8	שְׁמוֹנָה	שְׁמוֹנֶה	שְׁמוֹנָה בָּנִים	“eight sons”
9	תִּשְׁעָה	תֵּשַׁע	תֵּשַׁע שָׁנִים	“nine years”
10	עֲשָׂרָה	עֶשֶׂר	עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת	“Ten Commandments”

Ordinal Numbers: Position and Sequence

Ordinal numbers express order in a sequence. They are typically derived from cardinal numbers and used in rituals, calendars, and historical accounts.

Position	Hebrew Form	Example (Biblical)	Translation
First	רִאשׁוֹן / רִאשׁוֹנָה	הַיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן	“the first day”
Second	שֵׁנִי / שֵׁנִית	הַיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי	“the second day”
Third	שְׁלִישִׁי / שְׁלִישִׁית	הַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי	“the third day”

Ordinal numbers beyond third are less common and often expressed with phrases or context rather than fixed forms.