Number Dual

Summary

The dual form of a term usually refers to a pair of items.

Article

Nouns change their form according to their number, either singular, dual, or plural. The dual ending does not only mean “two” but usually refers to a pair of something, such as עֵינַ֥יִם (two eyes) or אָזְנַ֣יִם (two ears).

Note

Dual nouns always take adjectives with a plural ending, not a dual ending.

Form

Both masculine and feminine terms take the same dual ending, ־ַיִם (pathah-yod-hireq-final mem).

Dual Paradigm

Word	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
Masculine dual absolute	אָזְנַיִם	‘aznayim	(both) ears
Masculine dual construct	אָזְנֵי	‘azney	(both) ears of
Female dual absolute	יָדַיִם	yadayim	(both) hands
Feminine dual construct	יְדֵי	yede	(both) hands of

Example

Example: DEU 29:4 (DEU 29:3 in Hebrew)

וְלֹֽא־נָתַן֩ יְהוָ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם לֵב֙ לָדַ֔עַת וְעֵינַ֥יִם לִרְא֖וֹת וְאָזְנַ֣יִם לִשְׁמֹ֑עַ

welo-nathan yehwah lakhem lev lada’ath we’enayim lir’oth we’oznayim lishmoa’

And-not_has-given Yahweh to-them heart to-know and-eyes to-see and-ears to hear.

Yahweh has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see or ears to hear.