:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/adjective_cardinal_number.rst

.. _adjective_cardinal_number:

Adjective Cardinal Number
=========================

Summary
-------

In Biblical Hebrew, cardinal numbers are used to describe quantity or to
express the name of a number itself ("one", "two", "three", etc.).

Article
-------

Biblical Hebrew does not contain numerals ("1", "2", "3", etc.) but
rather uses words to express numbers ("one", "two", "three", etc.).
There are two different kinds of numbers: cardinal numbers and :ref:`ordinal numbers<adjective_ordinal_number>`.
Cardinal numbers are used either to express the name of a number itself
or to express the quantity of a thing ("one", "two", "three", etc.).

Cardinal numbers function as :ref:`attributive adjectives<adjective-attributive>`,
but they do not always follow the same grammatical rules. They may
appear either before or after the noun they describe, and they may not
always have the same grammatical form (gender, number, :ref:`definiteness<definiteness>`) as
the noun they describe. As with other adjectives in Biblical Hebrew, a
cardinal number can function as a noun and can appear in either the :ref:`absolute<state_absolute>`
the :ref:`construct<state_construct>` state.

.. note:: Sometimes a cardinal form ("one", "two", "three", etc.) is used,
          but an ordinal meaning ("first", "second", "third", etc.) is clearly
          indicated from the context.

"One"
-----

.. csv-table:: "One" Paradigm

  Form,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine singular absolute,אֶחָד,'ehad,one
  masculine singular construct,אַחַד,'ahad,one of
  feminine singular absolute,אַחַת,'ahath,one
  feminine singular construct,אַחַת,'ahath,one of

.. csv-table:: Example: JDG 18:19

  אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד
  'ish **'ehad**
  man **one**
  **one** man

.. csv-table:: Example: 1SA 13:17

  הָרֹ֨אשׁ אֶחָ֥ד
  harosh **'ehad**
  The-group **one**
  **One** group

The following example is a cardinal number functioning as a noun.

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 19:9

  הָאֶחָ֤ד בָּֽא־לָגוּר֙
  **ha'ehad** ba-lagur
  **The-one** came-in\_to-live-as-a-foreigner
  **This one** came here to live as a foreigner

"Two"
-----

As would be expected, the number “two” in Biblical Hebrew always takes
the :ref:`dual<number_dual>` form.

.. csv-table:: "Two" Paradigm

  Form,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine dual absolute,שְׁנַיִם,shenayim,two
  masculine dual construct,שְׁנֵי,shene,two of
  feminine dual absolute,שְׁתַּיִם,shetayim,two
  feminine dual construct,שְׁתֵּי,shete,two of

.. csv-table:: Example: 1CH 4:5

  שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֑ים
  **shete** nashim
  **two** women
  **two** women

.. csv-table:: Example: 2CH 3:15

  עַמּוּדִ֣ים שְׁנַ֔יִם
  'ammudim **shenayim**
  pillars **two**
  **two** pillars

The following example is a cardinal number with a :ref:`pronominal suffix<suffix_pronominal>`.

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 3:7

  שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם
  **shenehem**
  **two of them**
  **both of them**

3-10
----

.. note:: These numbers have specialized uses when they take either a
          :ref:`dual<number_dual>` ending or a :ref:`plural<number_plural>`
          ending. When these numbers take a dual ending, they become simple
          multiples ("three-fold", "four-fold", "five-fold", etc.); but when they
          take a plural ending, they become multiples of ten ("thirty", "forty",
          "fifty", etc.).

.. csv-table:: 3-10 Paradigm

  Form,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine singular absolute,שָׁלֹשׁ,shalosh,three
  masculine singular construct,שְׁלֹשׁ,shelosh,three of
  feminine singular absolute,שְׁלֹשָׁה,sheloshah,three
  feminine singular construct,שְׁלֹשֶׁת,shelosheth,three of
  masculine singular absolute,אַרְבַּע,'arba',four
  masculine singular construct,אַרְבַּע,'arba',four of
  feminine singular absolute,אַרְבָּעָה,'arba'ah,four
  feminine singular construct,אַרְבַּעַת,'arba'ath,four of
  masculine singular absolute,חָמֵשׁ,hamesh,five
  masculine singular construct,חֲמֵשׁ,hamesh,five of
  feminine singular absolute,חֲמִשָּׁה,hamishah,five
  feminine singular construct,חֲמֵשֶׁת,hameshet,five of
  masculine singular absolute,שֵׁשׁ,shesh,six
  masculine singular construct,שֵׁשׁ,shesh,six of
  feminine singular absolute,שִׁשָּׁה,shishah,six
  feminine singular construct,שֵׁשֶׁת,sheshet,six of
  masculine singular absolute,שֶׁבַע,sheva',seven
  masculine singular construct,שֶׁבַע,sheva',seven of
  feminine singular absolute,שִׁבְעָה,shiv'ah,seven
  feminine singular construct,שִׁבְעַת,shiv'at,seven of
  masculine singular absolute,שְׁמֹנֶה,shemoneh,eight
  masculine singular construct,שְׁמֹנֶה,shemoneh,eight of
  feminine singular absolute,שְׁמֹנָה,shemonah,eight
  feminine singular construct,שִׁמֹנַת,shimonath,eight of
  masculine singular absolute,תֵּשַׁע,tesha',nine
  masculine singular construct,תֵּשַׁע,tesha',nine of
  feminine singular absolute,תִּשְׁעָה,tish'ah,nine
  feminine singular construct,תִּשְׁעַת,tish'ath,nine of
  masculine singular absolute,עֶשֶׂר,'eser,ten
  masculine singular construct,עֶשֶׂר,'eser,ten of
  feminine singular absolute,עֲשָׂרָה,'asarah,ten
  feminine singular construct,עֲשֶׂרֶת,'asereth,ten of

.. csv-table:: Example: JOS 21:18

  עָרִ֖ים אַרְבַּֽע׃
  'arim **'arba'**
  cities **four**
  **four** cities

.. csv-table:: Example: JOB 1:2

  שִׁבְעָ֥ה בָנִ֖ים **וְשָׁל֥וֹשׁ** בָּנֽוֹת
  **shiv'ah** vanim **weshalosh** banoth
  **seven** sons **and-three** daughters
  **seven** sons **and three** daughters

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 4:15

  כָּל־הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן **שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם** יֻקָּ֑ם
  kol-horeg qayin **shiv'athayim** yuqqam
  all\_he-who-kills Cain **sevenfold** he-will-be-avenged
  "If anyone kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him **sevenfold**."

.. csv-table:: Example: 2SA 12:6

  וְאֶת־הַכִּבְשָׂ֖ה יְשַׁלֵּ֣ם אַרְבַּעְתָּ֑יִם
  we'eth-hakkivsah yeshallem **'arba'tayim**
  and-[dir.obj]-the-lamb he-will-restore **fourfold**
  He must pay back the lamb **four times over**

11-19
-----

The numbers 11-19 are formed by writing the number 1-9 followed by the
number 10. Thus, in Biblical Hebrew the number "eleven" is written as
"one ten"; the number "seventeen" is written as "seven ten", etc.

.. csv-table:: 11-19 Paradigm

  Form,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine,אַחַד עָשָׂר,'ahad 'asar,eleven
  feminine,אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה,'ahath 'esreh,eleven
  masculine,שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר,shenem 'asar,twelve
  feminine,שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה,shetem 'esreh,twelve
  masculine,שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר,sheloshah 'asar,thirteen
  feminine,שָׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה,shalosh 'esreh,thirteen
  masculine,אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר,'arba'ah 'asar,fourteen
  feminine,אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה,'arba' 'esreh,fourteen
  masculine,חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר,hamishah 'asar,fifteen
  feminine,חָמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה,hamesh 'esreh,fifteen
  masculine,שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר,shishah 'asar,sixteen
  feminine,שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה,shesh 'esreh,sixteen
  masculine,שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר,shiv'ah 'asar,seventeen
  feminine,שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה,sheva' 'esreh,seventeen
  masculine,שְׁמֹנָה עָשָׂר,shemonah 'asar,eighteen
  feminine,שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה,shemoneh 'esreh,eighteen
  masculine,תִּשְׁעָה עָשָׂר,tish'ah 'asar,nineteen
  feminine,תְּשַׁע עֶשְׂרֵה,tesha' 'esreh,nineteen

.. csv-table:: Example: JOS 15:41

  עָרִ֥ים שֵׁשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה
  'arim **shesh-'esreh**
  cities **six\_ten**
  **sixteen** cities

.. csv-table:: Example: 2SA 9:10

  חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר בָּנִ֖ים
  **hamishah 'asar** banim
  **five ten** sons
  **fifteen** sons

.. csv-table:: Example: JOS 4:4

  וַיִּקְרָ֣א יְהֹושֻׁ֗עַ אֶל־\ **שְׁנֵ֤ים הֶֽעָשָׂר֙** אִ֔ישׁ
  wayyiqra yehowshua' 'el-**shenem he'asar** 'ish
  And-he-called Joshua to\_\ **two ten** man
  Then Joshua called the **twelve** men

20-99
-----

Multiples of ten (20, 30, 40, etc.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. csv-table:: Multiples of Ten Paradigm

  Form,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  gender both,עֶשְׂרִים,'esrim,twenty
  gender both,שְׁלֹשִׁים,sheloshim,thirty
  gender both,אַרְבָּעִים,'arba'im,forty
  gender both,חֲמִשִּׁים,hamishim,fifty
  gender both,שִׁשִּׁים,shishim,sixty
  gender both,שִׁבְעִים,shiv'im,seventy
  gender both,שְׁמֹנִים,shemonim,eighty
  gender both,תִּשְׁעִים,tish'im,ninety

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 18:31

  לֹ֣א אַשְׁחִ֔ית בַּעֲב֖וּר הָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃
  lo 'ashhith ba'avur **ha'esrim**
  not I-will-destroy for-sake-of **the-twenty**.
  I will not destroy it for **the twenty**'s sake

In the following example, the nouns "day" and "night" are singular in form
but plural in meaning.

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 7:4

  אַרְבָּעִ֣ים יֹ֔ום **וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים** לָ֑יְלָה
  **'arba'im** yowm **we'arba'im** laylah
  **forty** day **and-forty** night
  **forty** days **and forty** nights

Multiples of ten plus units (21, 32, 43, etc.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These numbers are written following the same rules as the numbers 11-19.
Thus, the number "twenty-one" is written as "one twenty"; the number
"thirty-two" is written as "two thirty"; the number "forty-three" is
writen as "three forty", etc.

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 5:20

  שְׁתַּ֤יִם וְשִׁשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה
  **shetayim weshishim** shanah
  **two and-sixty** year
  **sixty-two** years

.. csv-table:: Example: DAN 9:26

  וְאַחֲרֵ֤י הַשָּׁבֻעִים֙ שִׁשִּׁ֣ים וּשְׁנַ֔יִם
  we'ahare hashavu'im **shishim ushenayim**
  And-after the-weeks **sixty and-two**
  After the **sixty-two** weeks

Multiples of 100, 1000, 10000, etc.
-----------------------------------

The nouns "hundred" (100) and "thousand" (1000) function the same as any
other common noun with singular, dual, and plural forms. Although the
number for "hundred" uses feminine endings and the number for "thousand"
uses masculine endings, both numbers should be classified as "gender
both" because the same form can be both grammatically-masculine and
grammatically-feminine.

.. csv-table:: Multiples of 100, 1000, 10000, etc. Paradigm

  Form,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  gender both singular absolute,מֵאָה,me'ah,hundred
  gender both singular construct,מְאַת,me'ath,hundred of
  gender both dual absolute,מָאתַיִם,mathayim,two hundred
  gender both plural absolute,מֵאוֹת,me'oth,hundreds
  gender both plural construct,מֵאוֹת,me'oth,hundreds of
  gender both singular absolute,אֶלֶף,'elef,thousand
  gender both singular construct,אֶלֶף,'elef,thousand of
  gender both dual absolute,אַלְפַּיִם,'alpayim,two thousand
  gender both plural absolute,אֲלָפַיִם,'alafayim,thousands
  gender both plural construct,אַלְפֵי,'alfe,thousands of

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 5:5

  "וַיִּֽהְי֞וּ כָּל־יְמֵ֤י אָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁר־חַ֔י תְּשַׁ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה
  וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת"
  "wayyiheyu kol-yeme 'adam 'asher-hay tesha' me'oth shanah usheloshim
  shanah wayyamoth"
  "And-it-was all\_days-of Adam which\_he-lived nine hundred year
  and-thirty year and-he-died."
  "Adam lived 930 years altogether, and then he died."

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 11:17

  וַֽיְחִי־עֵ֗בֶר ... שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה
  wayehi-'ever ... sheloshim shanah we'arba' me'oth shanah
  And-he-lived Eber ... thirty year and-four hundred year
  Eber ... lived 430 more years

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 20:16

  נָתַ֜תִּי אֶ֤לֶף כֶּ֙סֶף֙ לְאָחִ֔יךְ
  nathatti 'elef kesef le'ahikh
  I-have-given thousand-of silver to-your-brother
  I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver.

.. csv-table:: Example: 1SA 29:2

  וְסַרְנֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ עֹֽבְרִ֔ים לְמֵא֖וֹת וְלַאֲלָפִ֑ים
  wesarne felishtim 'overim leme'oth wela'alafim
  "And-the-lords-of the-Philistines were-passing-over by-hundreds
  and-by-thousands"
  The princes of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands

In the following example, multiples of 1,000 are expressed by numbers
in a construct phrase.

.. csv-table:: Example: JDG 1:4

  וַיַּכּ֣וּם בְּבֶ֔זֶק עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִֽישׁ׃
  wayyakkum bevezeq 'asereth 'alafim 'ish
  And-they-defeated in-Bezek ten-of thousands man
  They killed ten thousand of them at Bezek.