Doubling of Words: Used for Emphasis (e.g., גָּדוֹל גָּדוֹל)

Doubling in Biblical Hebrew speaks with intensity. When the text repeats גָּדוֹל גָּדוֹל or קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ, it’s not filler—it’s force. These phrases surge past basic description to declare absoluteness, as if one word alone couldn’t hold the weight. Whether in poetry, prayer, or prophetic urgency, reduplication fills the gap where Hebrew lacks morphological superlatives, making holiness holier and greatness resound beyond measure.

Reduplication in Biblical Hebrew: Form and Force

One of the more visually striking features of Biblical Hebrew is the doubling of words—a rhetorical and grammatical technique known as reduplication. This repetition of identical words is used to express intensity, absoluteness, emotional force, or poetic elevation. Unlike the infinitive absolute construction, which involves repetition across different verb forms, word doubling often involves adjectives, nouns, or adverbs repeated in sequence without conjunctions.

Function and Context of Word Doubling

The doubling of words may appear in various genres—legal texts, prophecy, poetry, and narrative—and always serves to intensify or emphasize the meaning. These constructions are often idiomatic and may suggest:

• Superlative intensity (“utterly great” or “absolutely clean”)
• Focus or elevation in poetic or liturgical language
• Urgency or solemnity in divine speech

Table: Examples of Word Doubling for Emphasis

Word Classes That Undergo Reduplication

This phenomenon is most common with:

• Adjectives (e.g., גָּדוֹל גָּדוֹל, קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ)
• Nouns with expressive or liturgical function (e.g., שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם)
• Adverbs or adverbial phrases (e.g., מְאֹד מְאֹד)

Verbs rarely undergo this kind of doubling outside of infinitive absolute constructions. The doubling is most effective when the semantic value of the word intensifies naturally, such as adjectives of size, quality, or holiness.

Rhetorical and Poetic Impact

In poetry and prophetic speech, word doubling contributes to:

• Parallelism: Pairs easily with other parallel structures
• Elevated tone: Enhances grandeur or solemnity
• Thematic repetition: Reinforces divine attributes or warnings

For instance, the repetition of קָדוֹשׁ in liturgical or prophetic contexts emphasizes absolute separateness and sanctity—often associated with the divine.

Superlative Function Without Morphology

Hebrew lacks a distinct morphological superlative (like “-est” in English). Doubling provides one means of filling that gap—functioning like “very” or “most” through repetition. Thus, גָּדוֹל גָּדוֹל serves the function of “very great” or “the greatest,” especially in stylized discourse.

Echoes of Reverence and Force

The doubling of words in Biblical Hebrew illustrates how emphasis can be generated lexically rather than morphologically. Through careful repetition, the language builds emotional resonance, rhetorical weight, and semantic depth. These constructions—simple on the surface—reverberate with layered meaning in the mouth of prophets, priests, and poets alike.