In Biblical Hebrew, ordinal numbers march in step with grammatical precision. Derived from cardinals but exhibiting full gender agreement and consistent syntactic behavior, ordinals typically follow the noun they modify—especially in chronological phrases like “the third month” or “the tenth year.” Their definiteness depends on both the noun and the ordinal being marked, and their placement reinforces narrative flow and cultic order. Whether tracking kings or counting calendar days, ordinals anchor time and sequence with clarity, providing an elegant linguistic rhythm that helps biblical texts unfold with theological and temporal structure.
Ordinal numbers in Biblical Hebrew (e.g., “first,” “second,” “third”) express sequence or rank. Unlike cardinals, they exhibit consistent gender agreement, typically follow the noun they modify, and often appear in temporal, liturgical, and genealogical contexts.
Form and Morphology of Ordinals
Ordinals are typically derived from cardinal numbers (from 1–10) but display a distinct morphological pattern:
| Ordinal Number | Masculine Form | Feminine Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | רִאשׁוֹן | רִאשׁוֹנָה | First |
| 2nd | שֵׁנִי | שְׁנִיָּה | Second |
| 3rd | שְׁלִישִׁי | שְׁלִישִׁית | Third |
| 10th | עֲשִׂירִי | עֲשִׂירִית | Tenth |
Notes:
- Most ordinal numbers beyond 10 are expressed periphrastically (e.g., “the twenty and first day” = יוֹם אֶחָד וְעֶשְׂרִים).
- The feminine form is used with feminine nouns, e.g., הַשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִית (“the fourth year”).
Syntactical Position: Ordinals Follow Nouns
Unlike cardinal numbers (which often precede the noun), ordinals usually follow the noun they describe. This is especially true in temporal expressions and in definite constructions.
- הַיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן — “the first day”
- הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי — “the third month”
- הַשָּׁנָה הָעֲשִׂירִית — “the tenth year”
Key rules:
- Ordinal + noun order is rare and typically poetic.
- When definite, both the noun and the ordinal take the article הַ.
Definiteness and Agreement
Ordinals agree fully with their noun in:
- Gender — e.g., masculine vs. feminine forms
- Number — typically singular unless referring to multiple sequences
- Definiteness — both the noun and ordinal are marked with the article
Example:
- בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי — “in the seventh month” (note: prepositional phrase + definite noun + definite ordinal)
Temporal and Structural Usage
Ordinals frequently appear in expressions of time, especially in historical narrative and cultic calendars:
- וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הָרְבִיעִי — “And it came to pass on the fourth day”
- בַּשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִית לְהֹושֵׁעַ — “In the fourth year of Hoshea”
These expressions typically follow the pattern:
Preposition + Definite Noun + Matching Definite Ordinal
Order, Rank, and Grammatical Harmony
Ordinal numbers in Biblical Hebrew offer grammatical consistency where cardinal numbers bring complexity. Their ability to mark sequence, temporal context, and syntactic clarity is essential for both narrative structure and theological meaning. Understanding their positioning, agreement, and definiteness is key to interpreting biblical chronology and textual rhythm.
