The phenomenon of the singular of measure in Biblical Hebrew is a fascinating grammatical and syntactic feature. It reflects how Hebrew expresses quantity, time, age, and other measurable constructs using a singular noun to represent a plural idea. In this lesson, we will explore its use across various semantic domains—especially time, space, and quantity—while examining paradigmatic examples like שָׁנָה (year) and its plural שָׁנִים.
I. Introduction to Singulars of Measure
Biblical Hebrew often uses the singular form of a noun to express a unit of measurement in a quantitative construction, particularly after numbers. These nouns, despite being syntactically singular, semantically imply multiplicity. This is especially evident in terms of time (e.g., years, days, months), distance, and weight.
This differs from modern usage or English idiom, where the plural is typically used after numbers greater than one (e.g., “five years”). In Biblical Hebrew, one often encounters expressions like:
- שְׁתֵּי שָׁנָה – two year
- עֶשֶׂר שָׁנָה – ten year
- אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה – four hundred year
II. Grammatical Structure of the Singular of Measure
The singular of measure typically appears in construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), where the numeral precedes a singular noun, and the noun functions as a unit or category. The singular noun does not indicate a single entity but rather becomes the denotation of the measurement unit.
The form often follows this pattern:
[Numeral] + [Noun in Singular Construct]
Example:
- שָׁלוֹשׁ שָׁנָה (three year) → three years
Sometimes, the plural appears instead, particularly with larger numbers or when emphasis is desired. But the default grammatical construction for cardinal numbers between 2 and 10 uses the singular of measure.
III. Examples and Analysis
Let’s now explore key examples that illustrate this construction.
A. שָׁנָה / שָׁנִים – “Year / Years”
- Genesis 5:5
וַיִּהְיוּ כָּל־יְמֵי אָדָם אֲשֶׁר־חַי תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה
And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred year and thirty year. - Genesis 47:28
וַיְחִי יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה
And Yaʿaqov lived in the land of Mitsrayim seventeen year.
B. יוֹם / יָמִים – “Day / Days”
- Genesis 7:4
כִּי לְיָמִים עוֹד שִׁבְעָה אָנֹכִי מַמְטִיר
For in seven more days I will make it rain… - Genesis 50:3
כִּי כֵן יִמְלְאוּ יְמֵי הַבְּכוּת שִׁבְעִים יוֹם
For thus were fulfilled the days of mourning: seventy day.
C. חֹדֶשׁ / חֳדָשִׁים – “Month / Months”
- Exodus 12:2
הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים
This month is for you the beginning of months. - Numbers 33:38
וַיַּעַל אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן אֶל־הֹר הָהָר עַל־פִּי יְהוָה וַיָּמָת שָׁם בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים לְצֵאת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִׁי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ
…in the fortieth year after the exodus of the sons of Yisra’el from the land of Mitsrayim, in the fifth month, on the first of the month.
IV. Rules and Patterns
The singular of measure typically follows a few general rules:
- Numbers 2–10: Almost always followed by a singular noun in construct.
- 11–19: Variable; can be singular or plural.
- 20 and above: Often plural, especially in formal enumeration.
- Abstract or time-related nouns (e.g., שָׁנָה, יוֹם, חֹדֶשׁ): Often remain singular regardless of the numerical value.
- Compound expressions (e.g., “forty and two years”) often retain the singular form for each component.
V. Special Cases and Exceptions
Though the singular of measure is prevalent, it’s not universal. There are exceptions:
- When emphasis or stylistic variation is required, the plural may be used.
- In poetry, forms may vary due to meter or aesthetic.
- In certain legal or formal enumerations, the plural is used to highlight specificity or duration.
Example:
Daniel 12:11 – וּמֵעֵת הוּסַר הַתָּמִיד… יָמִים אֶלֶף מָאתַיִם וְתִשְׁעִים
Here, יָמִים is plural, stressing the prophetic duration.
VI. Semantic Implications
Using the singular for multiple units implies categorization rather than quantity. It focuses on the unit (e.g., year) as a measure, not on the actual plurality. This reflects a cognitive framework in which time and quantity are modular, segmented into countable but conceptually singular units.
This usage may also reflect a more concrete worldview of time: rather than seeing “years” as an abstract flow, each שָׁנָה is a distinct, countable segment.
VII. Historical and Comparative Observations
This feature is not unique to Hebrew. Other Semitic languages such as Aramaic and Akkadian also use singulars for measures in similar ways. This suggests a common ancient Semitic syntactic feature.
- In Akkadian, the unit of measurement frequently remains in the singular after a numeral.
- In Mishnaic Hebrew and Modern Hebrew, this rule gradually gives way to a more analytic use of the plural (e.g., shanim), aligning more with Indo-European patterns.
VIII. Teaching and Application
When studying or translating Biblical Hebrew, it is essential to not misread the singular as indicating only one item. This mistake often happens when translators or students expect English-like syntax. In Hebrew:
- שֶׁבַע שָׁנָה = “seven years”
- אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה = “fourteen years”
Learners should be trained to recognize singular of measure as a grammatical category and not to confuse it with true singular forms.
IX. The Linguistic Significance of Singulars of Measure
The use of the singular of measure in Biblical Hebrew is a prime example of how ancient languages package meaning in ways that may seem counterintuitive to modern readers. It is a consistent and linguistically rich feature that expresses quantities, particularly time, through grammatically singular forms. By understanding constructions like שְׁתֵּי שָׁנָה (two years) or עֶשֶׂר שָׁנָה (ten years), students and scholars alike gain deeper insight into the biblical worldview, ancient Hebrew grammar, and the cultural conception of time and quantity.
