Samuel_Kim_en_uhg/content/number_dual/02.md

Article

Form

Both masculine and feminine dual nouns have the same ending, ־ַ֫ יִם ("-ayim"). They have a pataq before the yod and a hireq under it.

Dual nouns use plural adjectives.

Paradigm

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

Function

Dual does not just mean two. It means that the two usually come in pairs, such as eyes עֵינַ֥יִם or ears אָזְנַ֣יִם.

• 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.