תְּרֵין
two
Definition
The Aramaic noun תְּרֵין (tᵉrêyn) means 'two' and is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament. It functions as the masculine form of the numeral, while its feminine counterpart is תַּרְתֵּין (tartên). The word is used to denote the simple number two, as in the two bulls offered in Ezra 6:17, but can also be part of compound numbers, such as in the 'twelve' bulls of the same verse. In Daniel 4:29, it marks a specific duration of time ('twelve months'), and in Ezra 4:24 and Daniel 5:31, it helps establish historical chronology, marking the cessation and resumption of work or the beginning of a new king's reign.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only four times, all within the Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel. It is used in administrative and historical contexts. In Ezra, it specifies quantities in a list of sacrificial offerings (Ezra 6:17) and marks the cessation of work on the temple (Ezra 4:24). In Daniel, it denotes a period of twelve months (Daniel 4:29) and the beginning of Darius's reign (Daniel 5:31). Its usage is consistently for counting and dating within official records and narratives.
Etymology
תְּרֵין is an Aramaic word, not Hebrew, reflecting the language used in international diplomacy and imperial administration during the exile. It is the direct Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew numeral שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) for 'two'. The feminine form תַּרְתֵּין follows standard Aramaic grammatical patterns for gender agreement with numbered nouns.
Semantic Range
While a basic numeral, its use in Ezra 6:17 connects to the theology of restoration and proper worship, as the returned exiles offer sacrifices in precise accordance with the Law. In Daniel, its use in dating (Daniel 4:29, 5:31) underscores God's sovereign control over time and the rise and fall of kings and empires, a central theme in the book.
As an Aramaic term, its presence in the biblical text reflects the historical reality of the Jewish exile and diaspora, where Aramaic was the lingua franca of the Persian Empire. Its use in official documents (Ezra) and court narratives (Daniel) highlights the cultural and linguistic setting of Jews living under foreign rule, maintaining their identity while operating in an international context.
שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — The Hebrew word for 'two', used throughout the Hebrew Old Testament. תְּרֵין is its Aramaic equivalent.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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