King James Bible

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Exodus

2

:

13

And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And when he went out after Verb H3318 וַיֵּצֵא֙ vai·ye·tze
the second again Noun H8145 הַשֵּׁנִ֔י ha·she·ni,
day age Noun H3117 בַּיֹּ֣ום bai·yo·vm
and behold behold Particle H2009 וְהִנֵּ֛ה ve·hin·neh
behold two both Noun H8147 שְׁנֵֽי־ she·nei-
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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of the Hebrews Hebrewess Adjective H5680 עִבְרִ֖ים iv·rim
strove be laid waste Verb H5327 נִצִּ֑ים ni·tzim;
together and he said answer Verb H559 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ vai·yo·mer
to him that did the wrong condemned Adjective H7563 לָֽרָשָׁ֔ע la·ra·sha,
Why how long Pronoun H4100 לָ֥מָּה lam·mah
Wherefore smitest beat Verb H5221 תַכֶּ֖ה tak·keh
brother brother Noun H7453 רֵעֶֽךָ׃ re·'e·cha.

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
Hebrew Greek English And when he He went out the second next day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: were fighting with each other; and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?offender, "Why are you striking your companion?"
New American Standard Bible 1995 And when he He went out the second next day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: were fighting with each other; and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?offender, "Why are you striking your companion?"