Dictionary:Hendiadys/0

Hendiadys

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Overview

A hendiadys is a figure of speech in which two words connected by a conjunction ("and") are used to express but a single idea.  Often the hendiadys consists of either two nouns or two adjectives which take the place of a noun and its modifier. For example, one might say "nice and warm" to mean "nicely warm" or  "sound and fury" instead of "furious sound". The word itself derives from the Greek and literally means "one by means of two" ; hence the Hebrew term "שניים שהם אחד" (two which are one). In Tanakh there are several phrases which have been understood by some to be a hendiadys, sometimes shedding new light on the verses in which they appear.

Proposed Hendiadys in Tanakh

The following phrases might be examples of Biblical hendiadys:

• אוב וידעוני
• אורים ותומים
• אמת ומשפט
• גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב‎¹ – Though the phrase literally means "a sojourner and a settler", it likely refers to only one person, a foreigner who has come to settle, or a "resident alien". See Rashi and R. D"Z Hoffman on Vayikra 25:46-47 who support this reading by noting that the term appears at the end of the verse also without the conjunction, "גֵר תּוֹשָׁב".
• חסד ואמת –Literally, the phrase² means "mercy and truth" and see Radak and Ralbag on Bereshit 24:27 who suggest that it refers to God's attributes of mercy and giving each person their just due. It is possible though, that the phrase is a hendiadys meaning "steadfast kindness", for "אמת" in Tanakh often refers to faithfulness rather than truth.³
• חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה – In Bereshit 31:14, Rachel and Leah tell Yaakov, "הַעוֹד לָנוּ חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה בְּבֵית אָבִינוּ". Malbim and R. D"Z Hoffmann suggest that "חֵלֶק" refers to a portion or gift, while "נַחֲלָה" refers to an inheritance and the sisters are saying that their father has not bequeathed them a gift, let alone an inheritance. It is possible, though, that the phrase is a hendiadys and means "a share in the inheritance".
• חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט‎⁴ – Though many attempt to distinguish between the terms, distinguishing between rational and irrational laws or laws between man and god and man and man, the phrase might simply mean "just law""
• מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה / צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט‏‎‎‎‎⁵ – This fairly common phrase is often translated as "justice and righteousness" (or vice versa).
• נָע וָנָד – This phrase, appearing in Bereshit 4:12, might be translated as "restless wanderer" rather than the otherwise redundant "mover and wanderer".
• עני ואביון – See Tehillim 35:10
• עִצְּבוֹנֵךְ וְהֵרֹנֵךְ – In Bereshit 3:16, Hashem punishes Chavvah: "הַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה עִצְּבוֹנֵךְ וְהֵרֹנֵךְ".  Literally, this might translate as "I will greatly increase your travails and your conception", leading Rashi to distinguish between the anguish of childrearing and that of pregnancy. However, it is possible that the phrase is a hendiadys meaning "labor pangs".
• תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ – The word "תֹהוּ" is a noun, mentioned in the context of unsettled, barren wasteland, and often parallel to "אפס"and "אין",apparently meaning "emptiness". The word "בֹהוּ" is much more rare, and appears only in three verses (Bereshit 2:1, Yeshayahu 34:11 and Yirmeyahu 4:23), always connected to the word "תֹהוּ" and apparently somewhat synonymous to it. This suggests that the phrase might be a hendiadys, to be translated as "vacant void" or the like.

¹ The term appears in several places, including Bereshit 23:4, Vayikra 25:23,35, 47 and see also Divrei HaYAmim I 29:15 (where the two words are in plural and separated).

² Variations of the phrase appear often in Tanakh, See

³ See discussion of the word in Changing Meanings.

⁴ See Shemot 15:25, Devarim 4:8, Yehoshua 24:25 and more

⁵ See Shemuel II 8:15, Melakhim I 10:9, Yeshayahu 9:6, 32:16, 33:5, 59:14, Yirmeyahu 4:2, 9:23, and many more.