δύο
duo
two
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
SupportedThe Greek word δύο (duo) has a very simple yet important meaning: "two." As a number, it appears 137 times in the Bible, indicating that the concept of duality or two-ness was considered significant to the authors and translators. The word δύο is used in a wide range of contexts, from counting objects and people to describing binary relationships and oppositions. For example, it might be used to list two items (e.g., "my two sons"), to describe a binary choice or decision ("I have two options"), or to highlight a contrasting pair ("life and death"). This versatility demonstrates the significance of the number two in biblical thought. While δύο may seem like a straightforward term on the surface, its ubiquity in the Bible suggests that the concept of two-ness was a foundational aspect of the authors' worldview. By using this word with such frequency, the biblical writers imply that duality is an essential feature of human experience, reflecting the complexity and richness of the world they inhabited.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
137 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Matthew 4:18Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
Matthew 4:21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.
Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
Matthew 8:28When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.
Matthew 9:27As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!”
Matthew 10:10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
Matthew 10:29“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will,
Matthew 14:17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
Matthew 14:19He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
Matthew 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
Matthew 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
Matthew 18:9If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
Matthew 18:16But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Matthew 18:16But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Matthew 18:19Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
Matthew 19:5and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’
Matthew 19:6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
Matthew 20:21He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.”
Matthew 20:24When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
Matthew 20:30Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!”
Matthew 21:28But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’
Matthew 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.
Matthew 22:40The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Matthew 24:40Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 24:41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
Matthew 25:17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
Matthew 25:17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
Matthew 25:22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
Matthew 25:22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
Matthew 25:22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
Matthew 26:2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Matthew 26:37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.
Matthew 26:60and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,
Matthew 27:21But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
Matthew 27:38Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.
Matthew 27:51Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
Mark 11:1When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
Mark 6:7He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Mark 6:7He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Mark 6:38He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Mark 6:41He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.
Mark 6:41He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.
Mark 9:43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
Mark 9:45If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—
Mark 9:47If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,
Mark 10:8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Mark 10:8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.