Hebrew · H505

אֶלֶף

Hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

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אֶלֶףH505

What does אֶלֶף mean in the Bible?

אֶלֶף is a Hebrew word meaning "hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand".

Full entry for אֶלֶף (H505) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does אֶלֶף mean in the Bible?

אֶלֶף is a Hebrew word meaning "hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand".

How does the BSB render H505?

The BSB source-word alignment has 506 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (271), thousand (59), a thousand (24), of thousands (21), two thousand (7).

Where does אֶלֶף appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 20:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (104), 1 Chronicles (81), 2 Chronicles (62), Ezekiel (40).

Source Word Evidence

BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.

How English Renders It
. . .271×Exodus 12:37, Exodus 38:26, Numbers 1:21, Numbers 1:23
thousand59×Exodus 32:28, Numbers 31:5, Joshua 7:3, Joshua 7:4
a thousand24×Numbers 35:4, Deuteronomy 1:11, Deuteronomy 32:30, Judges 15:15
of thousands21×Genesis 24:60, Exodus 18:21, Exodus 18:25, Numbers 31:14
two thousand7×Numbers 35:5, 1 Samuel 13:2, 1 Kings 7:26, 2 Kings 18:23
1,2544×Ezra 2:7, Ezra 2:31, Nehemiah 7:12, Nehemiah 7:34
and a thousand4×Judges 20:10, 1 Samuel 13:2, 2 Kings 24:16, 1 Chronicles 29:21
for a thousand4×Deuteronomy 7:9, 1 Chronicles 12:14, 1 Chronicles 16:15, Psalms 105:8
-3×Numbers 31:4, Numbers 31:5, 1 Samuel 6:19
[his] thousands3×1 Samuel 18:7, 1 Samuel 21:11, 1 Samuel 29:5
1,000 {}3×Ezra 1:9, Nehemiah 7:70, Job 42:12
a thousand [cubits]3×Ezekiel 47:4, Ezekiel 47:5
of the clans3×Numbers 1:16, Numbers 10:4, Joshua 22:21
thousand [men]3×Judges 8:10, 1 Samuel 13:2, 2 Samuel 18:7
thousands3×Numbers 10:36, 1 Samuel 18:8, Psalms 68:17
to a thousand [generations]3×Exodus 20:6, Exodus 34:7, Deuteronomy 5:10
1,0172×Ezra 2:39, Nehemiah 7:42
1,0522×Ezra 2:37, Nehemiah 7:40
1,2472×Ezra 2:38, Nehemiah 7:41
2,1722×Ezra 2:3, Nehemiah 7:8
a thousand [shekels]2×2 Samuel 18:12, Song Of Solomon 8:11
among the clans2×Joshua 22:14, Micah 5:2
and 1,0002×Ezra 1:10, Job 42:12
The eleven2×Judges 17:2, Judges 17:3
[and] two thousand1×Numbers 35:5
[there were] 2,7001×1 Chronicles 26:32
[valued at] 1,0001×Ezra 8:27
[was] two thousand1×Numbers 7:85
1 ,7001×Judges 8:26
1,000,000 {}1×1 Chronicles 22:14
1,100,000 {}1×1 Chronicles 21:5
1,2221×Ezra 2:12
1,4001×2 Chronicles 1:14
1,400 {}1×1 Kings 10:26
1,7001×1 Chronicles 26:30
2,000 {}1×Nehemiah 7:72
2,000 more1×Judges 20:45
2,0561×Ezra 2:14
2,0671×Nehemiah 7:19
2,3001×Daniel 8:14
2,3221×Nehemiah 7:17
2,6001×2 Chronicles 35:8
2,8121×Ezra 2:6
2,8181×Nehemiah 7:11
a thousand [chariots]1×2 Samuel 8:4
a thousand [pieces]1×Genesis 20:16
a thousand {to flight}1×Joshua 23:10
a thousand men1×Numbers 31:4
a thousand strong1×Amos 5:3
about a thousand1×Judges 9:49
along with a thousand1×2 Samuel 19:17
among a thousand1×Ecclesiastes 7:28
and [repaired] a thousand1×Nehemiah 3:13
and 1,7601×1 Chronicles 9:13
and 1,7751×Exodus 38:25
and 2,0001×1 Chronicles 5:21
and 2,2001×Nehemiah 7:71
and 2,4001×Exodus 38:29
and by thousands1×2 Samuel 18:4
and clans1×1 Samuel 10:19
and thousands1×1 Samuel 29:2
are the thousands1×Deuteronomy 33:17
clans1×Joshua 22:30
commanders1×1 Chronicles 12:34
eleven hundred [shekels]1×Judges 16:5
my clan1×Judges 6:15
of [their] unit1×1 Samuel 17:18
of 1,000,000 men1×2 Chronicles 14:9
of a thousand men1×1 Samuel 18:13
of about two thousand1×Joshua 3:4
of the 1,3351×Daniel 12:12
on a thousand1×Psalms 50:10
out of [every] thousand1×Judges 20:10
So a thousand men1×Numbers 31:5
than a thousand elsewhere1×Psalms 84:10
than thousands [of pieces]1×Psalms 119:72
the clans1×1 Samuel 23:23
the thousand1×Numbers 31:6
the thousand [shekels]1×Song Of Solomon 8:12
there will be 1,2901×Daniel 12:11
Though a thousand1×Psalms 91:7
thousand [cors]1×2 Chronicles 27:5
thousand [shekels]1×2 Kings 5:5
thousand [will flee]1×Isaiah 30:17
thousand of us1×2 Samuel 18:3
to thousands1×Jeremiah 32:18
totaled 2,6301×Numbers 4:40
totaled 2,7501×Numbers 4:36
two1×Joshua 7:3
was 2,6001×2 Chronicles 26:12
were over the units1×Numbers 31:48
with 1,2001×2 Chronicles 12:3
with a thousand1×1 Samuel 25:2
With the 1,775 [shekels]1×Exodus 38:28
with thousands1×Micah 6:7
worth a thousand [shekels]1×Isaiah 7:23
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map

A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.

First aligned rowGenesis 20:16
Aligned rows506
Books represented25
Genesis2Exodus11Numbers104Deuteronomy6Joshua12Judges351 Samuel282 Samuel191 Kings212 Kings111 Chronicles812 Chronicles62Ezra19Nehemiah17Esther2Job8Psalms8Ecclesiastes2Song Of Solomon3Isaiah6Jeremiah3Ezekiel40Daniel3Amos1Micah2
Source forms
אֶ֖לֶף85x’e·lep̄Numbers 1:21, Numbers 1:23, Numbers 1:27, Numbers 1:29
אֲלָפִ֖ים33x’ă·lā·p̄îmNumbers 3:22, Numbers 3:34, Numbers 4:44, Numbers 31:36
אֶ֔לֶף31x’e·lep̄Numbers 1:25, Numbers 2:15, Numbers 3:43, Numbers 26:7
אֶ֛לֶף24x’e·lep̄Numbers 2:9, Numbers 2:16, Numbers 2:24, Numbers 31:32
אָ֑לֶף23x’ā·lep̄Numbers 31:38, Numbers 31:40, Joshua 8:25, Joshua 23:10
אֲלָפִ֔ים21x’ă·lā·p̄îmExodus 38:26, Numbers 2:32, Numbers 4:48, 2 Kings 14:7
אָֽלֶף׃20x’ā·lep̄Numbers 31:33, Numbers 31:34, Numbers 31:35, Numbers 31:44
אֲלָפִים֙20x’ă·lā·p̄îmExodus 18:21, Exodus 18:25, Numbers 3:28, Judges 3:29
Parsing patterns
Number - masculine singular259xGenesis 20:16, Exodus 12:37, Exodus 38:26, Numbers 1:21
Number - masculine plural119xExodus 18:21, Exodus 18:25, Exodus 38:26, Numbers 1:46
Number - md28xNumbers 4:36, Numbers 4:40, Numbers 7:85, Numbers 35:5
Number - masculine singular construct25xNumbers 35:4, Deuteronomy 1:11, Joshua 8:3, Judges 8:26
Article | Number - masculine plural14xNumbers 31:14, Numbers 31:48, Numbers 31:52, Numbers 31:54
Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular8xExodus 38:25, Numbers 3:50, Numbers 26:51, Judges 20:10
Number - masculine plural construct7xExodus 32:28, Numbers 10:36, Deuteronomy 33:17, Judges 4:10
Noun - masculine plural construct5xNumbers 1:16, Numbers 10:4, Joshua 22:21, Joshua 22:30
Sources