אָ֑לֶף
𐤀𐤋𐤐
alef
a thousand
prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand.
H505
1 Chronicles 12:35 · Word #3
Lexicon H505
| Lemma | אֶלֶף |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤀𐤋𐤐 |
| Transliteration | ʼeleph |
| Strong's | H505 |
| In-context | a thousand |
Morphology HAcbsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | A — Adjective — Describes a noun |
| Subtype | c — Cardinal Number — Cardinal number |
| Gender | b — Both — Both (masculine and feminine) |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
SIBI-P1 H505-02
a thousand-unit
| Root | אלף (ʾ-l-p) |
| Core Meanings | ox, clan, tribal unit, thousand, familiarity, leadership |
| Semantic Range | thousand (numerical), clan, tribal subdivision, military contingent, large group, chief (in related forms such as אַלּוּף). |
| Conceptual Significance | אֶלֶף reflects Israel’s social and military organization, where numbers often signify structured clan-units rather than abstract quantities. Its use connects counting with covenant community structure, strength, and ordered leadership within the tribes of Israel. |
| Morphological Notes | Masculine singular common noun in the absolute state (HAcbsa). Functions numerically as "one thousand" but grammatically remains singular. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun אֶלֶף is masculine singular absolute, so the rendering preserves singular form with "a." Rather than a bare numeral, "thousand-unit" reflects the likely older sense of a clan or military grouping (originally associated with the ox as a symbol of strength and leadership), preserving the root’s connection to organized groups and strength. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root אלף (ox, clan, tribal unit, thousand, familiarity, leadership)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H504-01 |
alafeykha | your clan-thousands |
H505-01 |
alafim | thousands |
H505-03 |
alefey | thousands of |
|
alepa | the thousand |
H505-04 |
alepayim | two clan-thousands |
H504-02 |
alepi | my clan-group |
H441-01 |
aluf | clan-chief |
H441-02 |
alufey | trained chiefs of |
H441-03 |
alufi | my familiar companion |
H505-05 |
baalafayv | in his thousands |
H505-06 |
bealefey | in thousands of |
H505-07 |
beelef | in a thousand |
H505-08 |
elef | a thousand |
H505-09 |
haalafim | the thousands |
H505-10 |
haalef | the thousand |
H505-11 |
haelef | the Thousand |
H505-12 |
kealepayim | as two-thousands |
H505-13 |
keelef | like a thousand |
H505-14 |
laalafim | to thousands |
H505-15 |
laelef | to the thousand |
H505-16 |
lealef | to a thousand-clan |
H505-17 |
lealefey | to thousands of |
H505-18 |
leelef | to a thousand |
H506-01 |
lfym | thousands |
H505-19 |
mealef | than a clan-thousand |
H505-20 |
mealefey | from the thousands of |
H505-21 |
meelef | from a thousand |
H505-22 |
ulealefeykhem | and to your thousands |
H505-23 |
vaalef | and one thousand |
H505-24 |
vaelef | and a thousand |
H505-25 |
vealepayim | and two thousand |
H505-26 |
veelef | and one thousand |
H504-03 |
vehaalafim | and the yoked-oxen |
H505-27 |
velaalafim | and to the thousands |
H505-28 |
vlfv | in his thousands |
Word Usage (507 occurrences of H505)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 20:16 | אֶ֤לֶף | elef | a thousand |
| Genesis 24:60 | לְ/אַלְפֵ֣י | lealefey | thousands of |
| Exodus 12:37 | אֶ֧לֶף | elef | thousand |