אֶחָד (H259) — Hebrew Lexicon

אֶחָד

𐤀𐤇𐤃

ʼechâd

H259 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

A cardinal numeral meaning 'one', indicating singularity, unity, or individual identity; used for counting, for emphasizing uniqueness or incomparability, for expressing 'each' or 'any one' within a group, and for describing unity or wholeness in both abstract and concrete senses. In construct forms or idioms, may denote 'first' or 'a certain (one)'.

Semantic Range

one (cardinal number), a single entity, united, each, every, any one, first (rare archaic), some, a certain (one), together as one, about one, alone, only, once (single instance), unique, indivisible

Root / Etymology

From the root אחד, meaning 'to be one, to unite, to join together'. אֶחָד is the regular masculine singular cardinal numeral derived from this root. The word expresses both the idea of singularity ('one') and unity ('united, together as one').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אֶחָד is the primary term for 'one' in counting (e.g., Genesis 1:5, 'day one'). It is used to indicate a singular member from a set (as in 'one man', 'one city'), and to underscore unity or indivisibility (as in Deuteronomy 6:4, 'YHWH is one'). The feminine form is אַחַת. Frequently used in distributive sense ('each', 'every one'), and for approximation ('about one', 'some'). The ordinal sense of 'first' is rare and primarily poetic or archaic, normally replaced by the distinct word רִאשׁוֹן ('first'). In certain idiomatic phrases (e.g., 'all as one', 'with one voice'), the concept of unity takes precedence over mere numeration. אֶחָד is distinct from similar words such as יָחַד or יַחְדָּו ('together'), which emphasize collective action rather than singular identity or unity. In later biblical and postbiblical Hebrew, אֶחָד remains the standard word for 'one', but may also function as an indefinite article ('a, an') in some late texts. English translations sometimes miss the nuance between singularity and unity, especially in theological contexts. The term does not carry the later theological connotations found in later Jewish or Christian traditions. The use of 'one' to evoke wholeness or completeness is widespread, but must be determined from context; not every usage implies metaphysical unity.

Translation Consistency

primary "one" 47 occurrences

ʼechâd is primarily the cardinal numeral 'one' and the vast majority of occurrences are best rendered as 'one'. This choice is the most natural and consistent English form for singularity, unity, 'each/any one', 'only/alone', and related idiomatic uses; rarer senses ('first', 'once', 'a certain') can be handled contextually while keeping the single base word 'one' across all forms.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):

"first" (1x) "few" (1x) "eleven" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,

Bantu Hebrew

Language	Bantu Word	Meaning
Bemba	Eka	one, alone, by oneself
Ewe	éɖé	one (cardinal numeral)
Fante	Ekor	one

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Root Family

אחד (Ohad) — to unite, to be one, to join together

Root אחד to be one, unite, be joined

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H161	אֹהַד	and Ohad
H2297	חַד	one
H258	אָחַד	Unite yourself
H261	אֵחוּד	Ehud

Word Forms

39 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H259-11`	אֶחָ֤ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one	472
`H259-03`	אַחַ֥ת	achat	`HAcfsa`	one	one	one	140
`H259-14`	הָ/אֶחָ֞ד	haechad	`HTd/Acmsa`	the one	the one	the one	100
`H259-12`	אֶחָֽת	echat	`HAcfsa`	one	one	one	33
`H259-15`	הָֽ/אֶחָ֔ת	haechat	`HTd/Acfsa`	the one	the one	the one	31
`H259-01`	אַחַד֙	achad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one	24
`H259-36`	וְ/אַחַ֣ת	veachat	`HC/Acfsa`	and one	and one	and one	21
`H259-37`	וְ/אֶחָד֙	veechad	`HC/Acmsa`	and one	and one	and one	20
`H259-13`	הָֽ/אַחַ֔ת	haachat	`HTd/Acfsa`	the one	the one	the one	19
`H259-06`	בְּ/אֶחָ֞ד	beechad	`HR/Acmsa`	on the first	in one	in one	18
`H259-16`	כְּ/אַחַ֣ד	keachad	`HR/Acmsc`	like one	as one	as one	12
`H259-04`	בְּ/אַחַ֣ד	beachad	`HR/Acmsc`	in one of	in one	in one	11
`H259-05`	בְּ/אַחַ֛ת	beachat	`HR/Acfsc`	with one	in one	in one	11
`H259-24`	לְ/אֶחָ֤ד	leechad	`HR/Acmsa`	to one	to one	to one	8
`H259-22`	לְ/אַחַ֖ד	leachad	`HR/Acmsa`	to one	to one	to one	6
`H259-18`	כְּ/אֶחָ֖ד	keechad	`HR/Acmsa`	together	as one	as one	5
`H259-23`	לְ/אַחַ֔ת	leachat	`HR/Acfsa`	in one	to one	to one	5
`H259-02`	אֲחָדִים֙	achadim	`HAcmpa`	few	single ones	ones	4
`H259-26`	מֵ/אַחַ֥ד	meachad	`HR/Acmsc`	from one	from one	from one	4
`H259-39`	וְ/הָ/אֶחָ֥ד	vehaechad	`HC/Td/Acmsa`	and-the one	and the one	and the one	4
`H259-08`	אחד	chd	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one	3
`H259-25`	לְ/אֶחָֽת	leechat	`HR/Acfsa`	to one	to one (feminine)	to one (feminine)	3
`H259-17`	כְּ/אַחַ֖ת	keachat	`HR/Acfsc`	like one	as one	as one	2
`H259-19`	כְ֠/אֶחָד	kheechad	`HR/Acmsa`	as one	as one	as one	2
`H259-21`	לָ/אֶחָ֑ד	laechad	`HRd/Acmsa`	for each one	to one	for one	2
`H259-27`	מֵ/אַחַ֖ת	meachat	`HR/Acfsa`	from one	from one	from one	2
`H259-38`	וְ/הָ/אַחַת֙	vehaachat	`HC/Td/Acfsa`	and the other	and the one	and the one	2
`H259-07`	בְּ/אֶחָֽת	beechat	`HR/Acfsa`	at once	in one	at once	1
`H259-09`	אחת	cht	`HAcfsa`	one	one	one	1
`H259-10`	אֶחָֽ	echa	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one	1
`H259-20`	לַ/אֲחָדִ֖ים	laachadim	`HR/Acmpa`	ones	to individual ones	to ones	1
`H259-28`	וּ/כְ/אַחַ֖ד	ukheachad	`HC/R/Acmsc`	and like one	and as one	and as one	1
`H259-29`	וּ/לְ/אַחַד֙	uleachad	`HC/R/Acmsa`	and the other	and to one	and to one	1
`H259-30`	וּ/לְ/אֶחָ֖ד	uleechad	`HC/R/Acmsa`		and to one	and to one	1
`H259-31`	וּ/בְ/אַחַ֖ת	uveachat	`HC/R/Acfsa`	altogether	and in one	and altogether	1
`H259-32`	וּ/בְ/אֶחָ֞ד	uveechad	`HC/R/Acmsa`	and on the first	and in one	and in one	1
`H259-33`	ב/אחד	vchd	`HR/Acmsa`	with one	in one	with one	1
`H259-34`	ב/אחת	vcht	`HR/Acfsc`	in-one	in one	in one	1
`H259-35`	וְ/אַחַ֤ד	veachad	`HC/Acmsc`	and eleven	and one	and eleven	1

Occurrences in Scripture

976 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H259-11`	Genesis 1:5	אֶחָֽד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 1:9	אֶחָ֔ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-14`	Genesis 2:11	הָֽ/אֶחָ֖ד	haechad	`HTd/Acmsa`	of the one	the one	the one
`H259-03`	Genesis 2:21	אַחַת֙	achat	`HAcfsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 2:24	אֶחָֽד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-16`	Genesis 3:22	כְּ/אַחַ֣ד	keachad	`HR/Acmsc`	like one	as one	as one
`H259-13`	Genesis 4:19	הָֽ/אַחַת֙	haachat	`HTd/Acfsa`	of the one	the one	the one
`H259-06`	Genesis 8:5	בְּ/אֶחָ֣ד	beechad	`HR/Acmsa`	on the first	in one	on the first
`H259-05`	Genesis 8:13	בְּ/אַחַ֨ת	beachat	`HR/Acfsa`	in the one	in one	in one
`H259-06`	Genesis 8:13	בְּ/אֶחָ֣ד	beechad	`HR/Acmsa`	on the first	in one	in one
`H259-14`	Genesis 10:25	הָֽ/אֶחָ֞ד	haechad	`HTd/Acmsa`	of the one	the one	the one
`H259-12`	Genesis 11:1	אֶחָ֑ת	echat	`HAcfsa`	one	one	one
`H259-02`	Genesis 11:1	אֲחָדִֽים	achadim	`HAcmpa`	one	single ones	ones
`H259-11`	Genesis 11:6	אֶחָד֙	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-03`	Genesis 11:6	אַחַת֙	achat	`HAcfsa`	one	one	one
`H259-14`	Genesis 19:9	הָ/אֶחָ֤ד	haechad	`HTd/Acmsa`	This one	the one	the one
`H259-01`	Genesis 21:15	אַחַ֥ד	achad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-01`	Genesis 22:2	אַחַ֣ד	achad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-01`	Genesis 26:10	אַחַ֤ד	achad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-03`	Genesis 27:38	אַחַ֤ת	achat	`HAcfsa`	one	one	one
`H259-02`	Genesis 27:44	אֲחָדִ֑ים	achadim	`HAcmpa`	few	single ones	a few
`H259-11`	Genesis 27:45	אֶחָֽד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-02`	Genesis 29:20	אֲחָדִ֔ים	achadim	`HAcmpa`	few	single ones	ones
`H259-13`	Genesis 32:9	הָ/אַחַ֖ת	haachat	`HTd/Acfsa`	one	the one	the one
`H259-01`	Genesis 32:23	אַחַ֥ד	achad	`HAcmsa`	eleven	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 33:13	אֶחָ֔ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 34:16	אֶחָֽד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 34:22	אֶחָ֑ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-35`	Genesis 37:9	וְ/אַחַ֤ד	veachad	`HC/Acmsc`	and eleven	and one	and eleven
`H259-04`	Genesis 37:20	בְּ/אַחַ֣ד	beachad	`HR/Acmsc`	into one	in one	in one
`H259-11`	Genesis 40:5	אֶחָ֔ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 41:5	אֶחָ֖ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 41:11	אֶחָ֖ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 41:22	אֶחָ֖ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 41:25	אֶחָ֣ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 41:26	אֶחָ֥ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 42:11	אֶחָ֖ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 42:13	אֶחָ֖ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-39`	Genesis 42:13	וְ/הָ/אֶחָ֖ד	vehaechad	`HC/Td/Acmsa`	and the one	and the one	and the one
`H259-11`	Genesis 42:16	אֶחָד֮	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Genesis 42:19	אֶחָ֔ד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-14`	Genesis 42:27	הָ/אֶחָ֜ד	haechad	`HTd/Acmsa`	one of them	the one	the one
`H259-14`	Genesis 42:32	הָ/אֶחָ֣ד	haechad	`HTd/Acmsa`	one	the one	the one
`H259-14`	Genesis 42:33	הָֽ/אֶחָד֙	haechad	`HTd/Acmsa`	one	the one	the one
`H259-14`	Genesis 44:28	הָֽ/אֶחָד֙	haechad	`HTd/Acmsa`	the one	the one	the one
`H259-01`	Genesis 48:22	אַחַ֖ד	achad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-16`	Genesis 49:16	כְּ/אַחַ֖ד	keachad	`HR/Acmsc`	as one	as one	as one
`H259-13`	Exodus 1:15	הָֽ/אַחַת֙	haachat	`HTd/Acfsa`	the one	the one	the one
`H259-11`	Exodus 8:27	אֶחָֽד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one
`H259-11`	Exodus 9:6	אֶחָֽד	echad	`HAcmsa`	one	one	one

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