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אָלַף

𐤀𐤋𐤐

ʼâlaph

H503 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אָלַף to be familiar, to accustom, to teach, to multiply (by thousands)

Definition

To cause to become familiar, to teach, to train, or to accustom. In some denominative derivations, to produce or increase by the thousands, or to cause something to multiply in large numbers. The semantic range of the verb encompasses both the sense of accustoming or instruction and, in specific denominative cases, the sense of producing or multiplying in large numbers (especially thousands).

Semantic Range

to teach, to instruct, to accustom, to make familiar, to tame; to multiply by thousands, to bring forth thousands, to produce abundantly

Root / Etymology

Root: אלף (ʼ-l-p). The core meaning of the root is related to being familiar, tame, or accustomed. From this root derives אָלַף as a verb meaning primarily 'to become or make familiar, to teach, train.' The denominative usage, particularly from אֶלֶף (ʼéleph, 'thousand'), gives rise to a causative sense, 'to cause to be a thousand, to increase/multiply in thousands.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In its most common verbal forms, אָלַף is used in the sense of teaching, instructing, or accustoming, often with connotations of making someone familiar or habituated to something (e.g., Job 15:5 'your mouth teaches your iniquity'). In some contexts (notably in poetic or rare forms), the denominative sense derived from אֶלֶף ('thousand') is used, giving a causative sense: 'to multiply by thousands,' or 'to produce thousands' (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:30, Psalm 144:13). This is a secondary, context-driven extension of the root. English translations sometimes obscure these distinct senses by emphasizing only one gloss. In later Hebrew (post-biblical), the meaning further solidifies to 'to teach' or 'to accustom.' The distinction between the instructional sense and the numerative-denominative sense should be observed in translation and exegesis, as context determines which nuance is active.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

denominative from אֶלֶף; causative, to make athousandfold; bring forth thousands.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אלף (ʾ-l-p) — to be familiar, to accustom, to teach, to multiply by thousands

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H441 אַלּוּף clan chief
H502 אָלַף the one training us
H504 אֶלֶף your clans
H505 אֶלֶף thousands
H506 אֲלַף one thousand

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H503-01 מַ֭אֲלִיפוֹת maalifot HVhrfpa may bring forth causing to multiply by thousands (feminine plural) 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H503-01 Psalms 144:13 מַ֭אֲלִיפוֹת maalifot HVhrfpa may bring forth causing to multiply by thousands (feminine plural)
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