Lexical Definition

‎אָלַף‎ ʼâlaph (aw-laf') to produce thousands ^H:V
denominative from ‎אֶלֶף‎

bring forth thousands.

• causative, to make athousandfold

v
1) (CLBL) to make thousand-fold, bring forth thousands
2) (TWOT) (Hiphil) producing thousands
n m
3)(BDB) chief, chiliarch

Extended Information

• v
• n m

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. ‎אֶ֫לֶף‎ noun masculine^{Judg 6:15} thousand (‎אלף‎ MI, SI, Sabean DHM^{ZMG 1875, 615}; Arabic , Aramaic , ‎אֲלַף‎, ‎אלפיא‎) — ‎׳‎‎) א‎‎׳‎‎(אָ֑‎ Gen 20:16 +; suffix ‎אַלְפִּי‎ Judg 6:15 dual ‎אַלְפַּיִם‎ Num 4:36 +; plural ‎אֲלָפִים‎ Exod 18:21 +; construct ‎אַלְפֵי‎ Exod 32:28 +; ‎אֲלָפֶיךָ‎ Deut 7:13 + 2 t.; ‎אֲלָפָיו‎ Qr 1Sam 18:7 + 2 t. (Kt ‎פֿו‎) — a thousand.

1. numeral:
a. used with noun alone; mostly before noun Num 35:4; Josh 7:3; Neh 3:13; 1Chr 18:4 +; after noun (late) 1Chr 12:35* + 6 t. Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah; ‎בָּאַפָּה‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Num 35:5 (4 t. in verse); Ezek 47:3 (strike out Co); the noun always plural when preceding, sometimes when following, 1Sam 25:2; 1Kgs 3:4; 2Kgs 18:23 = Isa 36:8; 2Chr 30:24; Ps 90:4; Job 42:12; Eccl 6:6 elsewhere singular ‎אישׁ‎ Judg 9:49; Judg 15:15; Judg 15:16; Josh 7:3 +; ‎אַמָּה‎ Num 35:4 + (so SI); ‎דּוֺר‎ Deut 7:9 +, compare 1Chr 18:4; 1Chr 19:6; 2Kgs 15:19; Job 42:12; Song 4:4; Isa 7:23, noun sometimes collective; ‎׳‎‎א‎ plural construct Mic 6:7; Ps 119:72; Gen 24:60 noun not expressed (or not fully) Gen 20:16; Num 31:5; Num 31:6 +; distributive ‎אֶלֶף ֗֗֗ אֶלֶף‎ Num 31:4 multiplicative Deut 1:11 ‎פְּעָמִים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎; indefinite for great number (plural) Exod 20:6; Exod 34:7; Deut 5:10; Jer 32:18, (singular) Deut 32:30; Eccl 6:6 +.
b. ‎׳‎‎א‎ + other number usually precedes it Exod 38:25 + often; but following ‎רִבּוֺא‎ Ezra 2:64 + 2 t.; it follows also smaller number Num 3:50; 1Kgs 5:12* (so SI); the noun following in singular Exod 28:25 + 8 t.; plural 2Sam 8:4 + 2 t.; noun precedes, in plural (late) Dan 12:12 + 2 t.; noun not expressed Exod 38:28 + often
c. ‎׳‎‎א‎ X other number always following Exod 12:37 +; usual order is no. X ‎׳‎‎א‎ + additional no. (if any) + noun (if expressed) Num 31:52; Judg 20:35 compare Exod 12:37; 2Kgs 3:4 (twice in verse) +; less often noun + no. X ‎׳‎‎א‎ Num 31:33; 1Kgs 8:63 +; (other combinations see Exod 38:26; Num 26:51; Num 31:32; Ezek 48:30; 1Chr 29:7 etc.); ‎׳‎‎א‎ usually singular Num 11:21 +; except after units, where plural absolute Num 1:46; Judg 20:34 + (so MI); seldom plural construct Exod 32:28; Judg 4:10; Job 1:3 (twice in verse); (noun mostly singular when following Judg 4:10; 1Kgs 12:21+, yet plural Josh 4:13; 1Sam 13:5 +; when preceding it is plural 1Chr 5:21 +, or collective Num 31:33; 1Sam 25:2; 1Kgs 8:63; 2Chr 7:5 +); ‎אֶלֶף אֲלָפִים‎ 1Chr 21:5; 1Chr 22:14; 2Chr 14:8* ‎אַלְפֵי שִׁנְאָן‎ Ps 68:18*, compare ‎שִׁנְאָן‎; ‎בְּהַרֲרֵי אָ֑לֶף‎ Ps 50:10, read ‎אֵל‎ compare Ps 36:7*, Ol Bi Che; yet see Hup De. —

Note. 10,000 = ‎עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים‎ etc. Judg 1:4; Judg 3:29; 1Kgs 5:28*; 1Chr 29:7 +; less often ‎רִבּוֺ‎, ‎רְבָבָה‎ etc. q. v.

2. a thousand, a company of 1000 men, as united under one superior, or leader, hence ‎׳‎‎(שָׂרֵי) שַׂר א‎ Exod 18:21; Exod 18:25 compare Num 31:14 +; compare ‎יִשְׂרָאֵל‎ ‎׳‎‎רָאשֵׁי א‎ Num 1:16; Num 10:4; Josh 22:21; Josh 22:30 & see below; compare also 1Sam 29:2 especially family, etc. Judg 6:15; 1Sam 10:19 (|| ‎שֵׁבֶט‎ & compare ‎מִשְׁפַּחַת‎ v1Sam 10:21); compare Mic 5:2* — Num 10:36 (‎רִבְבוֺת אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל‎) Num 31:5; Josh 22:14; 1Sam 23:23 apparently shew transition to this technical use. **[‎אָלַף‎] verb denominative Hiph`il Ps 144:13 ‎מַאֲלִיפוֺת‎ producing thousands (subject ‎צאֹן‎).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References