Original Word: אֶחָד
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: echad
Pronunciation: eh-khad'
Phonetic Spelling: (ekh-awd')
KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
NASB: one, each, first, other, same, another, any
Word Origin: [a numeral from H258 (אָחַד - One)]

1. (properly) united, i.e. one
2. (as an ordinal) first

a, alike, alone, altogether, and, anything, apiece, a certain

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

see HEBREW 'achad

Word Origin
a prim. card. number
Definition
one
NASB Translation
151,450* (1), 41,500* (2), 61* (1), 61,000* (1), 621* (2), 721* (1), alike (1), all at once (1), alone (2), altogether (1), another (23), another into one (1), any (15), any one (2), any* (1), anyone* (1), apiece (1), certain (11), certain man (1), each (48), each one (4), each other (1), each* (4), eleven* (9), eleventh* (4), every (1), everyone (1), few (3), first (38), forty-first* (1), forty-one* (4), numbered (1), once (14), once* (4), one (586), one and on another (1), one and the other (2), one at the other (1), one can him who (1), one the other (1), one to another (1), one will to another (1), one another (4), one thing (2), one thing to another (1), one-tenth (1), one-tenth for each (1), only (2), other (27), other was one (1), outermost* (1), same (25), same one (1), single (15), some (2), thirty-first* (1), thirty-one* (3), together (3), twenty-first* (4), twenty-one* (4), uniformly* (2), unique (4), unison (1), unit (4), united (1), whom (1).

אֶחָד₉₆₂ adjective number one (Phoenician אחד, Sabean id., compare DHM^{ZMG 1876, 707}, Arabic , Ethiopic Aramaic חַד, ; on Assyrian edu, a—adu, compare Dl^{W No. 139}) — absolute׳א Genesis 1:5 #NAME?אַחַ֫ד Genesis 21:15 +; so even before preposition 1 Samuel 9:3 and elsewhere see Dr; feminine absolute אַחַ֫ת Genesis 2:21 +; אֶחָ֑ת Genesis 11:1 +; construct אַחַ֫ת Deuteronomy 13:13 +; plural masculine אֲחָדִים Genesis 11:1 + 4:t.; חַד Ezekiel 33:30 strike out Co compare ᵐ5; —

1 one Genesis 1:9; Genesis 27:38,45; Exodus 12:49; Joshua 23:10; 1 Samuel 1:24; 2 Samuel 12:3 +, Zechariah 14:9; Malachi 2:10; Job 31:15 +, so also (emphatic) 2 Samuel 17:3 for ᵑ0 אֲשֶׁר ᵐ5 We Dr; one or two לֹא לְיוֺם אֶחָד וְלֹא לִשְׁנַיִם Ezra 10:13; as substantive followed by מִן Genesis 2:21; Leviticus 4:2,13; Isaiah 34:16 +; ׳הָא Genesis 19:9; Genesis 42:13,32; 2 Kings 6:3,5 +; one and the same Genesis 40:5; Job 31:15; plural דְּבָרִים אֲחָדִים Genesis 11:1 compare Ezekiel 37:17 (absolute), but see Co; = few, a few ׳יָמִים א Genesis 27:44; Genesis 29:20; Daniel 11:20; כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד as one man, together Judges 20:8; 1 Samuel 11:7; also כְּאֶחָד late = Aramaic כַּחֲדָא Ezra 2:64 (= Nehemiah 7:66) Ezra 3:9; Ezra 6:20; Ecclesiastes 11:6; see especially Isaiah 65:25 ("" earlier יַחְדֶּו Isaiah 11:6,7).

2 = each, every Exodus 36:30; Numbers 7:3,85; Numbers 28:21; 1 Kings 4:7; 2 Kings 15:20 +; also repeated, distributive sense Numbers 7:11; Numbers 13:2; Numbers 17:21; Joshua 3:12; Joshua 4:2,4.

3 = a certain 1 Samuel 1:1; 2 Samuel 18:10; 2 Kings 4:1; Esther 3:8 #NAME? 2 Samuel 17:9 see Dr 1 Samuel 1:1; hence

4 = indefinite article 1 Samuel 6:7; 1 Samuel 24:15; 1 Samuel 26:20 (but strike out ᵐ5 We Dr) 1 Kings 19:4,5 +.

5 only 1 Kings 4:19; & (feminine) once 2 Kings 6:10; Psalm 62:12; Psalm 89:36 (once for all); אַחַת לְשָׁלוֺשׁ שָׁנִים2Chronicles 9:21, בַּשָּׁנָה ׳א Leviticus 16:34 compare Job 40:5, מַּעַם אֶחָ֑ת Joshua 6:3,11 compare Joshua 6:14, בְּאַחַת Numbers 10:4; Job 33:14; at once בְּאֶחָ֑ת Proverbs 28:18 compare וְאִנָּקְמֶה נְקַםאַֿחַת Judges 16:28. **Num 10:4 בְּאַחַת is rather 'in one (of the trumpets)'; Job 33:14 it = in one way; Proverbs 28:18 read probably with ᵑ6 Lag Dy Bi בַּשָּׁ֑חַת; Judges 16:28 is rather 'vengeance for one of my two eyes' (see GFM). Jeremiah 10:8 בְּאַחַת probably = in one, altogether. אחד.

6 one . . . another, the one . . . the other ׳֗֗֗ א ׳א Exodus 17:12; Exodus 18:3,4; Amos 4:7; 2 Samuel 12:1; Jeremiah 24:2; 2Chronicles 3:17; Nehemiah 4:11 +; 2 Samuel 14:6 read הָאֶחָד אֶתאָֿחִיו for האחד אתהֿאחד ᵐ5 We Dr; one after another, one by one, לְאַחַד אֶחָד Isaiah 27:12 compare Ecclesiastes 7:27.

7 as ordinal, first (mostly P & late) Genesis 1:5 (P) Genesis 2:11 (J) Exodus 39:10 (P); absolute Job 42:14, Ezekiel 10:14 especially of first day of month Exodus 40:2 (P) Ezra 3:6; Ezra 10:16,17; Nehemiah 8:2; Haggai 1:1; first year, שְׁנַת אַחַת2Chronicles 36:22; Ezra 1:1; Daniel 1:21; Daniel 9:1,2; Daniel 11:1 compare first (day, יוֺם omitted) Genesis 8:5,13 בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ; so Exodus 40:17; Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 1:18; Numbers 29:1; Numbers 33:38 (all P) Deuteronomy 1:3; 2Chronicles 29:17; Ezra 7:9 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 26:1; Ezekiel 29:17; Ezekiel 31:1; Ezekiel 32:1; Ezekiel 45:18.

8 in combin.,

a. אַחַד עָשָׂר eleven (compare עָשָׂר, עַשְׁתֵּי) Genesis 32:23; Genesis 37:9 (JE) Deuteronomy 1:2; so אַחַתעֶֿשְׂרֵה Joshua 15:51 (P) 2 Kings 23:36; 2 Kings 24:18; 2Chronicles 36:5,11; Jeremiah 52:1 (precedes noun, except Joshua 15:51; as ordinal, eleventh אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה Ezekiel 30:20; Ezekiel 31:1 compare 1 Kings 6:38; 2 Kings 9:29;

b. with other numerals, as cardinal אֶחָד וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֺת Numbers 1:41; compare Numbers 2:16,28; Numbers 31:34,39 (all P; ׳א precedes other numeral); but אַרְבָּיִם וְאַחַת שָׁנָה (׳א following) 1 Kings 14:21; 1 Kings 15:10; 2 Kings 14:23; 2Chronicles 12:13 compare 2 Kings 22:1 2Chronicles 34:1; 2 Kings 24:18 = Jeremiah 52:1 2Chronicles 36:11; Joshua 12:24 (D) Isaiah 30:17; Ezra 2:26 = Nehemiah 7:30 compare Nehemiah 7:37; Daniel 10:13; as ordinal בְּאַחַת וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֺת שָׁנָה Genesis 8:13 (P) Exodus 12:18 (P), 1 Chronicles 24:17; 1 Chronicles 25:28; 2Chronicles 16:13 (׳א preceding); but 1 Kings 16:23; Haggai 2:1 (׳א following).

אחד (√ of following; see Biblical Hebrew אֶחָד.

חַד adjective one, a; — masculine singular ׳ח Daniel 2:31+; feminine singular חֲדָה Ezra 4:8 +; —

1 one side Daniel 7:5; noun omitted Daniel 6:3; חֲדָה Daniel 2:9 = one and invariable (inevitable); כַּחֲדָה Daniel 2:35 as one, altogether (so S-C^{K 3} ᵑ7, and late Biblical Hebrew כְּאֶחָד Ezra 2:64 +); = ordinal, שְׁנַת חֲדָה first year Ezra 7:1; Ezra 5:13; Ezra 6:3; ׳ח = a certain one (τινὰ) Daniel 7:16 (with מִן partitive).

2 a (indefinite article) with substantive Daniel 2:31; Daniel 6:18; Daniel 4:16 (see שָׁעָה), Ezra 4:8; Ezra 6:2, חַד שִׁדְעָךְ Daniel 3:19 = seven-fold (as Syriac: Nö^{§ 241 PS 1194}; compare Exodus 16:5 ᵑ6), see K^{§ 66, 2}.

Meaning and Range of Usage

אֶחָד functions as the ordinary Hebrew word for “one,” but its reach is far wider than simple arithmetic. It can mark singularity (“one lampstand,” Exodus 25:31), priority (“first day,” Genesis 1:5), individuality (“each man,” Exodus 16:16), a particular but unnamed item or person (“a certain man,” 1 Samuel 1:1), or collective unity (“one people,” Genesis 11:6). Used about 967 times, the term weaves through historical narrative, legal material, poetry, prophecy, and wisdom literature, providing a foundational thread of unity, identity, and exclusivity.

Divine Unity and the Shema

The most celebrated appearance is Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One!”. Here אֶחָד proclaims the exclusive, indivisible sovereignty of the covenant God over against polytheism. The Shema became Israel’s daily confession, recited morning and evening, shaping worship, ethics, and national identity. Jesus affirms the same declaration in Mark 12:29, linking אֶחָד to the core of faithful obedience.

Creation and Cosmic Order

Genesis opens by counting creative days, but the first is uniquely labelled “one day” (Genesis 1:5), not “first” in a sequence. The wording highlights completeness and sets the pattern that each successive day will mirror. אֶחָד thus establishes order from the start, grounding time, rhythm, and Sabbath theology.

Covenant Community and Corporate Identity

Israel is repeatedly called to be “one congregation” (Numbers 15:15) under one law. The phrase underlines corporate responsibility—whether in worship assemblies (Leviticus 24:22) or military censuses (Numbers 1:44)—and counters tribal or class fragmentation. Even when the monarchy divided, prophets looked forward to reunification as “one nation in the land” (Ezekiel 37:22).

Sacrifice, Worship, and Ritual Precision

In the tabernacle ordinances, אֶחָד specifies singular animals or objects to ensure exact compliance: “one male lamb a year old without blemish” (Leviticus 14:10) or the “one golden plate” for the high priest’s turban (Exodus 39:30). Such precision protects the holiness of worship and the purity of Israel’s offerings.

Social and Judicial Applications

Legal passages deploy אֶחָד to insist on impartiality: “You shall have one statute for the foreigner and the native-born” (Numbers 15:16). Deuteronomy 17:6 tempers capital cases by requiring “two or three witnesses,” implying that the testimony of a single (אֶחָד) witness is insufficient. Justice in Israel must resist the danger of a lone, uncorroborated claim.

Marriage and Family

Genesis 2:24 anticipates the unifying power of covenant marriage: “and they shall become one flesh.” In Malachi 2:15 the prophet asks, “Has not the one God made you? You belong to Him in body and spirit.” The singularity of God grounds the singular devotion expected within marriage, foreshadowing New Testament teaching that husband and wife symbolize Christ and His church.

Prophetic Vision of Restored Oneness

Ezekiel 37, Zechariah 14:9, and Isaiah 11:13 project a future when divided kingdoms, scattered peoples, and rival loyalties will be gathered under “one King,” “one Shepherd,” and “one Name.” אֶחָד is the hallmark of eschatological harmony when the nations will stream to Zion and the earth will acknowledge the singular lordship of God.

Messianic Overtones and Christological Fulfillment

Zechariah 11:12–13 speaks of “thirty pieces of silver,” but verse 8 quietly introduces “one month” in which three shepherds are dismissed—compressing judgment into a single span. The evangelists trace the fulfillment in the Passion narrative, where the Shepherd binds scattered sheep into one flock (John 10:16). In New Testament perspective, the unity foretold by אֶחָד blossoms in the church, where Jew and Gentile are “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15).

Literary Function and Narrative Flow

Hebrew prose often opens a scene with אֶחָד to introduce a key character or focus attention: “Now there was a certain (אֶחָד) man of Zorah” (Judges 13:2). Poetry uses it for contrast and climax: “For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me” (Psalm 32:4, lit. “in day and night”), intensifying the psalmist’s experience by merging temporal extremes into one continuous pressure.

Intertestamental and New Testament Resonance

Second Temple liturgy continued the Shema, and the synagogue’s singular confession laid groundwork for apostolic preaching. Paul cites it directly: “There is one God” (1 Timothy 2:5). James urges consistent allegiance: “You believe that God is one. Good!” (James 2:19). The early church proclaimed unity of essence within the Godhead while maintaining monotheism, a tension traceable to אֶחָד.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Worship: Churches reciting creeds echo the Shema’s insistence on focused adoration.
2. Unity: Congregations fractured by division recall that Christ prayed “that they may be one” (John 17:21), standing on the Old Testament precedent of corporate oneness.
3. Marriage and Family Counseling: Counselors appeal to Genesis 2:24 when nurturing covenant commitment.
4. Justice and Mercy: Social ministries draw from the “one statute” principle to champion equitable treatment of outsiders and locals alike.
5. Eschatology and Missions: Evangelism is propelled by the conviction that the Lord will be King over all the earth, His Name one (Zechariah 14:9).

Selected Key References

Genesis 1:5; Genesis 2:24; Genesis 11:6; Exodus 25:31; Leviticus 14:10; Numbers 15:15–16; Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 17:6; Joshua 22:20; Judges 13:2; 1 Samuel 1:1; Psalm 133:1; Isaiah 11:13; Ezekiel 37:22; Zechariah 14:9; Malachi 2:10; Mark 12:29; John 10:16; John 17:21; Ephesians 2:15; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19.

Through these manifold appearances, אֶחָד anchors Scripture’s testimony to the singularity of God, the wholeness of His people, and the ultimate harmony He purposes in redemption.

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