Original Word: אֶלֶף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: eleph
Pronunciation: EH-lef
Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-lef)
KJV: thousand
NASB: thousand, thousands, 1,000, 2,000, clans, divisions, families
Word Origin: [properly, the same as H504 (אֶלֶף - herd)]

1. a thousand
{the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, this was eventually used as a numeral}

thousand

Prop, the same as 'eleph; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand -- thousand.

see HEBREW 'eleph

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
a thousand
NASB Translation
1,000 (18), 1,000,000* (2), 1,005* (1), 1,017* (2), 1,052* (2), 1,100,000* (3), 1,200* (1), 1,222* (1), 1,247* (2), 1,254* (4), 1,290* (1), 1,335* (1), 1,365* (1), 1,400* (2), 1,700* (3), 1,760* (1), 1,775* (2), 10,000* (20), 100,000* (7), 108,100* (2), 12,000* (8), 120,000* (5), 14,000* (1), 14,700* (1), 15,000* (1), 151,450* (2), 153,600* (2), 157,600* (2), 16,000* (2), 16,750* (1), 17,200* (1), 18,000* (7), 180,000* (3), 185,000* (2), 186,400* (3), 2,000 (5), 2,056* (1), 2,067* (1), 2,172* (2), 2,200* (1), 2,300* (1), 2,322* (1), 2,400* (2), 2,600* (2), 2,630* (1), 2,700* (1), 2,750* (1), 2,812* (1), 2,818* (1), 20,000* (10), 20,200* (1), 20,800* (1), 200,000* (4), 22,000* (7), 22,034* (1), 22,200* (1), 22,273* (1), 22,600* (1), 23,000* (1), 24,000* (15), 25,000* (16), 25,100* (1), 250,000* (1), 26,000* (2), 27,000* (1), 28,600* (1), 280,000* (2), 3,000* (11), 3,023* (1), 3,200* (1), 3,300* (1), 3,600* (2), 3,630* (1), 3,700* (1), 3,930* (1), 30,000* (5), 30,500* (2), 300,000* (4), 307,500* (2), 32,000* (2), 32,200* (2), 32,500* (1), 337,500* (6), 35,400* (2), 36,000* (3), 37,000* (1), 38,000* (1), 4,000* (3), 4,500* (8), 4,600* (2), 40,000* (5), 40,500* (3), 400,000* (3), 41,500* (2), 42,000* (1), 42,360* (2), 43,730* (1), 44,760* (1), 45,400* (1), 45,600* (1), 45,650* (2), 46,500* (2), 470,000* (1), 5,000* (7), 5,400* (1), 50,000* (2), 50,070* (1), 500,000* (1), 52,700* (1), 53,400* (3), 54,400* (2), 57,400* (2), 59,300* (2), 6,000* (3), 6,200* (1), 6,720* (2), 6,800* (1), 60,000* (1), 60,500* (1), 600,000* (1), 601,730* (2), 603,550* (6), 61,000* (2), 62,700* (2), 64,300* (1), 64,400* (1), 675,000* (3), 7,000* (8), 7,100* (1), 7,337* (2), 7,500* (1), 7,700* (2), 70,000* (4), 72,000* (1), 74,600* (2), 75,000* (1), 76,500* (1), 8,580* (1), 8,600* (1), 80,000* (3), 800,000* (1), 87,000* (1), clan (1), clans (2), divisions (2), eleven* (3), families (2), family (1), million (1), thousand (78), thousand-fold* (1), thousands (41), thousandth (1).

אֲלַ֑ף noun masculine 1,000 (= Biblical Hebrew II. אֶ֫לֶף); — absolute ׳א (noun person precedes) Daniel 5:1; noun omitted, emphatic אַלְמָּא Daniel 5:1 the thousand (just mentioned); construct + plural absolute אֶ֫לֶף אֲלָפִ֯ים Daniel 7:10 a thousand thousands (< Qr אַלְפִין K^{§ 51, 2}).

Range and Distribution

אֶלֶף occurs roughly 505 times, appearing in every major division of the Hebrew canon—Law, Prophets, and Writings—thereby permeating Israel’s narrative, poetry, prophecy, and administrative records. Its breadth of use underscores its indispensability for expressing magnitude, organization, and promise.

Literal Numerical Sense: “One Thousand”

Most frequently אֶלֶף designates the cardinal number one thousand. It measures:
• Population (Numbers 1:46; Judges 20:2).
• Weight and value (Exodus 38:25–26).
• Distance (Joshua 3:4).
• Time (Psalms 84:10; Ecclesiastes 6:6).

The term thus supplies Scripture with a precise, repeatable unit by which Israel understands and records covenant obedience, military strength, and economic stewardship.

Military and Census Applications

Census lists consistently count in units of “thousands” and “hundreds,” reflecting divinely ordered societal structure (Numbers 1:16; Numbers 31:4–5). Moses appoints “rulers of thousands” to share judicial burden (Exodus 18:21, 25), a pattern mirrored in later monarchy (1 Samuel 8:12). These divisions demonstrate God’s concern for both scalability and accountability within His people.

Clan and Kinship Usage

In several contexts אֶלֶף functions as a social subdivision roughly equivalent to a clan (Judges 6:15; 1 Samuel 10:19). Such usage clarifies genealogical records and land inheritance, showing that covenant blessings flow through identifiable family groupings.

Cultic and Devotional Perspective

Sacrificial language often accents the insufficiency of vast quantities to purchase redemption. “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalms 50:10) magnifies divine ownership. Similarly, Solomonic hyperbole—“He offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar” (1 Kings 3:4)—stresses wholehearted devotion rather than arithmetic precision.

Poetic Hyperbole and Metaphor

Hebrew poetry employs אֶלֶף to evoke superlatives:
• “Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalms 84:10).
• “Though a thousand fall at your side… it will not come near you” (Psalms 91:7).

Such lines deepen contrast between human limitation and divine sufficiency.

Prophetic and Eschatological Resonance

Isaiah foretells that “A thousand will flee at the threat of one” (Isaiah 30:17), warning covenant breakers, while later promising exponential blessing: “The least of you will become a thousand” (Isaiah 60:22). Micah 5:2 roots Messianic hope in Bethlehem Ephrathah, “too little to be among the thousands of Judah,” yet destined to birth the everlasting Ruler. Thus the term frames both judgment and hope, converging in the Messiah.

Wisdom Literature

Proverbs 17:10 contrasts the impact of rebuke with “a hundred lashes,” echoing the thousand-hundred pairing of proportionality. Ecclesiastes 7:28 laments, “One man among a thousand have I found,” exposing human scarcity of righteousness and preparing hearts for the One truly righteous Man.

Typology and Christological Foreshadowing

Solomon’s “one thousand” songs (1 Kings 4:32) point to the greater Wisdom embodied in Christ. The psalmist’s “one day… better than a thousand” directs ultimate satisfaction to God’s presence, fulfilled through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus, who reigns for a “thousand years” in Revelation 20—a term that, while Greek in that passage, mirrors the Hebrew idea of comprehensive completeness.

Practical Ministry Reflections

1. Stewardship: Like ancient Israel, congregations today track resources and people; numerical clarity honors God’s order.
2. Leadership: The “rulers of thousands” model scalable pastoral oversight (compare Acts 6:1–7).
3. Worship: Extravagant offerings, whether “a thousand burnt offerings” or a widow’s mite, flow from hearts captured by grace, not mere calculation.
4. Hope: Isaiah’s promise that “the least… will become a thousand” fuels missionary expectation that small beginnings, blessed by God, yield multiplied harvest.

Summary

אֶלֶף weaves together arithmetic precision, covenant community, poetic depth, and prophetic promise. Whether counting soldiers, clans, or blessings, the term steadily points beyond itself to the God who owns every number, fulfills every promise, and multiplies grace beyond human measure.

אֲלָפִ֑ים אֲלָפִ֔ים אֲלָפִ֖ים אֲלָפִ֗ים אֲלָפִ֛ים אֲלָפִ֜ים אֲלָפִ֣ים אֲלָפִ֤ים אֲלָפִ֥ים אֲלָפִ֨ים אֲלָפִֽים׃ אֲלָפִים֙ אֲלָפִים֩ אֲלָפִים֮ אִֽישׁ׃ אֶ֔לֶף אֶ֕לֶף אֶ֖לֶף אֶ֗לֶף אֶ֙לֶף֙ אֶ֚לֶף אֶ֛לֶף אֶ֜לֶף אֶ֣לֶף אֶ֤לֶף אֶ֥לֶף אֶ֥לֶף ׀ אֶ֧לֶף אֶ֨לֶף אֶ֪לֶף אֶֽלֶף־ אֶלֶף֩ אַלְפֵ֖י אַלְפֵ֣י אַלְפֵ֤י אַלְפֵ֥י אַלְפֵי־ אַלְפַּ֕יִם אַלְפַּ֖יִם אַלְפַּ֗יִם אַלְפַּ֙יִם֙ אַלְפַּ֛יִם אַלְפַּ֣יִם אַלְפַּ֥יִם אַלְפַּ֨יִם אַלְפַּ֪יִם אַלְפָּ֑יִם אָ֑לֶף אָ֔לֶף אָֽלֶף׃ איש׃ אלף אלף־ אלף׃ אלפי אלפי־ אלפים בְּאֶ֣לֶף בְּאֶ֤לֶף בְּאַלְפֵ֣י בַּֽאֲלָפָ֔יו בַּאֲלָפָ֔יו באלף באלפי באלפיו הָֽאֲלָפִ֔ים הָֽאֲלָפִ֣ים ׀ הָאֲלָפִ֑ים הָאֲלָפִ֖ים הָאֲלָפִ֛ים הָאֲלָפִ֣ים הָאֲלָפִ֥ים הָאֲלָפִ֨ים הָאֲלָפִים֙ הָאֶ֜לֶף הָאֶ֤לֶף הָאָ֑לֶף האלף האלפים וְאֶ֗לֶף וְאֶ֣לֶף וְאֶ֤לֶף וְאֶ֥לֶף וְאֶ֨לֶף וְאֶֽלֶף־ וְאֶלֶף֩ וְאַלְפַּ֥יִם וְלַאֲלָפִ֑ים וְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃ וָאֶ֔לֶף וָאֶ֖לֶף וָאָ֑לֶף וָאָֽלֶף׃ וּלְאַלְפֵיכֶֽם׃ ואלף ואלף־ ואלף׃ ואלפים ולאלפיכם׃ ולאלפים ולאלפים׃ כְּאֶ֖לֶף כְּאַלְפַּ֣יִם כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִם כאלף כאלפים לְאֶ֣לֶף לְאֶ֥לֶף לְאַלְפֵ֣י לְאַלְפֵ֥י לְאָֽלֶף׃ לַֽאֲלָפִ֑֔ים לַֽאֲלָפִ֔ים לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים לָאֲלָפִ֔ים לָאֶ֔לֶף לָאֶ֙לֶף֙ לאלף לאלף׃ לאלפי לאלפים מֵ֝אַלְפֵ֗י מֵ֫אָ֥לֶף מֵאֶ֙לֶף֙ מֵאַלְפֵ֣י מאלף מאלפי שָׂרִ֣ים שרים ’ă·lā·p̄îm ’ā·lep̄ ’al·pa·yim ’al·pā·yim ’al·p̄ê ’al·p̄ê- ’ălāp̄îm ’ālep̄ ’alpayim ’alpāyim ’alp̄ê ’alp̄ê- ’e·lep̄ ’e·lep̄- ’elep̄ ’elep̄- ’îš alaFim Alef alFei alPayim ba’ălāp̄āw ba·’ă·lā·p̄āw baalaFav bə’alp̄ê bə’elep̄ bə·’al·p̄ê bə·’e·lep̄ bealFei beElef Elef hā’ălāp̄îm hā’ālep̄ hā’elep̄ hā·’ă·lā·p̄îm hā·’ā·lep̄ hā·’e·lep̄ haalaFim haAlef haElef Ish kə’alpayim kə’elep̄ kə·’al·pa·yim kə·’e·lep̄ kealPayim keElef la’ălāp̄îm lā’ălāp̄îm lā’elep̄ la·’ă·lā·p̄îm lā·’ă·lā·p̄îm lā·’e·lep̄ laalaFim laElef lə’ālep̄ lə’alp̄ê lə’elep̄ lə·’ā·lep̄ lə·’al·p̄ê lə·’e·lep̄ leAlef lealFei leElef mê’ālep̄ mê’alp̄ê mê’elep̄ mê·’ā·lep̄ mê·’al·p̄ê mê·’e·lep̄ meAlef mealFei meElef śā·rîm saRim śārîm ū·lə·’al·p̄ê·ḵem ūlə’alp̄êḵem ulealfeiChem vaAlef vaElef vealPayim veeLef velaalaFim wā’ālep̄ wā’elep̄ wā·’ā·lep̄ wā·’e·lep̄ wə’alpayim wə’elep̄ wə’elep̄- wə·’al·pa·yim wə·’e·lep̄ wə·’e·lep̄- wə·la·’ă·lā·p̄îm wəla’ălāp̄îmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts