Original Word: אֲלַף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: alaph
Pronunciation: ah-laf'
Phonetic Spelling: (al-af')
Definition: To learn, to teach, to be accustomed
Meaning: a thousand

thousand

(Aramaic) or meleph (Aramaic) {eh'-lef}; corresponding to 'eleph -- thousand.

see HEBREW 'eleph

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to eleph
Definition
a thousand
NASB Translation
thousand (2), thousands (2).

Word Origin: Derived from a root corresponding to the Hebrew word אֶלֶף (eleph), meaning "a thousand."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent for the concept of "a thousand" is found in Strong's Greek Number 5505, χίλιοι (chilioi), which is used in the New Testament to denote the same numerical value. This Greek term appears in various contexts, including prophetic and apocalyptic literature, where large numbers often symbolize completeness or vastness.

Usage: This term is used in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Ezra and Daniel, to indicate the numerical value of one thousand.

Context: The term אֲלַף (alaph) appears in the context of the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament, which include parts of the books of Ezra and Daniel. In these texts, the word is used to describe large quantities, often in the context of counting people, animals, or other items. For example, in the book of Daniel, the term is used to describe the number of people present at a feast or gathering. The use of אֲלַף in these contexts underscores the significance of large numbers in the narrative, often highlighting the grandeur or magnitude of an event or assembly.

In the Berean Standard Bible, the translation of אֲלַף is consistent with its meaning as "a thousand." The term is part of the broader Semitic linguistic tradition, where similar words are used across related languages to denote the same numerical value. The use of אֲלַף in the Aramaic portions of the Bible reflects the historical and cultural context of the Jewish people during the periods of Babylonian and Persian influence, when Aramaic was a common language of administration and communication.

אֲלַ֑ף אֶ֤לֶף אַלְפִין֙ אַלְפָּ֖א אלף אלפא אלפין ’ă·lap̄ ’al·pā ’al·p̄în ’ălap̄ ’alpā ’alp̄în ’e·lep̄ ’elep̄ aLaf alFin alPa ElefInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts