Original Word: אֶלֶף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: eleph
Pronunciation: EH-lef
Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-lef)
KJV: family, kine, oxen
NASB: herd, oxen
Word Origin: [from H502 (אָלַף - teaches)]

1. a family
2. (also, from the sense of yoking or taming) an ox or cow

family, kine, oxen

From 'alph; a family; also (from the sense of yoking or taming) an ox or cow -- family, kine, oxen.

see HEBREW 'alph

Word Origin
from alaph
Definition
cattle
NASB Translation
herd (4), oxen (3).

I. [ֶ֫ אלֶף] noun masculine^{Psalm 8:8}; only plural cattle (Phoenician אלף, Assyrian alpu, COT^Gloss) — אֲלָפִים Proverbs 14:4; Isaiah 30:24 used in tillage; subject to man Psalm 8:8 ("" צֹנֶה); their increase שְׁגַר אֲלָפֶיךָ a blessing Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 28:4,18,51 ("" all עַשְׁתִּרֹת צאֹנֶ֑ךָ).

Lexical Range and Nuances

אֶלֶף (’eleph) functions in two closely related spheres. Most frequently it denotes domesticated bovine animals—“oxen,” “cattle,” or “herds.” In Judges 6:15 it speaks of a “clan” or “family division,” underscoring a secondary sense of a cohesive, organized group. Whether referring to livestock or kinship units, the word carries connotations of docility, dependability, and productivity, traits that illuminate its theological and pastoral use.

Usage in Covenant Blessings and Curses

Deuteronomy places אֶלֶף at the heart of Israel’s covenant life. Blessing promises include “the calves of your herds” (Deuteronomy 7:13; 28:4), while disobedience invites the inverse: “Cursed shall be the offspring of your herds” (Deuteronomy 28:18) and foreign invaders who “devour the offspring of your livestock” (Deuteronomy 28:51). The health of the ’eleph thus serves as a tangible barometer of Israel’s spiritual fidelity, linking everyday agricultural prosperity to the nation’s relationship with the LORD.

Metaphors of Strength and Service

Psalm 8:7 pairs “all sheep and oxen” with humanity’s delegated dominion, presenting the ’eleph as a model of power brought under righteous authority. Proverbs 14:4 reinforces the idea: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox”. Here the animal’s strength, when harnessed, yields fruitfulness; neglected, it leaves sterility. The imagery speaks to the necessity of disciplined stewardship—unmanaged potential remains barren, but guided strength multiplies blessing.

Community Identity and Humility

Gideon’s protest—“my clan is the weakest in Manasseh” (Judges 6:15)—uses אֶלֶף to express both social identity and insignificance. The narrative demonstrates that divine calling overrides perceived inadequacy. Even the smallest ’eleph becomes an instrument in the LORD’s hand, encouraging believers to view their own “clans” and congregations as vessels for God’s power rather than obstacles.

Prophetic and Eschatological Vision

Isaiah 30:24 foretells a future in which “the oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder”. The imagery of well-fed ’eleph anticipates a day when creation’s toil is met with lavish provision, hinting at the Messianic restoration when the curse on the ground is reversed (Romans 8:19–21). The verse harmonizes animal welfare, human labor, and divine care in a holistic picture of shalom.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Stewardship: The ’eleph underscores responsible management of God-given resources—agricultural, financial, and spiritual.
2. Dependence on Covenant Faithfulness: Prosperity of the “herds” remains contingent on obedience, urging congregations to guard holiness if they desire fruitfulness.
3. Encouragement to the “Least”: Gideon’s weak ’eleph becomes a paradigm for small churches and overlooked families; God delights to magnify His power through humble groups.
4. Anticipation of Restoration: Teaching on Isaiah 30:24 fosters hope, reminding believers that present labor in the Lord is not in vain and will culminate in abundance when Christ consummates His kingdom.

Through its limited appearances, אֶלֶף weaves a cohesive testimony: whether as cattle that plow fields or clans that form tribes, God harnesses the meek and mundane to accomplish mighty purposes, rewarding obedience, exalting humility, and pointing toward ultimate restoration in the reign of the Messiah.

אֲ֭לָפִים אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ אֲלָפֶ֙יךָ֙ אַלְפִּי֙ אלפי אלפיך אלפים וְהָאֲלָפִ֣ים וַאֲלָפִ֣ים ואלפים והאלפים ’ă·lā·p̄e·ḵā ’ă·lā·p̄îm ’al·pî ’ălāp̄eḵā ’ălāp̄îm ’alpî alaFeicha Alafim alPi vaalaFim vehaalaFim wa’ălāp̄îm wa·’ă·lā·p̄îm wə·hā·’ă·lā·p̄îm wəhā’ălāp̄îmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts