אָלַף
causative, to make athousandfold
Definition
The Hebrew verb אָלַף (ʼâlaph) is a causative verb meaning 'to make a thousandfold' or 'to bring forth thousands.' It is derived from the noun אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505), meaning 'thousand,' and thus carries the sense of causing something to multiply into a large number. In its sole biblical occurrence in Psalm 144:13, it poetically describes the abundant fertility of livestock as a sign of God's blessing. The word emphasizes not just quantity, but divinely orchestrated increase and prosperity.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 144:13. It appears in a poetic context describing the blessings of a peaceful and prosperous nation: 'That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; that our sheep may bring forth thousands [תְּאַלֵּף] and ten thousands in our fields.' Here, it is used figuratively for the multiplication of flocks as part of a catalog of God's covenantal blessings.
Etymology
אָלַף is a denominative verb, meaning it is formed from the noun אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505), which means 'thousand,' 'family,' or 'clan.' The verb takes the core idea of the noun and adds a causative force ('to make into thousands'). It is related to the Ugaritic root ʾalp, also meaning 'thousand,' indicating its antiquity in Semitic languages for denoting a large, rounded number or unit.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the concept of God as the source of abundant blessing and multiplication. In Psalm 144, it contributes to the portrait of shalom—a state of peace, security, and flourishing under God's provision. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of such blessings, moving beyond mere material increase to see it as a sign of covenant faithfulness and divine favor.
In ancient Israelite culture, wealth and divine favor were often measured in agricultural and pastoral abundance. A flock multiplying 'by thousands' (Psalm 144:13) was a tangible sign of God's blessing, as livestock represented capital, food, and sacrifice. The use of 'thousand' likely functioned as a hyperbolic round number, emphasizing overwhelming prosperity rather than a literal count.
רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — a more general verb meaning 'to become many, to multiply,' used for people, animals, and things. פָּרָה (pârâh, H6509) — specifically means 'to bear fruit, be fruitful,' often used for agricultural and human fertility. עָשַׁר (ʻâshar, H6238) — means 'to become rich or wealthy,' focusing on the state of abundance rather than the process of multiplication.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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