Lexical Summary alluwph: Chief, Leader, Friend, Companion Original Word: אַלּוּף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance captain, duke, chief friend, governor, guide, ox Or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 'alph; familiar; a friend, also gentle; hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied, although masculine, to a cow); and so, a chieftain (as notable, like neat cattle) -- captain, duke, (chief) friend, governor, guide, ox. see HEBREW 'alph Brown-Driver-Briggs I. אַלּוּף adjective tame — ׳א absolute Micah 7:5 +; construct Proverbs 2:17 +; suffix אַלּוּפֵי Psalm 55:14; plural אַלֻּפִים Jeremiah 13:21; suffix אַלֻּפֵינוּ Psalm 144:14, etc.; — 1 tame, docile, כֶּבֶשׂ אַלּוּף a docile (gentle) lamb Jeremiah 11:19. 2. noun masculine friend, intimate Psalm 55:14 ("" מְיֻדָּע) Micah 7:5 ("" רֵעַ) Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 17:9; Jeremiah 13:21; of a woman's husband נְעוּרֶיהָ ׳א Proverbs 2:17; figurative of ׳י as husband of Judah, id., Jeremiah 3:4. 3 i. q. I. אֶלֶף; אַלּוּפֵינוּ מְסֻבָּלִים Psalm 144:14 (i.e. cows). II. אַלּוּף noun masculine1Chronicles 1:51 chief, chiliarch (denominative from II. אֶלֶף see Di Genesis 36:15) — ׳א absolute Genesis 36:15 +; plural construct אַלּוּפֵי (אַלֻּפֵי) Exodus 15:15 +; suffix אַלּוּפֵיהֶם Genesis 36:19,30 — chief (tribal) of Edom Genesis 36:15 (5 t.) + 38 t. Genesis 36 (P); Exodus 15:15 (E) 1 Chronicles 1:51 (4 t.) + 9 t.; of Judah Zechariah 12:5,6; so אַלֻּף Zechariah 9:7 (in simile) Topical Lexicon Range of Meaningאַ֫לּוּף (ʾallûp̱) spans three primary ideas in Scripture: 1. A clan head, chieftain, or military leader. Each nuance grows out of the root “to be familiar/accustomed,” so the term always carries the flavor of one who has been trained or is well-known. Patriarchal and Tribal Administration In Genesis 36 the word dominates the record of Esau’s descendants, occurring sixteen times in the chapter and again in the parallel list of 1 Chronicles 1:35-54. “These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau…” (Genesis 36:15). Here ʾallûp̱ designates hereditary heads of clans, giving a snapshot of Edomite social organization only a few generations after Jacob. The reliability of these lists anchors the historicity of the patriarchs and reminds believers that God’s promises to Abraham unfolded in real time and through real families (compare Genesis 25:23). Judahite Leadership in the Prophets Centuries later Zechariah uses the term for civil-military commanders in Judah’s eschatological deliverance: “Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are my strength, for the LORD of Hosts is their God.’” (Zechariah 12:5). These ʾallûp̱îm become instruments through whom the LORD shields Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6). The same word appears in Zechariah 9:7, Micah 5:5, and even in pre-exilic poetry (Psalm 144:14), showing that the idea of a trained, capable leader endured from patriarchal times to the prophetic age. Alluph as Companion or Intimate Friend Proverbs applies the root relationally: “A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.” (Proverbs 16:28) “Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.” (Proverbs 17:9) Because a friend is one “familiar” with another, ʾallûp̱ underscores the covenantal nature of biblical friendship—grounded in loyalty and tested through conflict. These texts warn against the careless speech that tears apart what years of shared life have built. Jeremiah 13:21 adopts the same relational nuance for political alliances: “What will you say when He appoints you as head over those you cultivated as your allies?” Israel had “taught” foreign nations to be ʾallûp̱îm—intimate associates—yet those very allies would turn against her, exposing the folly of trusting men more than God. Metaphorical Extension to Tamed Strength Psalm 144:14 links ʾallûp̱ with beasts of burden: “Our oxen will bear great loads; there will be no breach, no going into captivity, and no cry of lament in our streets.” The term evokes strength that has been harnessed for service, just as a leader or friend is “trained” for dependable labor. The same pastoral image likely lies behind Proverbs 14:4, where the presence of oxen signals both mess and productivity. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Trained Leadership. ʾAllûp̱ suggests that authority is not raw power but disciplined, familiar service. It anticipates New Testament patterns of eldership (1 Peter 5:1-4) in which leaders know and are known by the flock. Summary of Key References Leader/Chief: Genesis 36:15-43; 1 Chronicles 1:35-54; Zechariah 9:7; Zechariah 12:5-6; Micah 5:5. Friend/Companion: Proverbs 16:28; 17:9; Jeremiah 13:21. Tamed Strength (Ox): Psalm 144:14; alluded in agricultural imagery such as Proverbs 14:4. Taken together, אַלּוּף portrays the biblical ideal of strength made familiar—whether in a clan chieftain who defends his people, a covenant friend who stands the test of loyalty, or an ox that submits its power to the yoke. Forms and Transliterations אַ֝לּוּפִ֗י אַלֻּפִ֖ים אַלֻּפֵ֥י אַלֻּפֵ֨י אַלּ֖וּף אַלּ֣וּף אַלּ֤וּף אַלּ֥וּף אַלּ֧וּף אַלּֽוּף־ אַלּֽוּף׃ אַלּוּפֵ֗ינוּ אַלּוּפֵ֞י אַלּוּפֵ֣י אַלּוּפֵ֤י אַלּוּפֵ֥י אַלּוּפֵ֧י אַלּוּפֵיהֶ֖ם אלוף אלוף־ אלוף׃ אלופי אלופיהם אלופינו אלפי אלפים בְּאַלּ֑וּף באלוף כְּאַלֻּ֣ף כאלף לְאַלֻּפֵיהֶ֖ם לאלפיהם ’al·lu·p̄ê ’al·lū·p̄ê ’al·lū·p̄ê·hem ’al·lū·p̄ê·nū ’al·lū·p̄î ’al·lu·p̄îm ’al·lūp̄ ’al·lūp̄- ’allūp̄ ’allūp̄- ’allup̄ê ’allūp̄ê ’allūp̄êhem ’allūp̄ênū ’allūp̄î ’allup̄îm alLuf alluFei allufeiHem alluFeinu alluFi alluFim bə’allūp̄ bə·’al·lūp̄ bealLuf kə’allup̄ kə·’al·lup̄ kealLuf lə’allup̄êhem lə·’al·lu·p̄ê·hem leallufeiHemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 36:15 HEB: אֵ֖לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־ עֵשָׂ֑ו NAS: These are the chiefs of the sons KJV: These [were] dukes of the sons INT: These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau Genesis 36:15 Genesis 36:15 Genesis 36:15 Genesis 36:15 Genesis 36:16 Genesis 36:16 Genesis 36:16 Genesis 36:16 Genesis 36:17 Genesis 36:17 Genesis 36:17 Genesis 36:17 Genesis 36:17 Genesis 36:18 Genesis 36:18 Genesis 36:18 Genesis 36:18 Genesis 36:19 Genesis 36:21 Genesis 36:29 Genesis 36:29 Genesis 36:29 Genesis 36:29 Genesis 36:29 69 Occurrences |
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