Lexical Summary alaph: bring forth Original Word: אָלַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bring forth thousands Denominative from 'eleph; causative, to make a thousandfold -- bring forth thousands. see HEBREW 'eleph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from eleph Definition to produce thousands NASB Translation bring forth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. אֶ֫לֶף noun masculineJudges 6:15 thousand (אלף MI, SI, Sabean DHMZMG 1875, 615; Arabic  , Aramaic  , אֲלַף, אלפיא) — ׳) א׳(אָ֑ Genesis 20:16 +; suffix אַלְמִּי Judges 6:15; dual אַלְמַּיִם Numbers 4:36 +; plural אֲלָפִים Exodus 18:21 +; construct אַלְפֵי Exodus 32:28 +; אֲלָפֶיךָ Deuteronomy 7:13 2t.; אֲלָפָיו Qr 1 Samuel 18:7 2t. (Kt פֿו) — a thousand. 1 numeral: a. used with noun alone; mostly before noun Numbers 35:4; Joshua 7:3; Nehemiah 3:13; 1 Chronicles 18:4 +; after noun (late) 1 Chronicles 12:35 6t. Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah; בָּאַמָּה ׳א Numbers 35:5 (4 t. in verse); Ezekiel 47:3 (strike out Co); the noun always plural when preceding, sometimes when following, 1 Samuel 25:2; 1 Kings 3:4; 2 Kings 18:23 = Isaiah 36:8; 2Chronicles 30:24; Psalm 90:4; Job 42:12; Ecclesiastes 6:6; elsewhere singular אישׁ Judges 9:49; Judges 15:15,16; Joshua 7:3 +; אַמָּה Numbers 35:4 + (so SI); דּוֺר Deuteronomy 7:9 +, compare 1 Chronicles 18:4; 1 Chronicles 19:6; 2 Kings 15:19; Job 42:12; Songs 4:4; Isaiah 7:23, noun sometimes collective; ׳א plural construct Micah 6:7; Psalm 119:72; Genesis 24:60; noun not expressed (or not fully) Genesis 20:16; Numbers 31:5,6 +; distributive אֶלֶף ֗֗֗ אֶלֶף Numbers 31:4; multiplicative Deuteronomy 1:11 מְּעָמִים ׳א; indefinite for great number (plural) Exodus 20:6; Exodus 34:7; Deuteronomy 5:10; Jeremiah 32:18, (singular) Deuteronomy 32:30; Ecclesiastes 6:6 +. b. ׳א + other number usually precedes it Exodus 38:25 + often; but following רִבּוֺא Ezra 2:64 2t.; it follows also smaller number Numbers 3:50; 1 Kings 5:12 (so SI); the noun following in singular Exodus 28:25 8t.; plural 2 Samuel 8:4 2t.; noun precedes, in plural (late) Daniel 12:12 2t.; noun not expressed Exodus 38:28 #NAME? c. ׳א X other number always following Exodus 12:37 +; usual order is no. X ׳א + additional no. (if any) + noun (if expressed) Numbers 31:52; Judges 20:35 compare Exodus 12:37; 2 Kings 3:4 (twice in verse) +; less often noun + no. X ׳א Numbers 31:33; 1 Kings 8:63 +; (other combinations see Exodus 38:26; Numbers 26:51; Numbers 31:32; Ezekiel 48:30; 1 Chronicles 29:7 etc.); ׳א usually singular Numbers 11:21 +; except after units, where plural absolute Numbers 1:46; Judges 20:34 + (so MI); seldom plural construct Exodus 32:28; Judges 4:10; Job 1:3 (twice in verse); (noun mostly singular when following Judges 4:10; 1 Kings 12:21+, yet plural Joshua 4:13; 1 Samuel 13:5 +; when preceding it is plural 1 Chronicles 5:21 +, or collective Numbers 31:33; 1 Samuel 25:2; 1 Kings 8:63; 2Chronicles 7:5 +); אֶלֶף אֲלָפִים 1 Chronicles 21:5; 1 Chronicles 22:14; 2Chron 14:8; אַלְפֵי שִׁנְאָן Psalm 68:18, compare שִׁנְאָן; בְּהַרֲרֵי אָ֑לֶף Psalm 50:10, read אֵל compare Psalm 36:7, Ol Bi Che; yet see Hup De. — Note.10,000= עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים etc. Judges 1:4; Judges 3:29; 1 Kings 5:28; 1 Chronicles 29:7 +; less often רִבּוֺ, רְבָבָה etc. q. v. 2 a thousand, a company of 1000 men, as united under one superior, or leader, hence ׳(שָׂרֵי) שַׂר א Exodus 18:21,25 compare Numbers 31:14 +; compare יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳רָאשֵׁי א Numbers 1:16; Numbers 10:4; Joshua 22:21,30 & see below; compare also 1 Samuel 29:2; especially family, etc. Judges 6:15; 1 Samuel 10:19 ("" שֵׁבֶט & compare מִשְׁמַּחַת 1 Samuel 10:21); compare Micah 5:2; — Numbers 10:36 (רִבְבוֺת אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) Numbers 31:5; Joshua 22:14; 1 Samuel 23:23 apparently shew transition to this technical use. **[אָלַף] verb denominative Hiph`il Psalm 144:13 מַאֲלִיפוֺת producing thousands (subject צאֹן). Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting The only appearance of אָלַף (Psalm 144:13) stands in a royal psalm that places David’s kingdom, households, and livestock under the LORD’s favor. The sentence reads, “our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields”. The context is a sweeping prayer for national security, flourishing families, and economic plenty (Psalm 144:9-15). Within that framework, אָלַף functions as a narrative hinge between prayer and praise, announcing that covenant faithfulness yields measurable, visible fruit. Symbol of Covenant Prosperity 1. Multiplication of Flocks. Throughout Scripture the multiplication of livestock is a signature of divine blessing (Genesis 12:16; 30:43; Deuteronomy 7:13). By using a term that evokes “thousands,” Psalm 144:13 locates David’s hope squarely inside the Abrahamic promise of manifold increase (Genesis 22:17). Pastoral Imagery and Shepherd Theology The word naturally calls shepherding to mind, and that image plays a large role in describing the LORD’s relationship with His people (Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34). By invoking “thousands” of sheep, David paints a kingdom where the shepherd-king (Psalm 78:70-72) and the divine Shepherd converge. The well-kept flock thus foreshadows the Messiah, the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), who secures abundance for His sheep (John 10:10). Liturgical Poetry and Corporate Worship Psalm 144 was employed in post-exilic liturgy as an evening psalm celebrating God’s protection. The term אָלַף therefore became embedded in Israel’s hymnic memory as shorthand for plenitude. When sung in temple courts or later synagogues, the congregation affirmed that true prosperity stems from divine sovereignty rather than military might or human industry. Historical and Cultural Backdrop In Iron Age Palestine, sheep were currency, clothing, and food source. A king boasting “thousands” of sheep ranked among the Near East’s significant powers. Archaeological data show that Judah’s hill country sustained large flocks, and the Judean monarchy taxed them for temple service (2 Chronicles 31:6). Hence Psalm 144:13 is not hyperbole but a realistic aspiration grounded in agrarian realities of the period. Theological Trajectory Toward the New Testament The New Testament borrows the quantitative language of the Old when describing gospel fruitfulness: “about three thousand were added” (Acts 2:41). The Spirit-empowered church becomes the new pasture in which God multiplies disciples instead of sheep. What began as literal livestock growth in Psalm 144 crescendos into spiritual increase as the gospel spreads “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Prayer for Tangible Blessing. Believers may pray with confidence for material needs, knowing that Scripture sanctions petitions for barns, fields, and herds, provided the requests are yoked to God’s glory (Matthew 6:33). Thus, אָלַף serves not merely as an ancient counting word but as a theological signpost: God delights to multiply what is entrusted to Him, whether sheep in David’s pasture or souls in Christ’s kingdom. Forms and Transliterations מַ֭אֲלִיפוֹת מאליפות ma’ălîp̄ōwṯ ma·’ă·lî·p̄ō·wṯ MaalifotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 144:13 HEB: זַ֥ן צֹאונֵ֣נוּ מַ֭אֲלִיפוֹת מְרֻבָּב֗וֹת בְּחוּצוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ NAS: of produce, [And] our flocks bring forth thousands KJV: [that] our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands INT: kind of produce our flocks bring thousands our fields 1 Occurrence |
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