Topical Encyclopedia
Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and holds significant importance in biblical texts and Jewish tradition. In the Hebrew language, Aleph is a consonant and is often silent, but it can take on a vowel sound depending on the diacritical marks associated with it. Its numerical value is one, symbolizing unity and primacy, which is reflected in its frequent symbolic use in Scripture.
Symbolism and MeaningAleph is often associated with the concept of God’s oneness and sovereignty. Its position as the first letter underscores themes of beginnings and leadership. In Jewish mysticism, Aleph is seen as a symbol of the divine and the ineffable nature of God. The letter is constructed from two Yods and a Vav, which some interpret as representing the connection between the divine and the earthly realms.
Biblical UsageWhile Aleph itself does not appear as a word in the Bible, it is integral to the structure of certain biblical texts, particularly in the acrostic poems found in the Old Testament. For example, in the Book of Psalms and the Book of Lamentations, acrostic poems use each letter of the Hebrew alphabet to begin successive verses or sections.
Psalm 119 is a notable example, where each section begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, starting with Aleph.
Psalm 119:1-81 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, and seek Him with all their heart.
3 They do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.
4 You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed when I consider all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with an upright heart when I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.
Theological SignificanceIn Christian theology, Aleph can be seen as a representation of Christ as the Alpha, the beginning of all things. This is paralleled in the New Testament with the Greek letter Alpha, as seen in
Revelation 1:8 : "I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty." This connection emphasizes the eternal nature of Christ and His role in creation and redemption.
Aleph in Jewish TraditionIn Jewish tradition, Aleph is often associated with the breath of God, as it is a silent letter that requires breath to pronounce. This connection to breath and spirit is seen in the creation narrative, where God breathes life into Adam (
Genesis 2:7). Aleph is also linked to the concept of learning and wisdom, as it is the first letter of the word "emet" (truth) and "Torah."
ConclusionAleph, as the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, carries deep symbolic meaning in both Jewish and Christian traditions. Its representation of unity, divinity, and beginnings makes it a profound element in the study of biblical texts and theology.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ALEPHa'-lef ('): The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is nearly soundless itself and best represented, as in this Encyclopedia, by the smooth breathing ('), but it is the direct ancestor of the Greek, Latin and English "a" as in "father." In either case this beginning of the alphabet happens to be near the very basis of all speech-in one case the simple expiration of breath, in the other the simplest possible vocal action-the actual basis from which all other vowels are evolved. It became also the symbol for the number one (1) and, with the dieresis, 1,000. It is the symbol also for one of the most famous of Greek Biblical manuscripts, the Codex Sinaiticus. For name, written form, etc., see ALPHABET.
E. C. Richardson
Strong's Hebrew
8040. semovl -- the left... Or smosl {sem-ole'}; a primitive word (rather perhaps from the same as simlah (by
insertion of the
aleph) through the idea of wrapping up); properly, dark (as
...Library
Psalm 119Aleph, the 1St Part.
... Psalm 119Aleph, The 1st Part. 8,6,8,6. ^1Blessed are they that undefil'd,.
and straight are in the way; Who in the Lord's most holy law....
A Second Time the Master Zachyas, Doctor of the Law...
... And as soon as He went in He held His tongue. And the master Levi said one letter
to Jesus, and, beginning from the first letterAleph, said to Him: Answer....
The Dialect of the Galileans, Differing from the Jewish.
... "R. Abba said, If any ask the men of Judea, who are exact about their language,
Whether they say Maabrin with Ain, or Maabrin withAleph?...
Synagogues in the City; and Schools.
... from R. Hoshaia, saith, Four hundred and eighty synagogues were in Jerusalem, according
to the arithmetical value of the word full" [mem, lamed,aleph, tav, yod...
Consciousness of Messiahship in the Mind of Jesus. --Jesus among...
... from Irenaeus, on the childhood of Jesus, taken out of an apocryphal Gospel originating
in Palestine: "When the teacher told the boy to pronounceAleph, he did...
Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases
... Psalm 116. Psalm 117. Psalm 118. Psalm 119Aleph, The 1st Part. Psalm 119 Beth,
The 2nd Part. Psalm 119 Gimel, The 3rd Part. Psalm 119 Daleth, The 4th Part....
The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour (Nt Apocrypha)
... They therefore took Him to the master; and he, as soon as he saw Him, wrote
out the alphabet for Him, and told Him to sayAleph....
What is to be Said of the Sea of Apamia.
... (Note Shin changed into Ain; note also, in the word Bozor, 2 Peter 2:15, Ain changed
into Shin.) Jonathan reads it Apamia, withAleph: for "From Shepham to...
Brakel and Comrie.
... He w/segolAleph w/hataf segol Mem w/hiriq Yod Nun, KAf w/qamats Mem w/patah lamed,
other text ) are translated not only to believe,' but to trust,' to entrust...
Psalm CXIX.
... St. Augustin on the Psalms. Psalm CXIX.Aleph. 1. From its commencement,
dearly beloved, doth this great Psalm exhort us unto bliss...
Thesaurus
Aleph (1 Occurrence)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ALEPH. a'-lef ('): The first letter of the Hebrew
alphabet.
... EC Richardson. Multi-Version Concordance
Aleph (1 Occurrence).
...Acrostic (2 Occurrences)
... Text. The initials of 9:1, 3, 5 are respectively 'aleph, beth, gimel; of
9:9, 11, 13, 15, 17 waw, zayin, cheth, Teth and yodh. Psalm...
Alphabet (2 Occurrences)
... in the same sense that in English one says "a to izzard." Alpha and beta are themselves
derived from the Semitic names for the same letters ('aleph, beth) and...
Omega (3 Occurrences)
... God blesses Israel from 'aleph to taw (Leviticus 26:3-13), but curses
from waw to mem (Leviticus 26:14-43). So Abraham observed...
Apostles (79 Occurrences)
... The manuscripts give the title in several forms.Aleph (in the inscription)
has merely "Acts" (Praxeis). So Tischendorf, while Origen...
Alpha (3 Occurrences)
... God blesses Israel from 'aleph to taw (Leviticus 26:3-13), but curses
from waw to mem (Leviticus 26:14-43). So Abraham observed...
Asenath (3 Occurrences)
... It is possible that these four letters represent the Egyptian name Sn-t (so Lieblein
and others), though the 'aleph (') must then be explained as 'aleph...
A (102073 Occurrences)
... from the Greek Alpha, of the same form; and this was made from the first letter (/)
of the Phoenician alphabet, the equivalent of the HebrewAleph, and itself...
Acts (271 Occurrences)
... The manuscripts give the title in several forms.Aleph (in the inscription)
has merely "Acts" (Praxeis). So Tischendorf, while Origen...
Samaritan (8 Occurrences)
... Genesis 27:36 shows 'aleph (') and he (h) interchanged, he (h) and cheth (ch) in
Genesis 41:45, cheth (ch) for `ayin (`) in Genesis 49:7, and 'aleph (') and...
Resources
What are Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the longest chapter in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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