🔼The name Haeleph: Summary
- Meaning
- Cattle, A Great Multitude
- Etymology
- From the verb אלף ('alep), to socially synchronize, and hence to produce thousands (of young cattle).
🔼The name Haeleph in the Bible
The name Haeleph (or Eleph in older translations) occurs only once in the Bible, namely in Joshua 18:28, where the town of Haeleph is listed among the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, close to Jerusalem.
🔼Etymology of the name Haeleph
The name Haeleph consists of the definite article ה (he), meaning the, plus an expression of the verb אלף ('alep), to socially synchronize, or more precise, the noun אלף ('elep), meaning either cattle or a thousand:
אלף
The verb אלף ('alep) means to learn, or rather to socially synchronize, and hence to produce thousands (of kids and calves in flocks and herds). Noun אלף ('elep) means either cattle or a thousand (or a proverbial "whole lot"). Adjective אלוף ('allup) means tame, peaceful or friendly, or "leader of thousands".
🔼Haeleph meaning
For a meaning of the name Haeleph, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Ox and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has A Great Multitude. BDB Theological Dictionary does not offer an interpretation of our name but does list it under the noun אלף ('elep), a thousand.