What does אַלּוּף (ʾalûp) mean in the Bible?
אַלּוּף (ʾalûp): Semantic range moves from tame/familiar intimacy to leadership authority, underlying both meanings is prominence or notability.
Hebrew · H441
אַלּוּף
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)
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אַלּוּףH441
Pronunciationʾalûp
What does אַלּוּף (ʾalûp) mean in the Bible?
אַלּוּף (ʾalûp): Semantic range moves from tame/familiar intimacy to leadership authority, underlying both meanings is prominence or notability.
Full entry for אַלּוּף (H441) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H441?
The BSB source-word alignment has 69 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (25), - (13), are the chiefs (7), Chiefs (6), [were] the chiefs (2).
Where does אַלּוּף (ʾalûp) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 36:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (43), 1 Chronicles (13), Jeremiah (3), Proverbs (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It. . .25×Genesis 36:15, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:18, Genesis 36:29
-13×Genesis 36:16, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:18, Genesis 36:30
are the chiefs7×Genesis 36:15, Genesis 36:16, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:18
Chiefs6×Genesis 36:15, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:18, Genesis 36:29
[were] the chiefs2×Genesis 36:43, 1 Chronicles 1:54
according to their divisions1×Genesis 36:30
close1×Jeremiah 13:21
close friends1×Proverbs 16:28
friends1×Proverbs 17:9
in a companion1×Micah 7:5
like a clan1×Zechariah 9:7
my companion1×Psalms 55:13
my friend1×Jeremiah 3:4
Now the chiefs1×1 Chronicles 1:51
Our oxen1×Psalms 144:14
the chiefs1×Exodus 15:15
the clans1×Zechariah 12:6
the partner1×Proverbs 2:17
Then the leaders1×Zechariah 12:5
was like a gentle1×Jeremiah 11:19
were their chiefs1×Genesis 36:19
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 36:15אַלּוּפֵ֣יtoare the chiefsNoun - masculine plural constructGenesis 36:15אַלּ֤וּףtoChiefsNoun - masculine singular constructGenesis 36:15אַלּ֣וּףto. . .Noun - masculine singular constructGenesis 36:15אַלּ֥וּףto. . .Noun - masculine singular constructGenesis 36:15אַלּ֥וּףto. . .Noun - masculine singular constructGenesis 36:16אַלּֽוּף־to-Noun - masculine singularGenesis 36:16אַלּ֥וּףto-Noun - masculine singularGenesis 36:16אַלּ֣וּףto-Noun - masculine singularGenesis 36:16אַלּוּפֵ֤יtoare the chiefsNoun - masculine plural constructGenesis 36:17אַלּ֥וּףtoChiefsNoun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 36:15
Aligned rows69
Books represented8
Genesis43Exodus11 Chronicles13Psalms2Proverbs3Jeremiah3Micah1Zechariah3
Source forms
אַלּ֥וּף29x’al·lūp̄Genesis 36:15, Genesis 36:16, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:18
אַלּ֣וּף11x’al·lūp̄Genesis 36:15, Genesis 36:16, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:18
אַלּוּפֵ֣י5x’al·lū·p̄êGenesis 36:15, Genesis 36:29, Genesis 36:43, Exodus 15:15
אַלּוּפֵ֤י3x’al·lū·p̄êGenesis 36:16, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:40
אַלּ֤וּף2x’al·lūp̄Genesis 36:15, Genesis 36:29
אַלּ֧וּף2x’al·lūp̄Genesis 36:41, 1 Chronicles 1:52
אַלּֽוּף׃2x’al·lūp̄Proverbs 16:28, Proverbs 17:9
אַלּוּפֵ֧י2x’al·lū·p̄êGenesis 36:21, Genesis 36:30
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular33xGenesis 36:16, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:18, Genesis 36:29
Noun - masculine singular construct15xGenesis 36:15, 1 Chronicles 1:51, 1 Chronicles 1:52, 1 Chronicles 1:53
Noun - masculine plural construct14xGenesis 36:15, Genesis 36:16, Genesis 36:17, Genesis 36:18
Noun - masculine plural1xJeremiah 13:21
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural1xPsalms 144:14
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural1xGenesis 36:19
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular1xPsalms 55:13
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular1xMicah 7:5
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Semantic range moves from tame/familiar intimacy to leadership authority, underlying both meanings is prominence or notability.
Source Gloss
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)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Semantic range moves from tame/familiar intimacy to leadership authority, underlying both meanings is prominence or notability.
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) BDB: tame Usage: captain, duke, (chief) friend, governor, guide, ox.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
tribal leader or chieftain notable among his people
regional ruler or governor exercising authority over territory
intimate companion or close associate in relationship
beloved companion whose relationship is preserved through discretion
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 69 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אַלּוּף is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.