---
title: אָלַף — learn · The Tanakh dictionary
description: אָלַף (502), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 4 times: learn. BDB 1906: vb. learn teach. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917.
---

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# אָלַף

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«אָלַף» in the Tanakh dictionary: **learn** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers.

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**Used:** 4 times · **Key:** 502 · **BDB:** אָלַף

### Glosses

I (1); \[who\].teaches (1); it.teaches (1)

### Meaning (OSHB)

learn [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1488/502/#m1)

### Meaning (BDB 1906)

vb. learn teach [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1488/502/#m2)

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**The whole BDB entry:** vb. learn (Arabic أَلِفَ keep, cleave to, become familiar with; Aramaic אֲלַף, ܝܺܠܶܦ, learn, ܐܰܠܶܦ, Pa teach). Impf. 2 ms. תֶּאְלַף אֹרְחֹתָו֯ Pr 22:25; teach, sq. acc. יְאַלֵּף פִּיךָ Jb 15:5 (subj. עֲוֹנְךָ); so Pt. מַלְּפֵנוּ (for מְאַלְּ׳ Sta§ 111, 3 KöI, 388 Ge§ 68 fin., cf. Ew§ 73 b) Jb 35:11; sq. 2 acc. אֲאַלֶּפְךָ חָכְמָה Jb 33:33.

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Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 4 of its verses cited, 1 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (8 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 1 with the glosses (7 candidates)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every English meaning of «אָלַף» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1488/502/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.

### In the verses

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[Job 15:5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/JOB.15.5/)

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כִּ֤י יְאַלֵּ֣ף עֲוֺנְךָ֣ פִ֑יךָ וְ֝תִבְחַ֗ר לְשׁ֣וֹן עֲרוּמִֽים׃

*Word for word:* (dm) it.teaches iniquity your mouth your and you.choose \[the\].tongue of.crafty.\[people\]

*JPS 1917:* For thine iniquity teacheth thy mouth, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

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[Proverbs 22:25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.22.25/)

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פֶּן־תֶּאֱלַ֥ף אֹֽרְחֹתָ֑יו וְלָקַחְתָּ֖ מוֹקֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

*Word for word:* lest you.should.learn ways his and you.will.take a.snare for self your

*JPS 1917:* Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

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