English · KJV
H502

אָלַף

ʼâlaph /aw-lof'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root, to associate with
Meaninghence, to learn (and causatively to teach)
KJV usagelearn, teach, utter.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼâlaph — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼâlaph, represented by H502, is a primitive root used to convey the concept of learning or teaching through association. It appears only 4 times in 4 unique verses, primarily in wisdom literature, where it can mean to learn, teach, or utter.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H502 carries both positive and negative connotations. It is used to describe how God teacheth humanity, making them wiser than the beasts of the earth Job 35:11, and as a means for one person to teach another wisdom Job 33:33. Conversely, it warns against the danger to learn the ways of an angry person, which can become a snare to the soul Proverbs 22:25. It is also used to describe a mouth that uttereth iniquity, revealing a person who has chosen the tongue of the crafty Job 15:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context and consequences of the teaching and learning described by H502:

  • H2451 chokmâh (wisdom): This noun represents the content of righteous teaching. The purpose of teaching H502 can be to impart wisdom to one who will hearken Job 33:33.
  • H2449 châkam (to be wise): This verb describes the result of divine instruction. God teacheth H502 humanity in order to make them wiser than the fowls of heaven Job 35:11.
  • H4170 môwqêsh (snare): This term highlights the negative consequence of learning from the wrong source. To learn H502 the ways of the unrighteous is to get a snare for one's soul Proverbs 22:25.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H502 is centered on the source and outcome of knowledge.

  • Divine Instruction: A core theme is that God is the ultimate teacher. He is the one who teacheth H502 humanity, setting them apart from the animal kingdom Job 35:11.
  • The Influence of Association: The word underscores the moral gravity of learning from others. One can learn H502 ways that lead to a snare H4170 for the soul H5315, demonstrating that knowledge acquisition is tied to one's relationships Proverbs 22:25.
  • Speech as a Reflection of Character: What a person uttereth H502 is a direct result of their inner state. A mouth that speaks iniquity H5771 does so because it has chosen the path of the crafty H6175, as seen in Job 15:5.

Summary

In summary, ʼâlaph H502 is a potent, though infrequently used, term that encompasses the process of teaching and learning. It highlights a critical biblical principle: that knowledge is not neutral. It can be a divine gift that imparts wisdom and separates humanity from the beasts, or it can be a corrupting influence from evil associations that entraps the soul. The word connects what is taught, what is learned, and what is spoken to the ultimate state of one's character.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • אֲאַלֶּפְ
  • יְאַלֵּף
  • מַלְּפֵ
  • תֶּאֱלַף

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H2451 חׇכְמָה from חָכַם; wisdom (in a good sense); skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. H2449 חָכַם a primitive root,; to be wise (in mind, word or act); [idiom] exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, d H4170 מוֹקֵשׁ or מֹקֵשׁ; from יָקֹשׁ; a noose (for catching animals) (literally or figuratively); by implication, a hook (for the nose H5315 נֶפֶשׁ from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accomm H5771 עָוֺן or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, puni H6175 עָרוּם passive participle of עָרַם; cunning (usually in a bad sense); crafty, prudent, subtil.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (3 verses); never once in the other 37.

3
Job
1
Proverbs

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.