Aleph (אֶלֶף / Ehleph) – The First Letter of the Israelite Alphabet

   Ehleph
(אֶלֶף)

Letter	אֶלֶף
Name Meaning	Ox, Strength, Leader
Pronunciation	Glottal stop or silent (vowel carrier)
Modern Hebrew Name	אָלֶף (Pausal form)
Root Concept	Power, foundation, beginning
Script Usage	Initial character of the Yisreh'eyleeth system
Related Word	אֵלוּף – leader, commander (e.g., Genesis 36)

Ehleph (אֶלֶף) is the first letter of the restored Yisreh'eyleeth Ah'lef Beyth and serves as a foundational symbol of strength, leadership, and origin. It is not merely a placeholder for vowels — it represents the unseen power or silent breath that gives form to the spoken word. The name אָלֶף, commonly seen in Modern Hebrew, is a pausal form and not the original pronunciation. The proper form is Ehleph, aligning with its etymological roots and pictographic origins.

In Proto-Sinaitic and early Paleo-Hebrew inscriptions, Ehleph was represented by a stylized ox head — signifying strength, authority, and the primal lead of the herd. This image captures the essence of the letter's meaning: a guiding force, both silent and strong, forming the starting point of all expression. Its sound (or lack thereof) gives breath to all others, often standing as a silent support for vowels or as a carrier of emphasis.

This letter appears in many key words throughout Torah, including אֵלוּף (Aluph), meaning chief or leader — as seen in genealogies such as those in Genesis 36, where it designates tribal heads. It conveys the strength and responsibility of guidance, order, and instruction — consistent with the ox as the ancient plow-bearer and yoke-sharer.

Ehleph is not just the beginning in order — it is the breath and base behind the entire language, structurally and functionally. It reflects the unseen presence that carries sound and the consciousness that governs choice and leadership. Every word it begins is anchored in that breath — the first impulse of meaning.