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The Letters

Bet בית

Bet (ב) is the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It stands 65,216 times in the twenty-four books — 54.5 of every 1,000 letters, the 8th most written of the twenty-two — out of 1,197,042 letters in all.

Occurrences
65,216
Per 1,000 letters
54.48
Rank of 22
8
Share of the Tanakh
5.45%

Across the books of the Tanakh

Per 1,000 letters of each book, so a long book and a short one compare honestly. Tap a bar — or drag along the chart — and that book stands in the panel, with its door. The filled dot marks the highest column, the hollow ring the lowest.

The Twelve is one of the twenty-four books, and every total on this site still counts it as one. On this axis its twelve prophets stand as their own columns, because Hosea is eight times the length of Obadiah and one column for both hides what each of them does.

020406080Genesis — 55.5 per 1,000 letters (4,332 in 78,069 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Exodus — 48.9 per 1,000 letters (3,105 in 63,531 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Leviticus — 53.8 per 1,000 letters (2,408 in 44,795 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Numbers — 55.8 per 1,000 letters (3,548 in 63,545 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Deuteronomy — 53.8 per 1,000 letters (2,952 in 54,910 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Joshua — 53.6 per 1,000 letters (2,132 in 39,807 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Judges — 54.1 per 1,000 letters (2,106 in 38,944 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Samuel — 53.1 per 1,000 letters (4,962 in 93,532 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Kings — 57.0 per 1,000 letters (5,613 in 98,460 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)Isaiah — 50.1 per 1,000 letters (3,353 in 66,888 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Jeremiah — 56.3 per 1,000 letters (4,780 in 84,912 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Ezekiel — 55.0 per 1,000 letters (4,101 in 74,499 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Hosea — 54.8 per 1,000 letters (514 in 9,385 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Joel — 47.8 per 1,000 letters (185 in 3,872 letters, 0.88× the Tanakh rate)Amos — 53.5 per 1,000 letters (430 in 8,033 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Obadiah — 59.0 per 1,000 letters (66 in 1,119 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Jonah — 36.7 per 1,000 letters (99 in 2,700 letters, 0.67× the Tanakh rate)Micah — 53.5 per 1,000 letters (298 in 5,570 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Nahum — 57.7 per 1,000 letters (130 in 2,252 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Habakkuk — 47.7 per 1,000 letters (124 in 2,598 letters, 0.88× the Tanakh rate)Zephaniah — 57.4 per 1,000 letters (172 in 2,996 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)Haggai — 65.9 per 1,000 letters (154 in 2,336 letters, 1.21× the Tanakh rate)Zechariah — 55.1 per 1,000 letters (685 in 12,432 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Malachi — 59.1 per 1,000 letters (204 in 3,450 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Psalms — 51.2 per 1,000 letters (4,037 in 78,833 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Proverbs — 59.9 per 1,000 letters (1,587 in 26,507 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Job — 48.6 per 1,000 letters (1,549 in 31,862 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Song of Songs — 50.5 per 1,000 letters (260 in 5,151 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Ruth — 48.1 per 1,000 letters (238 in 4,947 letters, 0.88× the Tanakh rate)Lamentations — 61.2 per 1,000 letters (366 in 5,980 letters, 1.12× the Tanakh rate)Ecclesiastes — 53.1 per 1,000 letters (582 in 10,969 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Esther — 50.9 per 1,000 letters (616 in 12,112 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Daniel — 50.6 per 1,000 letters (1,229 in 24,291 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Ezra–Nehemiah — 60.6 per 1,000 letters (2,321 in 38,277 letters, 1.11× the Tanakh rate)Chronicles — 60.1 per 1,000 letters (5,978 in 99,478 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestGeneDeutKingsHoseaJonahZephPsalRuthChro

Its two ends

Highest
Haggai 65.9
Lowest
Jonah 36.7

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 35 books
Bet in each of the 35 books, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Genesis בראשית4,33278,06955.491.02×13
Exodus שמות3,10563,53148.870.90×30
Leviticus ויקרא2,40844,79553.760.99×19
Numbers במדבר3,54863,54555.831.02×12
Deuteronomy דברים2,95254,91053.760.99×18
Joshua יהושע2,13239,80753.560.98×20
Judges שופטים2,10638,94454.080.99×17
Samuel שמואל4,96293,53253.050.97×24
Kings מלכים5,61398,46057.011.05×10
Isaiah ישעיהו3,35366,88850.130.92×29
Jeremiah ירמיהו4,78084,91256.291.03×11
Ezekiel יחזקאל4,10174,49955.051.01×15
Hosea הושע5149,38554.771.00×16
Joel יואל1853,87247.780.88×33
Amos עמוס4308,03353.530.98×21
Obadiah עובדיה661,11958.981.08×7
Jonah יונה992,70036.670.67×35
Micah מיכה2985,57053.500.98×22
Nahum נחום1302,25257.731.06×8
Habakkuk חבקוק1242,59847.730.88×34
Zephaniah צפניה1722,99657.411.05×9
Haggai חגי1542,33665.921.21×1
Zechariah זכריה68512,43255.101.01×14
Malachi מלאכי2043,45059.131.08×6
Psalms תהלים4,03778,83351.210.94×25
Proverbs משלי1,58726,50759.871.10×5
Job איוב1,54931,86248.620.89×31
Song of Songs שיר השירים2605,15150.480.93×28
Ruth רות2384,94748.110.88×32
Lamentations איכה3665,98061.201.12×2
Ecclesiastes קהלת58210,96953.060.97×23
Esther אסתר61612,11250.860.93×26
Daniel דניאל1,22924,29150.590.93×27
Ezra–Nehemiah עזרא־נחמיה2,32138,27760.641.11×3
Chronicles דברי הימים5,97899,47860.091.10×4

Across the fifty-four portions

The Torah alone, portion by portion, on the same measure. Fifty-four names will not fit along one axis, so most of them are not printed — but every column names itself the moment you touch it.

020406080Bereshit — 38.4 per 1,000 letters (278 in 7,234 letters, 0.70× the Tanakh rate)Noach — 53.9 per 1,000 letters (372 in 6,907 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Lech Lecha — 55.4 per 1,000 letters (351 in 6,338 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Vayera — 56.7 per 1,000 letters (446 in 7,861 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Chayei Sara — 58.3 per 1,000 letters (310 in 5,315 letters, 1.07× the Tanakh rate)Toldot — 65.8 per 1,000 letters (357 in 5,427 letters, 1.21× the Tanakh rate)Vayetzei — 64.3 per 1,000 letters (483 in 7,512 letters, 1.18× the Tanakh rate)Vayishlach — 59.4 per 1,000 letters (443 in 7,457 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)Vayeshev — 45.9 per 1,000 letters (274 in 5,972 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Miketz — 51.9 per 1,000 letters (411 in 7,913 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Vayigash — 57.9 per 1,000 letters (329 in 5,684 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Vayechi — 62.5 per 1,000 letters (278 in 4,449 letters, 1.15× the Tanakh rate)Shemot — 46.6 per 1,000 letters (315 in 6,763 letters, 0.85× the Tanakh rate)Vaera — 51.9 per 1,000 letters (348 in 6,703 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Bo — 53.2 per 1,000 letters (327 in 6,149 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Beshalach — 53.7 per 1,000 letters (345 in 6,424 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Yitro — 43.5 per 1,000 letters (175 in 4,024 letters, 0.80× the Tanakh rate)Mishpatim — 49.7 per 1,000 letters (264 in 5,312 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Terumah — 42.6 per 1,000 letters (200 in 4,691 letters, 0.78× the Tanakh rate)Tetzaveh — 52.5 per 1,000 letters (285 in 5,427 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tisa — 45.4 per 1,000 letters (337 in 7,426 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Vayakhel — 50.6 per 1,000 letters (313 in 6,180 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Pekudei — 44.2 per 1,000 letters (196 in 4,432 letters, 0.81× the Tanakh rate)Vayikra — 49.2 per 1,000 letters (306 in 6,222 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Tzav — 56.9 per 1,000 letters (290 in 5,096 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Shmini — 45.8 per 1,000 letters (214 in 4,669 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Tazria — 62.2 per 1,000 letters (228 in 3,667 letters, 1.14× the Tanakh rate)Metzora — 64.5 per 1,000 letters (303 in 4,698 letters, 1.18× the Tanakh rate)Achrei Mot — 54.7 per 1,000 letters (235 in 4,296 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Kedoshim — 40.5 per 1,000 letters (131 in 3,231 letters, 0.74× the Tanakh rate)Emor — 53.9 per 1,000 letters (329 in 6,108 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Behar — 58.2 per 1,000 letters (164 in 2,817 letters, 1.07× the Tanakh rate)Bechukotai — 52.1 per 1,000 letters (208 in 3,991 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Bamidbar — 58.4 per 1,000 letters (432 in 7,394 letters, 1.07× the Tanakh rate)Nasso — 60.0 per 1,000 letters (518 in 8,632 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Beha'alotcha — 52.1 per 1,000 letters (368 in 7,058 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Sh'lach — 50.9 per 1,000 letters (296 in 5,820 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Korach — 45.4 per 1,000 letters (242 in 5,325 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Chukat — 58.8 per 1,000 letters (275 in 4,674 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Balak — 67.7 per 1,000 letters (363 in 5,359 letters, 1.24× the Tanakh rate)Pinchas — 52.6 per 1,000 letters (413 in 7,854 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Matot — 51.5 per 1,000 letters (291 in 5,653 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Masei — 60.6 per 1,000 letters (350 in 5,776 letters, 1.11× the Tanakh rate)Devarim — 56.8 per 1,000 letters (339 in 5,973 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Vaetchanan — 51.7 per 1,000 letters (380 in 7,346 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Eikev — 51.7 per 1,000 letters (355 in 6,861 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Re'eh — 55.0 per 1,000 letters (409 in 7,443 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Shoftim — 49.4 per 1,000 letters (276 in 5,592 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Ki Teitzei — 58.0 per 1,000 letters (340 in 5,858 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tavo — 53.3 per 1,000 letters (363 in 6,816 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Nitzavim — 63.7 per 1,000 letters (164 in 2,576 letters, 1.17× the Tanakh rate)Vayeilech — 43.3 per 1,000 letters (92 in 2,123 letters, 0.80× the Tanakh rate)Ha'Azinu — 56.7 per 1,000 letters (132 in 2,329 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)V'Zot HaBerachah — 51.2 per 1,000 letters (102 in 1,993 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestBereChayVayeShemYitroKi TTzavAchrBechSh'lPincVaetKi TV'Zo

Its two ends

Highest
Balak 67.7
Lowest
Bereshit 38.4

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 54 portions
Bet in each of the 54 portions, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Bereshit בראשית2787,23438.430.70×54
Noach נח3726,90753.860.99×25
Lech Lecha לך לך3516,33855.381.02×21
Vayera וירא4467,86156.741.04×19
Chayei Sara חיי שרה3105,31558.331.07×13
Toldot תולדות3575,42765.781.21×2
Vayetzei ויצא4837,51264.301.18×4
Vayishlach וישלח4437,45759.411.09×10
Vayeshev וישב2745,97245.880.84×45
Miketz מקץ4117,91351.940.95×33
Vayigash ויגש3295,68457.881.06×16
Vayechi ויחי2784,44962.491.15×6
Shemot שמות3156,76346.580.85×44
Vaera וארא3486,70351.920.95×34
Bo בא3276,14953.180.98×28
Beshalach בשלח3456,42453.700.99×26
Yitro יתרו1754,02443.490.80×50
Mishpatim משפטים2645,31249.700.91×41
Terumah תרומה2004,69142.630.78×52
Tetzaveh תצוה2855,42752.520.96×30
Ki Tisa כי תשא3377,42645.380.83×48
Vayakhel ויקהל3136,18050.650.93×40
Pekudei פקודי1964,43244.220.81×49
Vayikra ויקרא3066,22249.180.90×43
Tzav צו2905,09656.911.04×17
Shmini שמיני2144,66945.830.84×46
Tazria תזריע2283,66762.181.14×7
Metzora מצורע3034,69864.501.18×3
Achrei Mot אחרי מות2354,29654.701.00×23
Kedoshim קדושים1313,23140.550.74×53
Emor אמור3296,10853.860.99×24
Behar בהר1642,81758.221.07×14
Bechukotai בחוקתי2083,99152.120.96×32
Bamidbar במדבר4327,39458.431.07×12
Nasso נשא5188,63260.011.10×9
Beha'alotcha בהעלותך3687,05852.140.96×31
Sh'lach שלח2965,82050.860.93×39
Korach קרח2425,32545.450.83×47
Chukat חקת2754,67458.841.08×11
Balak בלק3635,35967.741.24×1
Pinchas פנחס4137,85452.590.96×29
Matot מטות2915,65351.480.94×37
Masei מסעי3505,77660.601.11×8
Devarim דברים3395,97356.761.04×18
Vaetchanan ואתחנן3807,34651.730.95×36
Eikev עקב3556,86151.740.95×35
Re'eh ראה4097,44354.951.01×22
Shoftim שופטים2765,59249.360.91×42
Ki Teitzei כי תצא3405,85858.041.06×15
Ki Tavo כי תבוא3636,81653.260.98×27
Nitzavim נצבים1642,57663.661.17×5
Vayeilech וילך922,12343.340.80×51
Ha'Azinu האזינו1322,32956.681.04×20
V'Zot HaBerachah וזאת הברכה1021,99351.180.94×38

Where it runs hardest and thinnest

A place is listed when Bet runs at least 1.25× its Tanakh-wide rate of 54.48 per 1,000, or at most 0.80× it. Two thresholds, applied to every letter alike — nothing here is picked by hand.

Books where it runs low

  • Jonah0.67×36.7 per 1,000 · 99 of 2,700

Portions where it runs low

  • Bereshit0.70×38.4 per 1,000 · 278 of 7,234
  • Kedoshim0.74×40.5 per 1,000 · 131 of 3,231
  • Terumah0.78×42.6 per 1,000 · 200 of 4,691
  • Vayeilech0.80×43.3 per 1,000 · 92 of 2,123
  • Yitro0.80×43.5 per 1,000 · 175 of 4,024

The gematria of the letter

Standard2Gadol2Katan2Siduri (ordinal)2Atbash300Perati4Milui412

Milui values a letter at the standard gematria of its own name spelled in full: בית = 412. Computed at render by the same engine that runs every search — nothing on this page is a stored number except the counts.

First standing

The first Bet of the Tanakh, in canonical order from Bereshit 1:1 forward, is in בראשית — Genesis 1:1, the 1st word of the verse.

Quick answers

What is the gematria of Bet?

Bet (ב) is 2 in standard gematria; it is the 2nd letter of the alef-bet. Spelled out in full, בית, it is 412.

How many times does Bet appear in the Tanakh?

65,216 times in the twenty-four books — the 8th most written of the twenty-two letters.