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The Letters

Kaf כף

Kaf (כ) is the 11th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It stands 47,468 times in the twenty-four books — 39.7 of every 1,000 letters, the 12th most written of the twenty-two — out of 1,197,042 letters in all.

Occurrences
47,468
Per 1,000 letters
39.65
Rank of 22
12
Share of the Tanakh
3.96%

Two shapes, one letter

כ and ך are the same letter, written differently at the end of a word. Every count on this page folds them together, because every method in this app values them as one letter — Gadol alone gives the final form a number of its own, and that is a valuation, not a second letter. Written as כ: 33,466. Written as ך: 14,002.

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 — 35.5 per 1,000 letters (2,774 in 78,069 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Exodus — 36.5 per 1,000 letters (2,322 in 63,531 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Leviticus — 40.4 per 1,000 letters (1,810 in 44,795 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Numbers — 29.9 per 1,000 letters (1,902 in 63,545 letters, 0.76× the Tanakh rate)Deuteronomy — 57.5 per 1,000 letters (3,160 in 54,910 letters, 1.45× the Tanakh rate)Joshua — 33.9 per 1,000 letters (1,348 in 39,807 letters, 0.85× the Tanakh rate)Judges — 31.4 per 1,000 letters (1,222 in 38,944 letters, 0.79× the Tanakh rate)Samuel — 38.0 per 1,000 letters (3,556 in 93,532 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Kings — 41.3 per 1,000 letters (4,062 in 98,460 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Isaiah — 43.0 per 1,000 letters (2,877 in 66,888 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Jeremiah — 42.8 per 1,000 letters (3,630 in 84,912 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Ezekiel — 41.0 per 1,000 letters (3,054 in 74,499 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Hosea — 46.0 per 1,000 letters (432 in 9,385 letters, 1.16× the Tanakh rate)Joel — 42.6 per 1,000 letters (165 in 3,872 letters, 1.07× the Tanakh rate)Amos — 37.7 per 1,000 letters (303 in 8,033 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Obadiah — 45.6 per 1,000 letters (51 in 1,119 letters, 1.15× the Tanakh rate)Jonah — 25.6 per 1,000 letters (69 in 2,700 letters, 0.64× the Tanakh rate)Micah — 44.3 per 1,000 letters (247 in 5,570 letters, 1.12× the Tanakh rate)Nahum — 67.9 per 1,000 letters (153 in 2,252 letters, 1.71× the Tanakh rate)Habakkuk — 43.5 per 1,000 letters (113 in 2,598 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Zephaniah — 40.1 per 1,000 letters (120 in 2,996 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Haggai — 39.8 per 1,000 letters (93 in 2,336 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Zechariah — 32.8 per 1,000 letters (408 in 12,432 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Malachi — 40.6 per 1,000 letters (140 in 3,450 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Psalms — 46.0 per 1,000 letters (3,629 in 78,833 letters, 1.16× the Tanakh rate)Proverbs — 46.5 per 1,000 letters (1,233 in 26,507 letters, 1.17× the Tanakh rate)Job — 40.8 per 1,000 letters (1,300 in 31,862 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Song of Songs — 48.0 per 1,000 letters (247 in 5,151 letters, 1.21× the Tanakh rate)Ruth — 40.0 per 1,000 letters (198 in 4,947 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Lamentations — 41.0 per 1,000 letters (245 in 5,980 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Ecclesiastes — 47.7 per 1,000 letters (523 in 10,969 letters, 1.20× the Tanakh rate)Esther — 50.4 per 1,000 letters (610 in 12,112 letters, 1.27× the Tanakh rate)Daniel — 40.5 per 1,000 letters (985 in 24,291 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Ezra–Nehemiah — 31.4 per 1,000 letters (1,200 in 38,277 letters, 0.79× the Tanakh rate)Chronicles — 33.0 per 1,000 letters (3,287 in 99,478 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestGeneDeutKingsHoseaJonahZephPsalRuthChro

Its two ends

Highest
Nahum 67.9
Lowest
Jonah 25.6

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 35 books
Kaf in each of the 35 books, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Genesis בראשית2,77478,06935.530.90×28
Exodus שמות2,32263,53136.550.92×27
Leviticus ויקרא1,81044,79540.411.02×21
Numbers במדבר1,90263,54529.930.76×34
Deuteronomy דברים3,16054,91057.551.45×2
Joshua יהושע1,34839,80733.860.85×29
Judges שופטים1,22238,94431.380.79×32
Samuel שמואל3,55693,53238.020.96×25
Kings מלכים4,06298,46041.261.04×15
Isaiah ישעיהו2,87766,88843.011.08×12
Jeremiah ירמיהו3,63084,91242.751.08×13
Ezekiel יחזקאל3,05474,49940.991.03×16
Hosea הושע4329,38546.031.16×8
Joel יואל1653,87242.611.07×14
Amos עמוס3038,03337.720.95×26
Obadiah עובדיה511,11945.581.15×9
Jonah יונה692,70025.560.64×35
Micah מיכה2475,57044.341.12×10
Nahum נחום1532,25267.941.71×1
Habakkuk חבקוק1132,59843.491.10×11
Zephaniah צפניה1202,99640.051.01×22
Haggai חגי932,33639.811.00×24
Zechariah זכריה40812,43232.820.83×31
Malachi מלאכי1403,45040.581.02×19
Psalms תהלים3,62978,83346.031.16×7
Proverbs משלי1,23326,50746.521.17×6
Job איוב1,30031,86240.801.03×18
Song of Songs שיר השירים2475,15147.951.21×4
Ruth רות1984,94740.021.01×23
Lamentations איכה2455,98040.971.03×17
Ecclesiastes קהלת52310,96947.681.20×5
Esther אסתר61012,11250.361.27×3
Daniel דניאל98524,29140.551.02×20
Ezra–Nehemiah עזרא־נחמיה1,20038,27731.350.79×33
Chronicles דברי הימים3,28799,47833.040.83×30

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.

0255075100Bereshit — 31.0 per 1,000 letters (224 in 7,234 letters, 0.78× the Tanakh rate)Noach — 32.1 per 1,000 letters (222 in 6,907 letters, 0.81× the Tanakh rate)Lech Lecha — 45.6 per 1,000 letters (289 in 6,338 letters, 1.15× the Tanakh rate)Vayera — 36.5 per 1,000 letters (287 in 7,861 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Chayei Sara — 30.3 per 1,000 letters (161 in 5,315 letters, 0.76× the Tanakh rate)Toldot — 45.1 per 1,000 letters (245 in 5,427 letters, 1.14× the Tanakh rate)Vayetzei — 36.3 per 1,000 letters (273 in 7,512 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Vayishlach — 30.0 per 1,000 letters (224 in 7,457 letters, 0.76× the Tanakh rate)Vayeshev — 31.1 per 1,000 letters (186 in 5,972 letters, 0.79× the Tanakh rate)Miketz — 33.9 per 1,000 letters (268 in 7,913 letters, 0.85× the Tanakh rate)Vayigash — 39.9 per 1,000 letters (227 in 5,684 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Vayechi — 37.8 per 1,000 letters (168 in 4,449 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Shemot — 35.2 per 1,000 letters (238 in 6,763 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Vaera — 35.5 per 1,000 letters (238 in 6,703 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Bo — 50.6 per 1,000 letters (311 in 6,149 letters, 1.27× the Tanakh rate)Beshalach — 31.8 per 1,000 letters (204 in 6,424 letters, 0.80× the Tanakh rate)Yitro — 38.3 per 1,000 letters (154 in 4,024 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Mishpatim — 41.4 per 1,000 letters (220 in 5,312 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Terumah — 30.1 per 1,000 letters (141 in 4,691 letters, 0.76× the Tanakh rate)Tetzaveh — 24.3 per 1,000 letters (132 in 5,427 letters, 0.61× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tisa — 39.5 per 1,000 letters (293 in 7,426 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Vayakhel — 33.0 per 1,000 letters (204 in 6,180 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Pekudei — 42.2 per 1,000 letters (187 in 4,432 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Vayikra — 32.8 per 1,000 letters (204 in 6,222 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Tzav — 30.6 per 1,000 letters (156 in 5,096 letters, 0.77× the Tanakh rate)Shmini — 42.8 per 1,000 letters (200 in 4,669 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Tazria — 36.3 per 1,000 letters (133 in 3,667 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Metzora — 36.8 per 1,000 letters (173 in 4,698 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Achrei Mot — 42.1 per 1,000 letters (181 in 4,296 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Kedoshim — 43.6 per 1,000 letters (141 in 3,231 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Emor — 39.6 per 1,000 letters (242 in 6,108 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Behar — 54.0 per 1,000 letters (152 in 2,817 letters, 1.36× the Tanakh rate)Bechukotai — 57.1 per 1,000 letters (228 in 3,991 letters, 1.44× the Tanakh rate)Bamidbar — 25.7 per 1,000 letters (190 in 7,394 letters, 0.65× the Tanakh rate)Nasso — 26.6 per 1,000 letters (230 in 8,632 letters, 0.67× the Tanakh rate)Beha'alotcha — 32.0 per 1,000 letters (226 in 7,058 letters, 0.81× the Tanakh rate)Sh'lach — 34.2 per 1,000 letters (199 in 5,820 letters, 0.86× the Tanakh rate)Korach — 43.2 per 1,000 letters (230 in 5,325 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)Chukat — 25.5 per 1,000 letters (119 in 4,674 letters, 0.64× the Tanakh rate)Balak — 40.5 per 1,000 letters (217 in 5,359 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Pinchas — 27.8 per 1,000 letters (218 in 7,854 letters, 0.70× the Tanakh rate)Matot — 27.1 per 1,000 letters (153 in 5,653 letters, 0.68× the Tanakh rate)Masei — 20.8 per 1,000 letters (120 in 5,776 letters, 0.52× the Tanakh rate)Devarim — 44.9 per 1,000 letters (268 in 5,973 letters, 1.13× the Tanakh rate)Vaetchanan — 56.1 per 1,000 letters (412 in 7,346 letters, 1.41× the Tanakh rate)Eikev — 56.3 per 1,000 letters (386 in 6,861 letters, 1.42× the Tanakh rate)Re'eh — 80.7 per 1,000 letters (601 in 7,443 letters, 2.04× the Tanakh rate)Shoftim — 53.3 per 1,000 letters (298 in 5,592 letters, 1.34× the Tanakh rate)Ki Teitzei — 55.3 per 1,000 letters (324 in 5,858 letters, 1.40× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tavo — 64.7 per 1,000 letters (441 in 6,816 letters, 1.63× the Tanakh rate)Nitzavim — 65.2 per 1,000 letters (168 in 2,576 letters, 1.65× the Tanakh rate)Vayeilech — 41.5 per 1,000 letters (88 in 2,123 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Ha'Azinu — 41.2 per 1,000 letters (96 in 2,329 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)V'Zot HaBerachah — 39.1 per 1,000 letters (78 in 1,993 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestBereChayVayeShemYitroKi TTzavAchrBechSh'lPincVaetKi TV'Zo

Its two ends

Highest
Re'eh 80.7
Lowest
Masei 20.8

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 54 portions
Kaf in each of the 54 portions, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Bereshit בראשית2247,23430.960.78×43
Noach נח2226,90732.140.81×39
Lech Lecha לך לך2896,33845.601.15×11
Vayera וירא2877,86136.510.92×30
Chayei Sara חיי שרה1615,31530.290.76×45
Toldot תולדות2455,42745.151.14×12
Vayetzei ויצא2737,51236.340.92×31
Vayishlach וישלח2247,45730.040.76×47
Vayeshev וישב1865,97231.140.79×42
Miketz מקץ2687,91333.870.85×36
Vayigash ויגש2275,68439.941.01×23
Vayechi ויחי1684,44937.760.95×28
Shemot שמות2386,76335.190.89×34
Vaera וארא2386,70335.510.90×33
Bo בא3116,14950.581.27×10
Beshalach בשלח2046,42431.760.80×41
Yitro יתרו1544,02438.270.96×27
Mishpatim משפטים2205,31241.421.04×20
Terumah תרומה1414,69130.060.76×46
Tetzaveh תצוה1325,42724.320.61×53
Ki Tisa כי תשא2937,42639.460.99×25
Vayakhel ויקהל2046,18033.010.83×37
Pekudei פקודי1874,43242.191.06×17
Vayikra ויקרא2046,22232.790.83×38
Tzav צו1565,09630.610.77×44
Shmini שמיני2004,66942.841.08×16
Tazria תזריע1333,66736.270.92×32
Metzora מצורע1734,69836.820.93×29
Achrei Mot אחרי מות1814,29642.131.06×18
Kedoshim קדושים1413,23143.641.10×14
Emor אמור2426,10839.621.00×24
Behar בהר1522,81753.961.36×8
Bechukotai בחוקתי2283,99157.131.44×4
Bamidbar במדבר1907,39425.700.65×51
Nasso נשא2308,63226.640.67×50
Beha'alotcha בהעלותך2267,05832.020.81×40
Sh'lach שלח1995,82034.190.86×35
Korach קרח2305,32543.191.09×15
Chukat חקת1194,67425.460.64×52
Balak בלק2175,35940.491.02×22
Pinchas פנחס2187,85427.760.70×48
Matot מטות1535,65327.070.68×49
Masei מסעי1205,77620.780.52×54
Devarim דברים2685,97344.871.13×13
Vaetchanan ואתחנן4127,34656.091.41×6
Eikev עקב3866,86156.261.42×5
Re'eh ראה6017,44380.752.04×1
Shoftim שופטים2985,59253.291.34×9
Ki Teitzei כי תצא3245,85855.311.40×7
Ki Tavo כי תבוא4416,81664.701.63×3
Nitzavim נצבים1682,57665.221.65×2
Vayeilech וילך882,12341.451.04×19
Ha'Azinu האזינו962,32941.221.04×21
V'Zot HaBerachah וזאת הברכה781,99339.140.99×26

Where it runs hardest and thinnest

A place is listed when Kaf runs at least 1.25× its Tanakh-wide rate of 39.65 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 high

  • Nahum1.71×67.9 per 1,000 · 153 of 2,252
  • Deuteronomy1.45×57.5 per 1,000 · 3,160 of 54,910
  • Esther1.27×50.4 per 1,000 · 610 of 12,112

Books where it runs low

  • Jonah0.64×25.6 per 1,000 · 69 of 2,700
  • Numbers0.76×29.9 per 1,000 · 1,902 of 63,545
  • Judges0.79×31.4 per 1,000 · 1,222 of 38,944
  • Ezra–Nehemiah0.79×31.4 per 1,000 · 1,200 of 38,277

Portions where it runs high

  • Re'eh2.04×80.7 per 1,000 · 601 of 7,443
  • Nitzavim1.65×65.2 per 1,000 · 168 of 2,576
  • Ki Tavo1.63×64.7 per 1,000 · 441 of 6,816
  • Bechukotai1.44×57.1 per 1,000 · 228 of 3,991
  • Eikev1.42×56.3 per 1,000 · 386 of 6,861
  • Vaetchanan1.41×56.1 per 1,000 · 412 of 7,346
  • Ki Teitzei1.40×55.3 per 1,000 · 324 of 5,858
  • Behar1.36×54.0 per 1,000 · 152 of 2,817

Portions where it runs low

  • Masei0.52×20.8 per 1,000 · 120 of 5,776
  • Tetzaveh0.61×24.3 per 1,000 · 132 of 5,427
  • Chukat0.64×25.5 per 1,000 · 119 of 4,674
  • Bamidbar0.65×25.7 per 1,000 · 190 of 7,394
  • Nasso0.67×26.6 per 1,000 · 230 of 8,632
  • Matot0.68×27.1 per 1,000 · 153 of 5,653
  • Pinchas0.70×27.8 per 1,000 · 218 of 7,854
  • Vayishlach0.76×30.0 per 1,000 · 224 of 7,457

The gematria of the letter

Standard20Gadol20Katan2Siduri (ordinal)11Atbash30Perati400Milui100

Milui values a letter at the standard gematria of its own name spelled in full: כף = 100. Computed at render by the same engine that runs every search — nothing on this page is a stored number except the counts.

The final form ך answers to the same numbers under every method but one: Gadol gives it 500 where כ is 20.

First standing

The first Kaf of the Tanakh, in canonical order from Bereshit 1:1 forward, is in וחשך — Genesis 1:2, the 5th word of the verse.

Quick answers

What is the gematria of Kaf?

Kaf (כ) is 20 in standard gematria; it is the 11th letter of the alef-bet. Spelled out in full, כף, it is 100.

What is the gematria of final Kaf (ך)?

20 in the standard method, the same as כ; in Mispar Gadol the final form counts 500.

How many times does Kaf appear in the Tanakh?

47,468 times in the twenty-four books — the 12th most written of the twenty-two letters.