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The Letters

Lamed למד

Lamed (ל) is the 12th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It stands 88,302 times in the twenty-four books — 73.8 of every 1,000 letters, the 6th most written of the twenty-two — out of 1,197,042 letters in all.

Occurrences
88,302
Per 1,000 letters
73.77
Rank of 22
6
Share of the Tanakh
7.38%

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.

0255075100Genesis — 67.6 per 1,000 letters (5,275 in 78,069 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Exodus — 67.6 per 1,000 letters (4,292 in 63,531 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Leviticus — 68.9 per 1,000 letters (3,087 in 44,795 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Numbers — 76.0 per 1,000 letters (4,828 in 63,545 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Deuteronomy — 74.4 per 1,000 letters (4,088 in 54,910 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Joshua — 72.4 per 1,000 letters (2,882 in 39,807 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Judges — 75.4 per 1,000 letters (2,937 in 38,944 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Samuel — 82.9 per 1,000 letters (7,753 in 93,532 letters, 1.12× the Tanakh rate)Kings — 76.8 per 1,000 letters (7,561 in 98,460 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Isaiah — 68.0 per 1,000 letters (4,549 in 66,888 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Jeremiah — 74.9 per 1,000 letters (6,360 in 84,912 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Ezekiel — 67.6 per 1,000 letters (5,033 in 74,499 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Hosea — 69.9 per 1,000 letters (656 in 9,385 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Joel — 67.7 per 1,000 letters (262 in 3,872 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Amos — 69.1 per 1,000 letters (555 in 8,033 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Obadiah — 67.0 per 1,000 letters (75 in 1,119 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Jonah — 82.6 per 1,000 letters (223 in 2,700 letters, 1.12× the Tanakh rate)Micah — 66.4 per 1,000 letters (370 in 5,570 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Nahum — 63.9 per 1,000 letters (144 in 2,252 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)Habakkuk — 71.2 per 1,000 letters (185 in 2,598 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Zephaniah — 70.4 per 1,000 letters (211 in 2,996 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Haggai — 59.5 per 1,000 letters (139 in 2,336 letters, 0.81× the Tanakh rate)Zechariah — 61.5 per 1,000 letters (764 in 12,432 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Malachi — 54.8 per 1,000 letters (189 in 3,450 letters, 0.74× the Tanakh rate)Psalms — 74.6 per 1,000 letters (5,878 in 78,833 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Proverbs — 67.3 per 1,000 letters (1,784 in 26,507 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Job — 72.2 per 1,000 letters (2,300 in 31,862 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Song of Songs — 61.9 per 1,000 letters (319 in 5,151 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Ruth — 78.0 per 1,000 letters (386 in 4,947 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Lamentations — 70.9 per 1,000 letters (424 in 5,980 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Ecclesiastes — 84.4 per 1,000 letters (926 in 10,969 letters, 1.14× the Tanakh rate)Esther — 78.8 per 1,000 letters (954 in 12,112 letters, 1.07× the Tanakh rate)Daniel — 85.9 per 1,000 letters (2,087 in 24,291 letters, 1.17× the Tanakh rate)Ezra–Nehemiah — 72.9 per 1,000 letters (2,790 in 38,277 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Chronicles — 80.8 per 1,000 letters (8,036 in 99,478 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestGeneDeutKingsHoseaJonahZephPsalRuthChro

Its two ends

Highest
Daniel 85.9
Lowest
Malachi 54.8

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 35 books
Lamed in each of the 35 books, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Genesis בראשית5,27578,06967.570.92×25
Exodus שמות4,29263,53167.560.92×26
Leviticus ויקרא3,08744,79568.910.93×22
Numbers במדבר4,82863,54575.981.03×9
Deuteronomy דברים4,08854,91074.451.01×13
Joshua יהושע2,88239,80772.400.98×15
Judges שופטים2,93738,94475.421.02×10
Samuel שמואל7,75393,53282.891.12×3
Kings מלכים7,56198,46076.791.04×8
Isaiah ישעיהו4,54966,88868.010.92×23
Jeremiah ירמיהו6,36084,91274.901.01×11
Ezekiel יחזקאל5,03374,49967.560.92×26
Hosea הושע6569,38569.900.95×20
Joel יואל2623,87267.670.92×24
Amos עמוס5558,03369.090.94×21
Obadiah עובדיה751,11967.020.91×29
Jonah יונה2232,70082.591.12×4
Micah מיכה3705,57066.430.90×30
Nahum נחום1442,25263.940.87×31
Habakkuk חבקוק1852,59871.210.96×17
Zephaniah צפניה2112,99670.430.95×19
Haggai חגי1392,33659.500.81×34
Zechariah זכריה76412,43261.450.83×33
Malachi מלאכי1893,45054.780.74×35
Psalms תהלים5,87878,83374.561.01×12
Proverbs משלי1,78426,50767.300.91×28
Job איוב2,30031,86272.190.98×16
Song of Songs שיר השירים3195,15161.930.84×32
Ruth רות3864,94778.031.06×7
Lamentations איכה4245,98070.900.96×18
Ecclesiastes קהלת92610,96984.421.14×2
Esther אסתר95412,11278.771.07×6
Daniel דניאל2,08724,29185.921.17×1
Ezra–Nehemiah עזרא־נחמיה2,79038,27772.890.99×14
Chronicles דברי הימים8,03699,47880.781.09×5

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 — 68.7 per 1,000 letters (497 in 7,234 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Noach — 66.0 per 1,000 letters (456 in 6,907 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Lech Lecha — 69.6 per 1,000 letters (441 in 6,338 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Vayera — 67.2 per 1,000 letters (528 in 7,861 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Chayei Sara — 71.1 per 1,000 letters (378 in 5,315 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Toldot — 57.5 per 1,000 letters (312 in 5,427 letters, 0.78× the Tanakh rate)Vayetzei — 81.1 per 1,000 letters (609 in 7,512 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Vayishlach — 73.5 per 1,000 letters (548 in 7,457 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Vayeshev — 63.3 per 1,000 letters (378 in 5,972 letters, 0.86× the Tanakh rate)Miketz — 60.5 per 1,000 letters (479 in 7,913 letters, 0.82× the Tanakh rate)Vayigash — 67.4 per 1,000 letters (383 in 5,684 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Vayechi — 59.8 per 1,000 letters (266 in 4,449 letters, 0.81× the Tanakh rate)Shemot — 72.3 per 1,000 letters (489 in 6,763 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Vaera — 68.2 per 1,000 letters (457 in 6,703 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Bo — 72.2 per 1,000 letters (444 in 6,149 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Beshalach — 68.0 per 1,000 letters (437 in 6,424 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Yitro — 80.0 per 1,000 letters (322 in 4,024 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Mishpatim — 70.2 per 1,000 letters (373 in 5,312 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Terumah — 47.5 per 1,000 letters (223 in 4,691 letters, 0.64× the Tanakh rate)Tetzaveh — 71.9 per 1,000 letters (390 in 5,427 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tisa — 70.7 per 1,000 letters (525 in 7,426 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Vayakhel — 57.6 per 1,000 letters (356 in 6,180 letters, 0.78× the Tanakh rate)Pekudei — 62.3 per 1,000 letters (276 in 4,432 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Vayikra — 75.5 per 1,000 letters (470 in 6,222 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Tzav — 75.4 per 1,000 letters (384 in 5,096 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Shmini — 79.9 per 1,000 letters (373 in 4,669 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Tazria — 33.3 per 1,000 letters (122 in 3,667 letters, 0.45× the Tanakh rate)Metzora — 53.4 per 1,000 letters (251 in 4,698 letters, 0.72× the Tanakh rate)Achrei Mot — 78.4 per 1,000 letters (337 in 4,296 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Kedoshim — 71.5 per 1,000 letters (231 in 3,231 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Emor — 81.0 per 1,000 letters (495 in 6,108 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Behar — 67.4 per 1,000 letters (190 in 2,817 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Bechukotai — 58.6 per 1,000 letters (234 in 3,991 letters, 0.80× the Tanakh rate)Bamidbar — 79.5 per 1,000 letters (588 in 7,394 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Nasso — 72.5 per 1,000 letters (626 in 8,632 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Beha'alotcha — 67.7 per 1,000 letters (478 in 7,058 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Sh'lach — 71.8 per 1,000 letters (418 in 5,820 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Korach — 86.2 per 1,000 letters (459 in 5,325 letters, 1.17× the Tanakh rate)Chukat — 69.3 per 1,000 letters (324 in 4,674 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Balak — 92.2 per 1,000 letters (494 in 5,359 letters, 1.25× the Tanakh rate)Pinchas — 81.1 per 1,000 letters (637 in 7,854 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Matot — 70.9 per 1,000 letters (401 in 5,653 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Masei — 69.8 per 1,000 letters (403 in 5,776 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Devarim — 68.1 per 1,000 letters (407 in 5,973 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Vaetchanan — 71.1 per 1,000 letters (522 in 7,346 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Eikev — 70.1 per 1,000 letters (481 in 6,861 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Re'eh — 75.4 per 1,000 letters (561 in 7,443 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Shoftim — 88.0 per 1,000 letters (492 in 5,592 letters, 1.19× the Tanakh rate)Ki Teitzei — 82.1 per 1,000 letters (481 in 5,858 letters, 1.11× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tavo — 78.6 per 1,000 letters (536 in 6,816 letters, 1.07× the Tanakh rate)Nitzavim — 77.3 per 1,000 letters (199 in 2,576 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)Vayeilech — 61.7 per 1,000 letters (131 in 2,123 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Ha'Azinu — 66.1 per 1,000 letters (154 in 2,329 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)V'Zot HaBerachah — 62.2 per 1,000 letters (124 in 1,993 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestBereChayVayeShemYitroKi TTzavAchrBechSh'lPincVaetKi TV'Zo

Its two ends

Highest
Balak 92.2
Lowest
Tazria 33.3

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 54 portions
Lamed in each of the 54 portions, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Bereshit בראשית4977,23468.700.93×33
Noach נח4566,90766.020.90×42
Lech Lecha לך לך4416,33869.580.94×31
Vayera וירא5287,86167.170.91×40
Chayei Sara חיי שרה3785,31571.120.96×24
Toldot תולדות3125,42757.490.78×51
Vayetzei ויצא6097,51281.071.10×6
Vayishlach וישלח5487,45773.491.00×17
Vayeshev וישב3785,97263.300.86×43
Miketz מקץ4797,91360.530.82×47
Vayigash ויגש3835,68467.380.91×39
Vayechi ויחי2664,44959.790.81×48
Shemot שמות4896,76372.310.98×19
Vaera וארא4576,70368.180.92×34
Bo בא4446,14972.210.98×20
Beshalach בשלח4376,42468.030.92×36
Yitro יתרו3224,02480.021.08×8
Mishpatim משפטים3735,31270.220.95×28
Terumah תרומה2234,69147.540.64×53
Tetzaveh תצוה3905,42771.860.97×21
Ki Tisa כי תשא5257,42670.700.96×27
Vayakhel ויקהל3566,18057.600.78×50
Pekudei פקודי2764,43262.270.84×44
Vayikra ויקרא4706,22275.541.02×14
Tzav צו3845,09675.351.02×16
Shmini שמיני3734,66979.891.08×9
Tazria תזריע1223,66733.270.45×54
Metzora מצורע2514,69853.430.72×52
Achrei Mot אחרי מות3374,29678.441.06×12
Kedoshim קדושים2313,23171.500.97×23
Emor אמור4956,10881.041.10×7
Behar בהר1902,81767.450.91×38
Bechukotai בחוקתי2343,99158.630.80×49
Bamidbar במדבר5887,39479.521.08×10
Nasso נשא6268,63272.520.98×18
Beha'alotcha בהעלותך4787,05867.720.92×37
Sh'lach שלח4185,82071.820.97×22
Korach קרח4595,32586.201.17×3
Chukat חקת3244,67469.320.94×32
Balak בלק4945,35992.181.25×1
Pinchas פנחס6377,85481.111.10×5
Matot מטות4015,65370.940.96×26
Masei מסעי4035,77669.770.95×30
Devarim דברים4075,97368.140.92×35
Vaetchanan ואתחנן5227,34671.060.96×25
Eikev עקב4816,86170.110.95×29
Re'eh ראה5617,44375.371.02×15
Shoftim שופטים4925,59287.981.19×2
Ki Teitzei כי תצא4815,85882.111.11×4
Ki Tavo כי תבוא5366,81678.641.07×11
Nitzavim נצבים1992,57677.251.05×13
Vayeilech וילך1312,12361.700.84×46
Ha'Azinu האזינו1542,32966.120.90×41
V'Zot HaBerachah וזאת הברכה1241,99362.220.84×45

Where it runs hardest and thinnest

A place is listed when Lamed runs at least 1.25× its Tanakh-wide rate of 73.77 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

  • Malachi0.74×54.8 per 1,000 · 189 of 3,450

Portions where it runs high

  • Balak1.25×92.2 per 1,000 · 494 of 5,359

Portions where it runs low

  • Tazria0.45×33.3 per 1,000 · 122 of 3,667
  • Terumah0.64×47.5 per 1,000 · 223 of 4,691
  • Metzora0.72×53.4 per 1,000 · 251 of 4,698
  • Toldot0.78×57.5 per 1,000 · 312 of 5,427
  • Vayakhel0.78×57.6 per 1,000 · 356 of 6,180
  • Bechukotai0.80×58.6 per 1,000 · 234 of 3,991

The gematria of the letter

Standard30Gadol30Katan3Siduri (ordinal)12Atbash20Perati900Milui74

Milui values a letter at the standard gematria of its own name spelled in full: למד = 74. 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 Lamed of the Tanakh, in canonical order from Bereshit 1:1 forward, is in אלהים — Genesis 1:1, the 3rd word of the verse.

Quick answers

What is the gematria of Lamed?

Lamed (ל) is 30 in standard gematria; it is the 12th letter of the alef-bet. Spelled out in full, למד, it is 74.

How many times does Lamed appear in the Tanakh?

88,302 times in the twenty-four books — the 6th most written of the twenty-two letters.