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The Letters

Samech סמך

Samech (ס) is the 15th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It stands 7,635 times in the twenty-four books — 6.4 of every 1,000 letters, the 21st most written of the twenty-two — out of 1,197,042 letters in all.

Occurrences
7,635
Per 1,000 letters
6.38
Rank of 22
21
Share of the Tanakh
0.64%

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.

0.05.010.015.0Genesis — 5.71 per 1,000 letters (446 in 78,069 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Exodus — 5.92 per 1,000 letters (376 in 63,531 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Leviticus — 5.31 per 1,000 letters (238 in 44,795 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Numbers — 7.74 per 1,000 letters (492 in 63,545 letters, 1.21× the Tanakh rate)Deuteronomy — 5.12 per 1,000 letters (281 in 54,910 letters, 0.80× the Tanakh rate)Joshua — 3.99 per 1,000 letters (159 in 39,807 letters, 0.63× the Tanakh rate)Judges — 6.68 per 1,000 letters (260 in 38,944 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)Samuel — 3.79 per 1,000 letters (354 in 93,532 letters, 0.59× the Tanakh rate)Kings — 6.70 per 1,000 letters (660 in 98,460 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)Isaiah — 8.15 per 1,000 letters (545 in 66,888 letters, 1.28× the Tanakh rate)Jeremiah — 5.33 per 1,000 letters (453 in 84,912 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Ezekiel — 5.57 per 1,000 letters (415 in 74,499 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)Hosea — 5.65 per 1,000 letters (53 in 9,385 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Joel — 8.01 per 1,000 letters (31 in 3,872 letters, 1.25× the Tanakh rate)Amos — 8.96 per 1,000 letters (72 in 8,033 letters, 1.41× the Tanakh rate)Obadiah — 5.36 per 1,000 letters (6 in 1,119 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)Jonah — 6.67 per 1,000 letters (18 in 2,700 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Micah — 7.00 per 1,000 letters (39 in 5,570 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Nahum — 8.88 per 1,000 letters (20 in 2,252 letters, 1.39× the Tanakh rate)Habakkuk — 14.2 per 1,000 letters (37 in 2,598 letters, 2.23× the Tanakh rate)Zephaniah — 8.01 per 1,000 letters (24 in 2,996 letters, 1.26× the Tanakh rate)Haggai — 2.57 per 1,000 letters (6 in 2,336 letters, 0.40× the Tanakh rate)Zechariah — 7.32 per 1,000 letters (91 in 12,432 letters, 1.15× the Tanakh rate)Malachi — 4.35 per 1,000 letters (15 in 3,450 letters, 0.68× the Tanakh rate)Psalms — 9.77 per 1,000 letters (770 in 78,833 letters, 1.53× the Tanakh rate)Proverbs — 10.9 per 1,000 letters (289 in 26,507 letters, 1.71× the Tanakh rate)Job — 6.91 per 1,000 letters (220 in 31,862 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Song of Songs — 6.99 per 1,000 letters (36 in 5,151 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Ruth — 1.82 per 1,000 letters (9 in 4,947 letters, 0.28× the Tanakh rate)Lamentations — 6.19 per 1,000 letters (37 in 5,980 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Ecclesiastes — 8.93 per 1,000 letters (98 in 10,969 letters, 1.40× the Tanakh rate)Esther — 11.9 per 1,000 letters (144 in 12,112 letters, 1.86× the Tanakh rate)Daniel — 6.38 per 1,000 letters (155 in 24,291 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Ezra–Nehemiah — 6.56 per 1,000 letters (251 in 38,277 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Chronicles — 5.38 per 1,000 letters (535 in 99,478 letters, 0.84× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestGeneDeutKingsHoseaJonahZephPsalRuthChro

Its two ends

Highest
Habakkuk 14.2
Lowest
Ruth 1.82

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 35 books
Samech in each of the 35 books, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Genesis בראשית44678,0695.710.90×23
Exodus שמות37663,5315.920.93×22
Leviticus ויקרא23844,7955.310.83×29
Numbers במדבר49263,5457.741.21×11
Deuteronomy דברים28154,9105.120.80×30
Joshua יהושע15939,8073.990.63×32
Judges שופטים26038,9446.681.05×17
Samuel שמואל35493,5323.790.59×33
Kings מלכים66098,4606.701.05×16
Isaiah ישעיהו54566,8888.151.28×8
Jeremiah ירמיהו45384,9125.330.84×28
Ezekiel יחזקאל41574,4995.570.87×25
Hosea הושע539,3855.650.89×24
Joel יואל313,8728.011.25×10
Amos עמוס728,0338.961.41×5
Obadiah עובדיה61,1195.360.84×27
Jonah יונה182,7006.671.04×18
Micah מיכה395,5707.001.10×13
Nahum נחום202,2528.881.39×7
Habakkuk חבקוק372,59814.242.23×1
Zephaniah צפניה242,9968.011.26×9
Haggai חגי62,3362.570.40×34
Zechariah זכריה9112,4327.321.15×12
Malachi מלאכי153,4504.350.68×31
Psalms תהלים77078,8339.771.53×4
Proverbs משלי28926,50710.901.71×3
Job איוב22031,8626.911.08×15
Song of Songs שיר השירים365,1516.991.10×14
Ruth רות94,9471.820.28×35
Lamentations איכה375,9806.190.97×21
Ecclesiastes קהלת9810,9698.931.40×6
Esther אסתר14412,11211.891.86×2
Daniel דניאל15524,2916.381.00×20
Ezra–Nehemiah עזרא־נחמיה25138,2776.561.03×19
Chronicles דברי הימים53599,4785.380.84×26

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.

0.05.010.015.020.0Bereshit — 0.97 per 1,000 letters (7 in 7,234 letters, 0.15× the Tanakh rate)Noach — 4.20 per 1,000 letters (29 in 6,907 letters, 0.66× the Tanakh rate)Lech Lecha — 4.58 per 1,000 letters (29 in 6,338 letters, 0.72× the Tanakh rate)Vayera — 4.33 per 1,000 letters (34 in 7,861 letters, 0.68× the Tanakh rate)Chayei Sara — 3.95 per 1,000 letters (21 in 5,315 letters, 0.62× the Tanakh rate)Toldot — 0.55 per 1,000 letters (3 in 5,427 letters, 0.09× the Tanakh rate)Vayetzei — 2.26 per 1,000 letters (17 in 7,512 letters, 0.35× the Tanakh rate)Vayishlach — 2.95 per 1,000 letters (22 in 7,457 letters, 0.46× the Tanakh rate)Vayeshev — 15.2 per 1,000 letters (91 in 5,972 letters, 2.39× the Tanakh rate)Miketz — 10.7 per 1,000 letters (85 in 7,913 letters, 1.68× the Tanakh rate)Vayigash — 9.85 per 1,000 letters (56 in 5,684 letters, 1.54× the Tanakh rate)Vayechi — 11.7 per 1,000 letters (52 in 4,449 letters, 1.83× the Tanakh rate)Shemot — 4.29 per 1,000 letters (29 in 6,763 letters, 0.67× the Tanakh rate)Vaera — 3.58 per 1,000 letters (24 in 6,703 letters, 0.56× the Tanakh rate)Bo — 5.04 per 1,000 letters (31 in 6,149 letters, 0.79× the Tanakh rate)Beshalach — 8.72 per 1,000 letters (56 in 6,424 letters, 1.37× the Tanakh rate)Yitro — 4.97 per 1,000 letters (20 in 4,024 letters, 0.78× the Tanakh rate)Mishpatim — 6.59 per 1,000 letters (35 in 5,312 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Terumah — 7.67 per 1,000 letters (36 in 4,691 letters, 1.20× the Tanakh rate)Tetzaveh — 5.53 per 1,000 letters (30 in 5,427 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tisa — 4.44 per 1,000 letters (33 in 7,426 letters, 0.70× the Tanakh rate)Vayakhel — 7.44 per 1,000 letters (46 in 6,180 letters, 1.17× the Tanakh rate)Pekudei — 8.12 per 1,000 letters (36 in 4,432 letters, 1.27× the Tanakh rate)Vayikra — 9.32 per 1,000 letters (58 in 6,222 letters, 1.46× the Tanakh rate)Tzav — 4.12 per 1,000 letters (21 in 5,096 letters, 0.65× the Tanakh rate)Shmini — 8.14 per 1,000 letters (38 in 4,669 letters, 1.28× the Tanakh rate)Tazria — 6.27 per 1,000 letters (23 in 3,667 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Metzora — 4.90 per 1,000 letters (23 in 4,698 letters, 0.77× the Tanakh rate)Achrei Mot — 2.33 per 1,000 letters (10 in 4,296 letters, 0.36× the Tanakh rate)Kedoshim — 1.24 per 1,000 letters (4 in 3,231 letters, 0.19× the Tanakh rate)Emor — 2.95 per 1,000 letters (18 in 6,108 letters, 0.46× the Tanakh rate)Behar — 5.68 per 1,000 letters (16 in 2,817 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Bechukotai — 6.76 per 1,000 letters (27 in 3,991 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Bamidbar — 9.06 per 1,000 letters (67 in 7,394 letters, 1.42× the Tanakh rate)Nasso — 6.60 per 1,000 letters (57 in 8,632 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Beha'alotcha — 10.6 per 1,000 letters (75 in 7,058 letters, 1.67× the Tanakh rate)Sh'lach — 6.19 per 1,000 letters (36 in 5,820 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Korach — 1.69 per 1,000 letters (9 in 5,325 letters, 0.27× the Tanakh rate)Chukat — 8.56 per 1,000 letters (40 in 4,674 letters, 1.34× the Tanakh rate)Balak — 3.73 per 1,000 letters (20 in 5,359 letters, 0.58× the Tanakh rate)Pinchas — 7.77 per 1,000 letters (61 in 7,854 letters, 1.22× the Tanakh rate)Matot — 7.78 per 1,000 letters (44 in 5,653 letters, 1.22× the Tanakh rate)Masei — 14.4 per 1,000 letters (83 in 5,776 letters, 2.25× the Tanakh rate)Devarim — 4.69 per 1,000 letters (28 in 5,973 letters, 0.73× the Tanakh rate)Vaetchanan — 4.22 per 1,000 letters (31 in 7,346 letters, 0.66× the Tanakh rate)Eikev — 4.66 per 1,000 letters (32 in 6,861 letters, 0.73× the Tanakh rate)Re'eh — 6.58 per 1,000 letters (49 in 7,443 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Shoftim — 6.44 per 1,000 letters (36 in 5,592 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Ki Teitzei — 4.44 per 1,000 letters (26 in 5,858 letters, 0.70× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tavo — 3.81 per 1,000 letters (26 in 6,816 letters, 0.60× the Tanakh rate)Nitzavim — 3.49 per 1,000 letters (9 in 2,576 letters, 0.55× the Tanakh rate)Vayeilech — 4.24 per 1,000 letters (9 in 2,123 letters, 0.67× the Tanakh rate)Ha'Azinu — 9.02 per 1,000 letters (21 in 2,329 letters, 1.41× the Tanakh rate)V'Zot HaBerachah — 7.03 per 1,000 letters (14 in 1,993 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestBereChayVayeShemYitroKi TTzavAchrBechSh'lPincVaetKi TV'Zo

Its two ends

Highest
Vayeshev 15.2
Lowest
Toldot 0.55

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 54 portions
Samech in each of the 54 portions, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Bereshit בראשית77,2340.970.15×53
Noach נח296,9074.200.66×40
Lech Lecha לך לך296,3384.580.72×33
Vayera וירא347,8614.330.68×36
Chayei Sara חיי שרה215,3153.950.62×42
Toldot תולדות35,4270.550.09×54
Vayetzei ויצא177,5122.260.35×50
Vayishlach וישלח227,4572.950.46×47
Vayeshev וישב915,97215.242.39×1
Miketz מקץ857,91310.741.68×4
Vayigash ויגש565,6849.851.54×6
Vayechi ויחי524,44911.691.83×3
Shemot שמות296,7634.290.67×37
Vaera וארא246,7033.580.56×45
Bo בא316,1495.040.79×28
Beshalach בשלח566,4248.721.37×10
Yitro יתרו204,0244.970.78×29
Mishpatim משפטים355,3126.591.03×21
Terumah תרומה364,6917.671.20×16
Tetzaveh תצוה305,4275.530.87×27
Ki Tisa כי תשא337,4264.440.70×34
Vayakhel ויקהל466,1807.441.17×17
Pekudei פקודי364,4328.121.27×13
Vayikra ויקרא586,2229.321.46×7
Tzav צו215,0964.120.65×41
Shmini שמיני384,6698.141.28×12
Tazria תזריע233,6676.270.98×24
Metzora מצורע234,6984.900.77×30
Achrei Mot אחרי מות104,2962.330.36×49
Kedoshim קדושים43,2311.240.19×52
Emor אמור186,1082.950.46×48
Behar בהר162,8175.680.89×26
Bechukotai בחוקתי273,9916.761.06×19
Bamidbar במדבר677,3949.061.42×8
Nasso נשא578,6326.601.03×20
Beha'alotcha בהעלותך757,05810.631.67×5
Sh'lach שלח365,8206.190.97×25
Korach קרח95,3251.690.27×51
Chukat חקת404,6748.561.34×11
Balak בלק205,3593.730.58×44
Pinchas פנחס617,8547.771.22×15
Matot מטות445,6537.781.22×14
Masei מסעי835,77614.372.25×2
Devarim דברים285,9734.690.73×31
Vaetchanan ואתחנן317,3464.220.66×39
Eikev עקב326,8614.660.73×32
Re'eh ראה497,4436.581.03×22
Shoftim שופטים365,5926.441.01×23
Ki Teitzei כי תצא265,8584.440.70×35
Ki Tavo כי תבוא266,8163.810.60×43
Nitzavim נצבים92,5763.490.55×46
Vayeilech וילך92,1234.240.67×38
Ha'Azinu האזינו212,3299.021.41×9
V'Zot HaBerachah וזאת הברכה141,9937.031.10×18

Where it runs hardest and thinnest

A place is listed when Samech runs at least 1.25× its Tanakh-wide rate of 6.38 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

  • Habakkuk2.23×14.2 per 1,000 · 37 of 2,598
  • Esther1.86×11.9 per 1,000 · 144 of 12,112
  • Proverbs1.71×10.9 per 1,000 · 289 of 26,507
  • Psalms1.53×9.8 per 1,000 · 770 of 78,833
  • Amos1.41×9.0 per 1,000 · 72 of 8,033
  • Ecclesiastes1.40×8.9 per 1,000 · 98 of 10,969
  • Nahum1.39×8.9 per 1,000 · 20 of 2,252
  • Isaiah1.28×8.1 per 1,000 · 545 of 66,888

Books where it runs low

  • Ruth0.28×1.8 per 1,000 · 9 of 4,947
  • Haggai0.40×2.6 per 1,000 · 6 of 2,336
  • Samuel0.59×3.8 per 1,000 · 354 of 93,532
  • Joshua0.63×4.0 per 1,000 · 159 of 39,807
  • Malachi0.68×4.3 per 1,000 · 15 of 3,450

Portions where it runs high

  • Vayeshev2.39×15.2 per 1,000 · 91 of 5,972
  • Masei2.25×14.4 per 1,000 · 83 of 5,776
  • Vayechi1.83×11.7 per 1,000 · 52 of 4,449
  • Miketz1.68×10.7 per 1,000 · 85 of 7,913
  • Beha'alotcha1.67×10.6 per 1,000 · 75 of 7,058
  • Vayigash1.54×9.9 per 1,000 · 56 of 5,684
  • Vayikra1.46×9.3 per 1,000 · 58 of 6,222
  • Bamidbar1.42×9.1 per 1,000 · 67 of 7,394

Portions where it runs low

  • Toldot0.09×0.6 per 1,000 · 3 of 5,427
  • Bereshit0.15×1.0 per 1,000 · 7 of 7,234
  • Kedoshim0.19×1.2 per 1,000 · 4 of 3,231
  • Korach0.27×1.7 per 1,000 · 9 of 5,325
  • Vayetzei0.35×2.3 per 1,000 · 17 of 7,512
  • Achrei Mot0.36×2.3 per 1,000 · 10 of 4,296
  • Emor0.46×2.9 per 1,000 · 18 of 6,108
  • Vayishlach0.46×3.0 per 1,000 · 22 of 7,457

The gematria of the letter

Standard60Gadol60Katan6Siduri (ordinal)15Atbash8Perati3,600Milui120

Milui values a letter at the standard gematria of its own name spelled in full: סמך = 120. 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 Samech of the Tanakh, in canonical order from Bereshit 1:1 forward, is in הסבב — Genesis 2:11, the 5th word of the verse.

Quick answers

What is the gematria of Samech?

Samech (ס) is 60 in standard gematria; it is the 15th letter of the alef-bet. Spelled out in full, סמך, it is 120.

How many times does Samech appear in the Tanakh?

7,635 times in the twenty-four books — the 21st most written of the twenty-two letters.