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The Letters

Vav ואו

Vav (ו) is the 6th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It stands 129,605 times in the twenty-four books — 108.3 of every 1,000 letters, the 2nd most written of the twenty-two — out of 1,197,042 letters in all.

Occurrences
129,605
Per 1,000 letters
108.27
Rank of 22
2
Share of the Tanakh
10.83%

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.

050100150Genesis — 108.2 per 1,000 letters (8,447 in 78,069 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Exodus — 97.2 per 1,000 letters (6,178 in 63,531 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Leviticus — 100.6 per 1,000 letters (4,508 in 44,795 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Numbers — 94.5 per 1,000 letters (6,006 in 63,545 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)Deuteronomy — 98.2 per 1,000 letters (5,394 in 54,910 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Joshua — 111.4 per 1,000 letters (4,434 in 39,807 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Judges — 114.7 per 1,000 letters (4,466 in 38,944 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Samuel — 119.1 per 1,000 letters (11,139 in 93,532 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Kings — 104.8 per 1,000 letters (10,317 in 98,460 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Isaiah — 117.1 per 1,000 letters (7,830 in 66,888 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Jeremiah — 106.7 per 1,000 letters (9,064 in 84,912 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Ezekiel — 104.3 per 1,000 letters (7,773 in 74,499 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Hosea — 112.4 per 1,000 letters (1,055 in 9,385 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Joel — 129.1 per 1,000 letters (500 in 3,872 letters, 1.19× the Tanakh rate)Amos — 107.3 per 1,000 letters (862 in 8,033 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Obadiah — 132.3 per 1,000 letters (148 in 1,119 letters, 1.22× the Tanakh rate)Jonah — 120.7 per 1,000 letters (326 in 2,700 letters, 1.11× the Tanakh rate)Micah — 109.7 per 1,000 letters (611 in 5,570 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Nahum — 115.0 per 1,000 letters (259 in 2,252 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Habakkuk — 122.8 per 1,000 letters (319 in 2,598 letters, 1.13× the Tanakh rate)Zephaniah — 110.1 per 1,000 letters (330 in 2,996 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Haggai — 109.2 per 1,000 letters (255 in 2,336 letters, 1.01× the Tanakh rate)Zechariah — 116.6 per 1,000 letters (1,450 in 12,432 letters, 1.08× the Tanakh rate)Malachi — 118.6 per 1,000 letters (409 in 3,450 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)Psalms — 110.8 per 1,000 letters (8,733 in 78,833 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Proverbs — 102.7 per 1,000 letters (2,722 in 26,507 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Job — 112.2 per 1,000 letters (3,576 in 31,862 letters, 1.04× the Tanakh rate)Song of Songs — 93.4 per 1,000 letters (481 in 5,151 letters, 0.86× the Tanakh rate)Ruth — 99.7 per 1,000 letters (493 in 4,947 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Lamentations — 107.2 per 1,000 letters (641 in 5,980 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Ecclesiastes — 90.0 per 1,000 letters (987 in 10,969 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Esther — 105.3 per 1,000 letters (1,276 in 12,112 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Daniel — 97.8 per 1,000 letters (2,375 in 24,291 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Ezra–Nehemiah — 107.2 per 1,000 letters (4,102 in 38,277 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Chronicles — 122.0 per 1,000 letters (12,139 in 99,478 letters, 1.13× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestGeneDeutKingsHoseaJonahZephPsalRuthChro

Its two ends

Highest
Obadiah 132.3
Lowest
Ecclesiastes 90.0

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 35 books
Vav in each of the 35 books, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Genesis בראשית8,44778,069108.201.00×19
Exodus שמות6,17863,53197.240.90×32
Leviticus ויקרא4,50844,795100.640.93×28
Numbers במדבר6,00663,54594.520.87×33
Deuteronomy דברים5,39454,91098.230.91×30
Joshua יהושע4,43439,807111.391.03×14
Judges שופטים4,46638,944114.681.06×11
Samuel שמואל11,13993,532119.091.10×6
Kings מלכים10,31798,460104.780.97×25
Isaiah ישעיהו7,83066,888117.061.08×8
Jeremiah ירמיהו9,06484,912106.750.99×23
Ezekiel יחזקאל7,77374,499104.340.96×26
Hosea הושע1,0559,385112.411.04×12
Joel יואל5003,872129.131.19×2
Amos עמוס8628,033107.310.99×20
Obadiah עובדיה1481,119132.261.22×1
Jonah יונה3262,700120.741.11×5
Micah מיכה6115,570109.691.01×17
Nahum נחום2592,252115.011.06×10
Habakkuk חבקוק3192,598122.791.13×3
Zephaniah צפניה3302,996110.151.02×16
Haggai חגי2552,336109.161.01×18
Zechariah זכריה1,45012,432116.631.08×9
Malachi מלאכי4093,450118.551.09×7
Psalms תהלים8,73378,833110.781.02×15
Proverbs משלי2,72226,507102.690.95×27
Job איוב3,57631,862112.231.04×13
Song of Songs שיר השירים4815,15193.380.86×34
Ruth רות4934,94799.660.92×29
Lamentations איכה6415,980107.190.99×21
Ecclesiastes קהלת98710,96989.980.83×35
Esther אסתר1,27612,112105.350.97×24
Daniel דניאל2,37524,29197.770.90×31
Ezra–Nehemiah עזרא־נחמיה4,10238,277107.170.99×22
Chronicles דברי הימים12,13999,478122.031.13×4

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.

050100150Bereshit — 115.0 per 1,000 letters (832 in 7,234 letters, 1.06× the Tanakh rate)Noach — 113.7 per 1,000 letters (785 in 6,907 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)Lech Lecha — 98.9 per 1,000 letters (627 in 6,338 letters, 0.91× the Tanakh rate)Vayera — 99.5 per 1,000 letters (782 in 7,861 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Chayei Sara — 93.9 per 1,000 letters (499 in 5,315 letters, 0.87× the Tanakh rate)Toldot — 111.5 per 1,000 letters (605 in 5,427 letters, 1.03× the Tanakh rate)Vayetzei — 95.2 per 1,000 letters (715 in 7,512 letters, 0.88× the Tanakh rate)Vayishlach — 117.7 per 1,000 letters (878 in 7,457 letters, 1.09× the Tanakh rate)Vayeshev — 125.8 per 1,000 letters (751 in 5,972 letters, 1.16× the Tanakh rate)Miketz — 110.6 per 1,000 letters (875 in 7,913 letters, 1.02× the Tanakh rate)Vayigash — 114.0 per 1,000 letters (648 in 5,684 letters, 1.05× the Tanakh rate)Vayechi — 101.1 per 1,000 letters (450 in 4,449 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Shemot — 101.7 per 1,000 letters (688 in 6,763 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Vaera — 92.5 per 1,000 letters (620 in 6,703 letters, 0.85× the Tanakh rate)Bo — 97.7 per 1,000 letters (601 in 6,149 letters, 0.90× the Tanakh rate)Beshalach — 108.7 per 1,000 letters (698 in 6,424 letters, 1.00× the Tanakh rate)Yitro — 91.7 per 1,000 letters (369 in 4,024 letters, 0.85× the Tanakh rate)Mishpatim — 102.0 per 1,000 letters (542 in 5,312 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Terumah — 73.8 per 1,000 letters (346 in 4,691 letters, 0.68× the Tanakh rate)Tetzaveh — 103.2 per 1,000 letters (560 in 5,427 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tisa — 99.9 per 1,000 letters (742 in 7,426 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Vayakhel — 88.5 per 1,000 letters (547 in 6,180 letters, 0.82× the Tanakh rate)Pekudei — 104.9 per 1,000 letters (465 in 4,432 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Vayikra — 96.0 per 1,000 letters (597 in 6,222 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Tzav — 99.1 per 1,000 letters (505 in 5,096 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Shmini — 101.3 per 1,000 letters (473 in 4,669 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Tazria — 118.6 per 1,000 letters (435 in 3,667 letters, 1.10× the Tanakh rate)Metzora — 103.7 per 1,000 letters (487 in 4,698 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)Achrei Mot — 96.1 per 1,000 letters (413 in 4,296 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Kedoshim — 103.4 per 1,000 letters (334 in 3,231 letters, 0.95× the Tanakh rate)Emor — 99.4 per 1,000 letters (607 in 6,108 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Behar — 101.2 per 1,000 letters (285 in 2,817 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Bechukotai — 93.2 per 1,000 letters (372 in 3,991 letters, 0.86× the Tanakh rate)Bamidbar — 99.7 per 1,000 letters (737 in 7,394 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Nasso — 69.9 per 1,000 letters (603 in 8,632 letters, 0.65× the Tanakh rate)Beha'alotcha — 105.4 per 1,000 letters (744 in 7,058 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Sh'lach — 99.8 per 1,000 letters (581 in 5,820 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Korach — 101.2 per 1,000 letters (539 in 5,325 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Chukat — 105.5 per 1,000 letters (493 in 4,674 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Balak — 101.9 per 1,000 letters (546 in 5,359 letters, 0.94× the Tanakh rate)Pinchas — 74.4 per 1,000 letters (584 in 7,854 letters, 0.69× the Tanakh rate)Matot — 99.2 per 1,000 letters (561 in 5,653 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Masei — 107.0 per 1,000 letters (618 in 5,776 letters, 0.99× the Tanakh rate)Devarim — 99.4 per 1,000 letters (594 in 5,973 letters, 0.92× the Tanakh rate)Vaetchanan — 96.7 per 1,000 letters (710 in 7,346 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Eikev — 89.5 per 1,000 letters (614 in 6,861 letters, 0.83× the Tanakh rate)Re'eh — 91.9 per 1,000 letters (684 in 7,443 letters, 0.85× the Tanakh rate)Shoftim — 96.0 per 1,000 letters (537 in 5,592 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Ki Teitzei — 95.9 per 1,000 letters (562 in 5,858 letters, 0.89× the Tanakh rate)Ki Tavo — 106.1 per 1,000 letters (723 in 6,816 letters, 0.98× the Tanakh rate)Nitzavim — 105.2 per 1,000 letters (271 in 2,576 letters, 0.97× the Tanakh rate)Vayeilech — 100.8 per 1,000 letters (214 in 2,123 letters, 0.93× the Tanakh rate)Ha'Azinu — 103.5 per 1,000 letters (241 in 2,329 letters, 0.96× the Tanakh rate)V'Zot HaBerachah — 122.4 per 1,000 letters (244 in 1,993 letters, 1.13× the Tanakh rate)highestlowestBereChayVayeShemYitroKi TTzavAchrBechSh'lPincVaetKi TV'Zo

Its two ends

Highest
Vayeshev 125.8
Lowest
Nasso 69.9

Every column's numbers are in the table below.

All the numbers 54 portions
Vav in each of the 54 portions, in canonical order.
PlaceOccurrencesOf lettersPer 1,000× usualRank
Bereshit בראשית8327,234115.011.06×5
Noach נח7856,907113.651.05×7
Lech Lecha לך לך6276,33898.930.91×37
Vayera וירא7827,86199.480.92×32
Chayei Sara חיי שרה4995,31593.890.87×45
Toldot תולדות6055,427111.481.03×8
Vayetzei ויצא7157,51295.180.88×44
Vayishlach וישלח8787,457117.741.09×4
Vayeshev וישב7515,972125.751.16×1
Miketz מקץ8757,913110.581.02×9
Vayigash ויגש6485,684114.001.05×6
Vayechi ויחי4504,449101.150.93×27
Shemot שמות6886,763101.730.94×23
Vaera וארא6206,70392.500.85×47
Bo בא6016,14997.740.90×38
Beshalach בשלח6986,424108.661.00×10
Yitro יתרו3694,02491.700.85×49
Mishpatim משפטים5425,312102.030.94×21
Terumah תרומה3464,69173.760.68×53
Tetzaveh תצוה5605,427103.190.95×20
Ki Tisa כי תשא7427,42699.920.92×29
Vayakhel ויקהל5476,18088.510.82×51
Pekudei פקודי4654,432104.920.97×16
Vayikra ויקרא5976,22295.950.89×42
Tzav צו5055,09699.100.92×36
Shmini שמיני4734,669101.310.94×24
Tazria תזריע4353,667118.631.10×3
Metzora מצורע4874,698103.660.96×17
Achrei Mot אחרי מות4134,29696.140.89×40
Kedoshim קדושים3343,231103.370.95×19
Emor אמור6076,10899.380.92×34
Behar בהר2852,817101.170.93×26
Bechukotai בחוקתי3723,99193.210.86×46
Bamidbar במדבר7377,39499.670.92×31
Nasso נשא6038,63269.860.65×54
Beha'alotcha בהעלותך7447,058105.410.97×14
Sh'lach שלח5815,82099.830.92×30
Korach קרח5395,325101.220.94×25
Chukat חקת4934,674105.480.97×13
Balak בלק5465,359101.890.94×22
Pinchas פנחס5847,85474.360.69×52
Matot מטות5615,65399.240.92×35
Masei מסעי6185,776106.990.99×11
Devarim דברים5945,97399.450.92×33
Vaetchanan ואתחנן7107,34696.650.89×39
Eikev עקב6146,86189.490.83×50
Re'eh ראה6847,44391.900.85×48
Shoftim שופטים5375,59296.030.89×41
Ki Teitzei כי תצא5625,85895.940.89×43
Ki Tavo כי תבוא7236,816106.070.98×12
Nitzavim נצבים2712,576105.200.97×15
Vayeilech וילך2142,123100.800.93×28
Ha'Azinu האזינו2412,329103.480.96×18
V'Zot HaBerachah וזאת הברכה2441,993122.431.13×2

Where it runs hardest and thinnest

A place is listed when Vav runs at least 1.25× its Tanakh-wide rate of 108.27 per 1,000, or at most 0.80× it. Two thresholds, applied to every letter alike — nothing here is picked by hand.

Portions where it runs low

  • Nasso0.65×69.9 per 1,000 · 603 of 8,632
  • Terumah0.68×73.8 per 1,000 · 346 of 4,691
  • Pinchas0.69×74.4 per 1,000 · 584 of 7,854

The gematria of the letter

Standard6Gadol6Katan6Siduri (ordinal)6Atbash80Perati36Milui13

Milui values a letter at the standard gematria of its own name spelled in full: ואו = 13. Computed at render by the same engine that runs every search — nothing on this page is a stored number except the counts.

One letter written apart

The Masoretic text writes eleven letters larger, smaller or raised above the line. Each word below is set the way the text sets it — the letter itself in its own state, inside its own word. Our corpus records the form and the place; it records no comment on them, so none is printed here.

First standing

The first Vav of the Tanakh, in canonical order from Bereshit 1:1 forward, is in ואת — Genesis 1:1, the 6th word of the verse.

Quick answers

What is the gematria of Vav?

Vav (ו) is 6 in standard gematria; it is the 6th letter of the alef-bet. Spelled out in full, ואו, it is 13.

How many times does Vav appear in the Tanakh?

129,605 times in the twenty-four books — the 2nd most written of the twenty-two letters.