לְ/כֶ֤לֶב

𐤋/𐤊𐤋𐤁

keleb

to a dog

A domesticated canine animal; in biblical contexts, always refers to the dog, both wild and tame. The term also extends metaphorically or derogatorily to persons—often signaling contempt, outsider status, or ritual impurity. In some texts, by euphemism, refers to a male prostitute, particularly in cultic contexts.

H3611

Ecclesiastes 9:4 · Word #12

Lexicon H3611

Lemmaכֶּלֶב
Lemma (Paleo)𐤊𐤋𐤁
Transliterationkeleb
Strong'sH3611
DefinitionA domesticated canine animal; in biblical contexts, always refers to the dog, both wild and tame. The term also extends metaphorically or derogatorily to persons—often signaling contempt, outsider status, or ritual impurity. In some texts, by euphemism, refers to a male prostitute, particularly in cultic contexts.

Morphology HR/Ncmsa All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Subtype c — Common — Common noun
Gender m — Masculine — Masculine
Number s — Singular — Singular
State a — Absolute — The noun stands independently

Common Translation

Phraseto a dog

SIBI-P1 Translation H3611-12

to a dog

Morphological NotesPreposition לְ (to/for) prefixed to masculine singular absolute noun כֶּלֶב.
Rendering RationaleThe noun כֶּלֶב denotes a dog in its basic, literal sense, with extended derogatory or cultic nuances. The prefixed לְ marks direction or relation, yielding the simple dative sense "to a dog," while preserving the masculine singular form.

View full lexicon entry for H3611 →

SILEX v2