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כֶּלֶב

𐤊𐤋𐤁

keleb

H3611 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

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.

Semantic Range

dog (domesticated canine), derogatory reference to a base or despised person, euphemism for male cultic prostitute; scavenger, outcast, unclean animal

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. While Strong’s implies derivation from a root meaning 'to yelp' or 'to attack,' no such verb is attested in Biblical Hebrew. The word appears throughout Semitic languages (cf. Ugaritic klb, Akkadian kalbu, Arabic kalb), each denoting 'dog,' which suggests a common Semitic noun though the original verbal root is lost.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כֶּלֶב is the standard term for dog, appearing in both literal and figurative senses. Dogs, unlike in modern societies, were generally viewed negatively in ancient Israel and neighboring cultures—frequently associated with impurity, scavenging, and the margins of society (see 1 Kings 14:11; Psalm 22:17; Exodus 11:7). Metaphorical usage often designates individuals seen as contemptible, outsiders (as in the insult to Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:43), or ritually unclean. In Deuteronomy 23:19 (Eng. 23:18), כֶּלֶב is used euphemistically to refer to a male sacred prostitute associated with non-Israelite cultic practices; later translations and traditions sometimes render this as 'sodomite' or 'male prostitute.' This association, however, is limited in scope and should not obscure the basic zoomorphic sense. Post-biblical Hebrew continues to use keleb for 'dog.' English translations often render all instances as 'dog,' but this can obscure nuances, especially euphemistic or metaphorical applications. The term's semantic field is broader than modern English 'dog' in social connotation and potential secondary meanings.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root means. to yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute; dog.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

כלב (Kalev) — dog (animal), to act or be treated as a dog (contemptuous, outsider), male cultic prostitute (euphemistically)

Root כלב dog (animal), to act or be treated as a dog (contemptuous, outsider), male cultic prostitute (euphemistically)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3612 כָּלֵב Dog
H3619 כְּלוּב wicker enclosure
H3620 כְּלוּב Kelub

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3611-01 הַ/כְּלָבִ֔ים hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the dogs the dogs the dogs 10
H3611-08 כֶּ֣לֶב kelev HNcmsa a dog dog dog 6
H3611-02 הַ/כֶּ֔לֶב hakelev HTd/Ncmsa the dog the dog the dog 4
H3611-07 כְּלָבִ֣ים kelavim HNcmpa dogs dogs dogs 2
H3611-09 כַ/כָּ֗לֶב khakalev HRd/Ncmsa like a dog like a dog like a dog 2
H3611-03 הֲ/כֶ֣לֶב hakhelev HTi/Ncmsa a dog dog dog 1
H3611-04 כַּלְבֵ֥י kalevey HNcmpc the dogs dogs of the dogs 1
H3611-05 כְּ֭/כֶלֶב kekhelev HR/Ncmsa like a dog like a dog like a dog 1
H3611-06 כְּלָבֶ֑י/ךָ kelaveykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms of your dogs your dogs your dogs 1
H3611-10 כָ֑לֶב khalev HNcmsa a-dog Dog a dog 1

Occurrences in Scripture

32 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3611-08 Exodus 11:7 כֶּ֨לֶב֙ kelev HNcmsa a dog dog dog
H3611-11 Exodus 22:30 לַ/כֶּ֖לֶב lakelev HRd/Ncmsa to the dog to the dog to the dog
H3611-08 Deuteronomy 23:19 כֶּ֗לֶב kelev HNcmsa dog dog dog
H3611-02 Judges 7:5 הַ/כֶּ֗לֶב hakelev HTd/Ncmsa the-dog the dog the dog
H3611-03 1 Samuel 17:43 הֲ/כֶ֣לֶב hakhelev HTi/Ncmsa a dog dog dog
H3611-08 1 Samuel 24:15 כֶּ֣לֶב kelev HNcmsa a dog dog a dead dog
H3611-08 2 Samuel 3:8 כֶּ֥לֶב kelev HNcmsa of a dog dog of a dog
H3611-02 2 Samuel 9:8 הַ/כֶּ֥לֶב hakelev HTd/Ncmsa the dog the dog the dog
H3611-02 2 Samuel 16:9 הַ/כֶּ֤לֶב hakelev HTd/Ncmsa dog the dog the dog
H3611-01 1 Kings 14:11 הַ/כְּלָבִ֔ים hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-01 1 Kings 16:4 הַ/כְּלָבִ֑ים hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-01 1 Kings 21:19 הַ/כְּלָבִים֙ hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the-dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-01 1 Kings 21:19 הַ/כְּלָבִ֛ים hakelavim-2 HTd/Ncmpa the-dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-01 1 Kings 21:23 הַ/כְּלָבִ֛ים hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-01 1 Kings 21:24 הַ/כְּלָבִ֑ים hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-01 1 Kings 22:38 הַ/כְּלָבִים֙ hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-02 2 Kings 8:13 הַ/כֶּ֔לֶב hakelev HTd/Ncmsa the dog the dog the dog
H3611-01 2 Kings 9:10 הַ/כְּלָבִ֛ים hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-01 2 Kings 9:36 הַ/כְּלָבִ֖ים hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-07 Isaiah 56:10 כְּלָבִ֣ים kelavim HNcmpa dogs dogs dogs
H3611-13 Isaiah 56:11 וְ/הַ/כְּלָבִ֣ים vehakelavim HC/Td/Ncmpa and-the-dogs and the dogs and the dogs
H3611-08 Isaiah 66:3 כֶּ֔לֶב kelev HNcmsa a dog dog dog
H3611-01 Jeremiah 15:3 הַ/כְּלָבִ֖ים hakelavim HTd/Ncmpa the-dogs the dogs the dogs
H3611-07 Psalms 22:17 כְּלָ֫בִ֥ים kelavim HNcmpa dogs dogs dogs
H3611-08 Psalms 22:21 כֶּ֝֗לֶב kelev HNcmsa of the dog dog the dog
H3611-09 Psalms 59:7 כַ/כָּ֗לֶב khakalev HRd/Ncmsa like a dog like a dog like a dog
H3611-09 Psalms 59:15 כַ/כָּ֗לֶב khakalev HRd/Ncmsa like dogs like a dog like dogs
H3611-06 Psalms 68:24 כְּלָבֶ֑י/ךָ kelaveykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms of your dogs your dogs your dogs
H3611-05 Proverbs 26:11 כְּ֭/כֶלֶב kekhelev HR/Ncmsa like a dog like a dog like a dog
H3611-10 Proverbs 26:17 כָ֑לֶב khalev HNcmsa a-dog Dog a dog
H3611-04 Job 30:1 כַּלְבֵ֥י kalevey HNcmpc the dogs dogs of the dogs
H3611-12 Ecclesiastes 9:4 לְ/כֶ֤לֶב lekhelev HR/Ncmsa to a dog to a dog to a dog
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