κλείω (G2808) — Greek Lexicon

κλείω

kleíō

G2808 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To shut, to close—primarily of shutting a door, gate, or other entryway so that access is denied or restricted. Extended meanings include to confine, imprison, bar, or withhold access, whether physically (closing a door or locking someone in/out) or figuratively (withholding opportunity, sealing something off from understanding or participation).

Semantic Range

to shut (a door, gate, etc.), to close up, to bar access, to confine, to imprison, to restrict entry, to withhold or seal off (figurative sense), to deny opportunity, to keep shut

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root κλεί- (kleí-), related directly to the verb κλείω meaning 'to shut' or 'to close.' Cognate with Latin 'clavis' (key) and English 'close,' derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *klau-/*kleu- 'to close, shut.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κλείω appears in Homer and other early sources, denoting the physical act of shutting doors, gates, jars, etc. In the LXX and New Testament, the verb frequently has both literal (locking or shutting a physical object or place) and figurative uses (e.g., 'shutting the kingdom of the heavens'—denying access or opportunity). The term can express completeness or finality in closing, sometimes with the nuance of protecting, confining, or excluding. Standard English translations like 'shut' or 'close' cover the core literal meaning but often underplay figurative nuances (such as denying passage or participation, or the notion of being decisively sealed in or out). Contrast with ἀνοίγω (anoigō, 'to open'), which regularly forms an antonym pair for physical and metaphorical access in Greek thought. The verb can imply authority exercised in the act of closing or shutting.

Translation Consistency

primary "shut" 14 occurrences

‘Shut’ is the most natural, common English verb that captures the primary sense here (closing a door, gate, or access) and easily extends to the figurative uses (shut out, shut in, shut off). It matches the majority of existing renderings and allows consistent, idiomatic inflection across all forms of G2808.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"shutting" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; to close (literally or figuratively):--shut (up).

Root Family

κλεί- (ekkleíō) — to shut, to close

Root κλεί- to shut, to close, to seal

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1576	ἐκκλείω	to shut out
G608	ἀποκλείω	may shut out completely

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2808-04`	κεκλεισμένων	kekleismenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP GEN F PL`	having been shut	of having been shut	of having been shut	3
`G2808-02`	ἐκλείσθη	ekleisthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	it was shut up	it was shut	it was shut	2
`G2808-08`	κλεῖσαι	kleisai	`V AOR ACT INF`	shut	to shut	to shut	2
`G2808-01`	ἔκλεισεν	ekleisen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	shut	he shut	he shut	1
`G2808-03`	ἐκλείσθησαν	ekleisthesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	were shut	they were shut	they were shut	1
`G2808-05`	κέκλεισται	kekleistai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	is shut	has been shut	has been shut	1
`G2808-06`	κλείετε	kleiete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you shut	you are shutting	you are shutting	1
`G2808-07`	κλείων	kleion	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	shuts	shutting	shutting	1
`G2808-09`	κλείσας	kleisas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having shut	having shut	having shut	1
`G2808-10`	κλείσῃ	kleise	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	shuts	may shut	shuts	1
`G2808-11`	κλείσει	kleisei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will shut	will shut	will shut	1
`G2808-12`	κλεισθῶσιν	kleisthosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	be shut	they might be shut	they might be shut	1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2808-09`	Matthew 6:6	κλείσας	kleisas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having shut	having shut	having shut
`G2808-06`	Matthew 23:13	κλείετε	kleiete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you shut	you are shutting	you are shutting
`G2808-02`	Matthew 25:10	ἐκλείσθη	ekleisthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	was shut	it was shut	it was shut
`G2808-02`	Luke 4:25	ἐκλείσθη	ekleisthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	it was shut up	it was shut	it was shut
`G2808-05`	Luke 11:7	κέκλεισται	kekleistai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	is shut	has been shut	has been shut
`G2808-04`	John 20:19	κεκλεισμένων	kekleismenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP GEN F PL`	having been shut	of having been shut	of having been shut
`G2808-04`	John 20:26	κεκλεισμένων	kekleismenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP GEN F PL`	having been shut	of having been shut	of having been shut
`G2808-04`	Acts 5:23	κεκλεισμένον	kekleismenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N SG`	shut	of having been shut	of having been shut
`G2808-03`	Acts 21:30	ἐκλείσθησαν	ekleisthesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	were shut	they were shut	they were shut
`G2808-10`	1 John 3:17	κλείσῃ	kleise	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	shuts	may shut	shuts
`G2808-11`	Revelation 3:7	κλείσει	kleisei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will shut	will shut	will shut
`G2808-07`	Revelation 3:7	κλείων	kleion	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	shuts	shutting	shutting
`G2808-08`	Revelation 3:8	κλεῖσαι	kleisai	`V AOR ACT INF`	shut	to shut	to shut
`G2808-08`	Revelation 11:6	κλεῖσαι	kleisai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to shut	to shut	to shut
`G2808-01`	Revelation 20:3	ἔκλεισεν	ekleisen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	shut	he shut	he shut
`G2808-12`	Revelation 21:25	κλεισθῶσιν	kleisthosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	be shut	they might be shut	they might be shut

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