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κλητός

klētós

G2822 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Root κλη- to call, to summon, to invite

Definition

One who is called, invited, or summoned for a specific purpose or to a particular status; more specifically, in literary and religious contexts, one who is summoned, invited, or designated to a group, privilege, or responsibility. The primary lexical meaning centers on being the recipient of a call, particularly in formal or communal contexts, and may imply selection or appointment.

Semantic Range

called, invited, summoned, designated, appointed, one who is the recipient of a formal invitation or summons, by extension one designated or selected for special role or status

Root / Etymology

From the root κλη- (related to καλέω, 'to call, summon, invite'). κλητός is the verbal adjective meaning 'called' or 'invited.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κλητός appears in official settings with the sense of 'one who is summoned' (e.g., an invited guest or summoned participant). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in religious Greek and the New Testament, κλητός is commonly used to describe those whom a deity or authoritative figure has 'called' or 'summoned,' especially in the context of communal identity or purpose. In the New Testament, the term often refers to those whom God has called to belong to a specific community or to fulfill a particular role, but the word itself focuses on the act of calling or invitation, not the successful realization or response. Standard English translations (e.g., 'called') sometimes conflate this with concepts of vocation or predestination, but κλητός refers to the recipient of a summons or invitation itself without automatically implying the theological consequences of such a call. The term is closely related etymologically and semantically to κλῆσις ('calling, invitation') and καλέω ('to call').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as κλῆσις; invited, i.e. appointed, or (specially), a saint:--called.

Root Family

κλητός (klētos) — called, summoned, invited, designated, appointed

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2822-02 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.A DAT M PL called to the summoned ones 5
G2822-01 κλητοὶ kletoi ADJ.P NOM M PL called summoned ones 3
G2822-03 κλητὸς kletos ADJ.A NOM M SG called called one 2

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2822-01 Matthew 22:14 κλητοὶ kletoi ADJ.P NOM M PL summoned ones
G2822-03 Romans 1:1 κλητὸς kletos ADJ.A NOM M SG called one
G2822-01 Romans 1:6 κλητοὶ kletoi ADJ.S NOM M PL summoned ones
G2822-02 Romans 1:7 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.A DAT M PL to the summoned ones
G2822-02 Romans 8:28 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.P DAT M PL to the summoned ones
G2822-03 1 Corinthians 1:1 κλητὸς kletos ADJ.A NOM M SG called called one
G2822-02 1 Corinthians 1:2 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.A DAT M PL called to the summoned ones
G2822-02 1 Corinthians 1:24 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.A DAT M PL called to the summoned ones
G2822-02 Jude 1:1 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.S DAT M PL called to the summoned ones
G2822-01 Revelation 17:14 κλητοὶ kletoi ADJ.S NOM M PL called summoned ones
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