כִּלְאָב
𐤊𐤋𐤀𐤁
Kileav
H3609 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name: Kilʾav — the name of David's second son by Abigail. The meaning is likely '(He is) the perfection/completion of his father,' but the etymology is uncertain. The name may reflect an aspiration for the son to fulfill or embody the father's qualities. Used exclusively as a proper name in biblical texts.
Semantic Range
proper name (personal name), son of David, 'completion/perfection/restraint of father' (only ascribed meaning in ancient onomastics)
Root / Etymology
Formed possibly from the roots כלא ('to restrain, to hold back') and אב ('father'), but the precise derivation is uncertain. Some later sources also connect it to the verb כלה ('to complete, perfect'), which better fits naming patterns and thematic associations. The combination could mean 'restraint of father,' 'perfection of father,' or 'completion of father,' though only conjecturally.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Kilʾav appears only in 2 Samuel 3:3 as a son of David by Abigail. In the parallel genealogy (1 Chronicles 3:1), the name is given as דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniel), possibly an intentional replacement or variant. There is no evidence in the biblical texts that Kilʾav played an active historical or narrative role beyond his inclusion in the genealogical record. English translations often render the name as 'Chileab,' which reflects the Masoretic reading but does not clarify the meaning. The name does not carry a standard significance beyond typical theophoric or aspirational Israelite naming conventions of the monarchic period. It is not associated with later religious traditions or communities. The term is distinct from common noun or verb forms based on the root כלא, and it does not pertain to concepts of restraint or incarceration as those roots do in other contexts. The variant Daniel in Chronicles may reflect concerns about clarity or meaning at the time of redaction.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from כָּלָא and אָב; restraint of (his) father; Kilab, an Israelite; Chileab.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כלא + אב (k-l-ʾ + ʾ-b) — restrain, hold back, complete, father
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3609-01 |
כִלְאָ֔ב | khileav | HNp |
Kileab | Father’s Completion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3609-01 |
2 Samuel 3:3 | כִלְאָ֔ב | khileav | HNp |
Kileab | Father’s Completion |