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כָּלֵב

𐤊𐤋𐤁

Kalev

H3612 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כלב dog, canine

Definition

Kâlêb (Caleb) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite personal name. Primarily, it designates two notable figures in the Hebrew Bible: (1) Caleb son of Jephunneh, a prominent Judahite spy and leader during the wilderness period, and (2) Caleb son of Hezron, an early ancestor mentioned in genealogies. The name itself may denote 'dog' (by association with the noun כֶּלֶב kelev), although this has been traditionally interpreted to convey attributes such as boldness, loyalty, or tenacity, or may reflect use as an animal-name theophoric or clan-name. Additionally, the name is associated with the clan called 'the Calebites' (descendants of Caleb), especially linked geographically to the region surrounding Hebron.

Semantic Range

personal name, clan/family name, possible attribute-name (boldness, tenacity), possible totemic/theophoric name; rarely, literal dog if not as a name

Root / Etymology

From the root כלב, which as a noun generally means 'dog.' Historically, Hebrew proper names sometimes derive from animal names, denoting traits or perhaps tribal totemic associations. The precise etymological motivation for naming a person כָּלֵב is uncertain; some propose it alludes to canine attributes such as boldness or persistence, while others suggest an alternative root meaning 'forceful' or 'wholehearted.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, כָּלֵב is best known as the name of Jephunneh's son, the Judahite leader who, alongside Joshua, encouraged the Israelites to enter Canaan (Num 13–14). In later genealogical lists, a Caleb son of Hezron appears, and the term is also used collectively for the Calebite clan, prominent in the southern hill country near Hebron (1 Sam 25:3; 1 Chr 2). Some researchers suggest a link between Calebite clan traditions and the ancient city of Hebron. English translations often simply render the name as 'Caleb,' but this can obscure the layered clan, ethnic, and eponymic dimensions. The association with the Hebrew word for 'dog' is noted by ancient interpreters, though the social function of animal names as personal or clan names is not necessarily pejorative in the Hebrew context. In no context should the English term 'Jew' be used for Caleb or his associates, as the reference is strictly Israelite (specifically Judahite or Calebite).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps a form of כֶּלֶב, or else from the same root in the sense of forcible; Caleb, the name of three Israelites; Caleb.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כלב (k-l-b) — dog, canine

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3611 כֶּלֶב the dogs
H3614 כָּלִבּוֹ Calebite
H3619 כְּלוּב wicker enclosure
H3620 כְּלוּב Kelub
H3621 כְּלוּבַי Kelubai

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3612-01 כָּלֵ֖ב kalev HNp Caleb Dog 19
H3612-02 כָלֵ֗ב khalev HNp Caleb Dog 7
H3612-03 לְ/כָלֵ֥ב lekhalev HR/Np to Caleb to Dog 5
H3612-05 וְ/כָלֵב֙ vekhalev HC/Np and Caleb and Dog 3
H3612-04 וּ/לְ/כָלֵ֣ב ulekhalev HC/R/Np And-to-Caleb and to Dog 1

Occurrences in Scripture

35 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3612-01 Numbers 13:6 כָּלֵ֖ב kalev HNp Caleb Dog
H3612-01 Numbers 13:30 כָּלֵ֛ב kalev HNp Caleb Dog
H3612-05 Numbers 14:6 וְ/כָלֵב֙ vekhalev HC/Np and Caleb and Dog
H3612-02 Numbers 14:24 כָלֵ֗ב khalev HNp Caleb Dog
H3612-01 Numbers 14:30 כָּלֵ֣ב kalev HNp Caleb Dog
H3612-05 Numbers 14:38 וְ/כָלֵ֖ב vekhalev HC/Np and Caleb and Dog
H3612-01 Numbers 26:65 כָּלֵ֣ב kalev HNp Caleb Dog
H3612-01 Numbers 32:12 כָּלֵ֤ב kalev HNp Caleb Dog
H3612-01 Numbers 34:19 כָּלֵ֖ב kalev HNp Caleb Dog
H3612-01 Deuteronomy 1:36 כָּלֵ֤ב kalev HNp Caleb Dog
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