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כָּלָה

𐤊𐤋𐤄

kâlâh

H3617 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The act or state of being complete, finished, or brought to an end; also, the result or event of completion or total destruction, depending on context. Used of an end point in processes (a completion or consummation) or, by extension, the end resulting from extermination or consumption (destruction).

Semantic Range

completion, finished state, act of consummation, utter end, total destruction, event of termination, annihilation, act of being consumed

Root / Etymology

From the root כ-ל-ה (כלה) meaning 'to finish, complete, bring to an end, consume.' The noun כָּלָה derives from this root and expresses the idea of a state or event of finality, whether that is positive (completion of a process or aim) or negative (utter destruction).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כָּלָה is employed both in neutral/positive contexts (completion, fulfillment) and negative contexts (destruction, annihilation). In prophetic literature, especially, the term often denotes a total or decisive end, whether of a period, fate, or a people (sometimes through catastrophic destruction, as in Isaiah and Daniel). In narrative or legal texts, however, it can refer to the simple completion of duties, time, or ceremonies. Its range overlaps with תָּמִים (tamim, 'complete, whole') but כָּלָה suggests a sense of final act or outcome. Traditional English translations sometimes narrowly render it as 'consummation' or 'destruction,' but these capture only the major poles of the semantic range. In later periods (e.g., post-exilic or Hellenistic Judean usage), the apocalyptic sense (final annihilation or ultimate culmination) became more prominent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from כָּלָה; a completion; adverb, completely; also destruction; altogether, (be, utterly) consume(-d), consummation(-ption), was determined, (full, utter) end, riddance.

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Ndebele qeda to finish, end, complete, be done
Swazi qeda to finish, end, complete, be done
Xhosa qeda to finish, end, complete, be done
Zulu qeda to finish, end, complete, be done

Root Family

כלה (k-l-h) — finish, complete, bring to an end, consume

Root כלה to finish, bring to completion, consume, bring to an end
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3615 כָּלָה I will bring to completion
H3616 כָּלֶה and wasting-away ones
H3618 כַּלָּה completed woman
H3622 כְּלוּהַי Yah Completes
H3623 כְּלוּלָה your bridehood-completions

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3617-01 כָּלָ֑ה kalah HNcfsa an end completion completion 9
H3617-02 כָ֥לָה khalah HNcfsa a full end complete end complete end 8
H3617-03 לְ/כָלָֽה lekhalah HR/Ncfsa completely to utter end for destruction 2
H3617-04 וְ/כָלָ֖ה vekhalah HC/Ncfsa a full end and he brought to an end and a full end 2

Occurrences in Scripture

21 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3617-01 Genesis 18:21 כָּלָ֑ה kalah HNcfsa altogether completion altogether
H3617-01 Exodus 11:1 כָּלָ֕ה kalah HNcfsa completely completion completion
H3617-02 1 Samuel 20:33 כָ֥לָה khalah HNcfsa it was determined complete end complete end
H3617-02 Isaiah 10:23 כָלָ֖ה khalah HNcfsa completion complete end complete end
H3617-02 Isaiah 28:22 כָלָ֨ה khalah HNcfsa destruction complete end complete end
H3617-04 Jeremiah 4:27 וְ/כָלָ֖ה vekhalah HC/Ncfsa a full end and he brought to an end and a full end
H3617-04 Jeremiah 5:10 וְ/כָלָ֖ה vekhalah HC/Ncfsa and end and he brought to an end and bring to an end
H3617-01 Jeremiah 5:18 כָּלָֽה kalah HNcfsa a full end completion a full end
H3617-02 Jeremiah 30:11 כָלָ֜ה khalah HNcfsa a full end complete end complete end
H3617-02 Jeremiah 30:11 כָלָ֔ה khalah-2 HNcfsa a full end complete end complete end
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