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כְּלוּב

𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤁

Keluv

H3620 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כלב dog, possibly loyalty or bravery (in name context)

Definition

Kelub, a personal name referring to two individuals in the Hebrew Bible, specifically within post-Exilic genealogical contexts. The name designates particular members of Israelite lineages rather than carrying a distinct appellative meaning outside of personal designation.

Semantic Range

personal name of Israelites in post-Exilic genealogies, theophoric or symbolic personal designation; not used as an appellative or common noun

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root כּלב (k-l-b), commonly associated with 'dog,' but in personal names the connection is not always literal. Instead, the root may serve as a theophoric or symbolic marker in naming practices, possibly denoting qualities such as loyalty or bravery traditionally associated with dogs, or signifying an idiomatic sense that is now obscure. There is no consensus on a non-animal etymological meaning for this personal name.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Kelub appears in genealogical lists in the post-Exilic narratives (e.g., 1 Chronicles 4:11, 15), designating members of the tribe of Judah. The use of כְּלוּב as a personal name is distinct from similar-sounding words and from כֶּלֶב (kelev, 'dog'). English translations such as 'Chelub' or 'Kelub' reflect transliteration choices; the actual historical pronunciation is uncertain. The choice of a name derived from an animal may reflect naming conventions in ancient Israel and should not be read as pejorative. The later English term 'Jew' is not contextually applicable for individuals so named in the biblical period; they are accurately described as Judahites. The name is not associated with a religious office, territory, or later Judean identity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as כְּלוּבxlit kᵉlûb corrected to kᵉlûwb; Kelub, the name of two Israelites; Chelub.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

כלב (k-l-b) — dog, loyalty, bravery

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3611 כֶּלֶב the dogs
H3612 כָּלֵב Dog
H3614 כָּלִבּוֹ Calebite
H3619 כְּלוּב wicker enclosure
H3621 כְּלוּבַי Kelubai

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3620-02 וּ/כְל֥וּב ukheluv HC/Np And Chelub and Kelub 1
H3620-01 כְּלֽוּב keluv HNp Chelub Kelub 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3620-02 1 Chronicles 4:11 וּ/כְל֥וּב ukheluv HC/Np And Chelub and Kelub
H3620-01 1 Chronicles 27:26 כְּלֽוּב keluv HNp Chelub Kelub
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