קְלִיטָא
𐤒𐤋𐤉𐤈𐤀
Qelita
H7042 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating several individuals; in biblical texts, refers specifically to an Israelite returning from exile. The term does not function as a common noun but occurs only as a personal name. No attested usage of the word as 'maiming' or in a common noun sense in the Hebrew Bible. Semantic range: Proper name (personal).
Semantic Range
proper name (personal, Israelite), no attested common noun usage
Root / Etymology
From the root קלט (qalṭ), which in verb form generally means 'to escape,' 'to be delivered,' or 'to be taken in.' The form קְלִיטָא appears to be a nominal, likely formed as a passive participial or abstract derivation. However, as a personal name, precise etymological origin is uncertain; it may echo the root meaning—a person who is 'received' or 'taken in' (i.e., one who has found refuge or escape)—but the name is only used as a proper noun in the biblical record.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name קְלִיטָא (Kelita) appears in Nehemiah 8:7, 10:10, and 12:8, designating a Levite among the returnees from Babylon. English translations often render the name as 'Kelita.' There is no evidence that it functioned as a common noun (i.e., 'maiming'), nor is this meaning attested in biblical or post-biblical Hebrew. The suggested Semitic root (קלט) can mean 'to take in,' 'to provide asylum,' or 'to escape,' and names containing this root frequently bear connotations of deliverance or refuge; however, the connection for the proper name remains speculative. In Nehemiah, Kelita is listed among Levites, possibly indicating a family name or an honorific derived from an ancestor. Lexical tradition does not associate this word with the English term 'Jew,' and its usage occurs exclusively in post-exilic (Second Temple period) Israelite contexts. No evidence for theological significance beyond its proper name usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָלַט; maiming; Kelita, the name of three Israelites; Kelita.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קלט (q-l-ṭ) — escape, be delivered, take in, provide asylum
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7042-01 |
קְלִיטָ֔א | qelita | HNp |
Kelita | Taken-In One | Qelita | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7042-01 |
Ezra 10:23 | קְלִיטָ֔א | qelita | HNp |
Kelita | Taken-In One | Qelita |
H7042-01 |
Nehemiah 8:7 | קְלִיטָ֣א | qelita | HNp |
Kelita | Taken-In One | Qelita |
H7042-01 |
Nehemiah 10:11 | קְלִיטָ֖א | qelita | HNp |
Kelita | Taken-In One | Qelita |