3607. kala

Lexicon

kala: To restrain, to withhold, to shut up, to keep back

Original Word: כָּלָא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kala'
Pronunciation: kah-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-law')
Definition: To restrain, to withhold, to shut up, to keep back
Meaning: to restrict, by act, word

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

finish, forbid, keep back, refrain, restrain, retain, shut up, be stayed,

A primitive root; to restrict, by act (hold back or in) or word (prohibit) -- finish, forbid, keep (back), refrain, restrain, retain, shut up, be stayed, withhold.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to shut up, restrain, withhold
NASB Translation
hold them back (1), kept (1), refuse (1), restrain (3), restrained (3), shut (4), stopped (1), withheld (2), withhold (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[כָּלָא] verb shut up, restrain, withhold (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic כְּלָא, ; Ethiopic restrain, hinder; Assyrian Kâlû, id.; Arabic protect Qor 21:43 compare Ba^{ZMG 1887, 605 Anm. 4}) —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular suffix כְּלָאוֺ Jeremiah 32:3; 3feminine singular כָּֽלְאָה Haggai 1:10; 2feminine singular suffix כְּלִתִ֫נִי 1 Samuel 25:33; 1singular כָּלִאתִי Psalm 119:101; 3plural כָּֽלְאוּ Haggai 1:10, כָּלוּ 1 Samuel 6:10; Imperfect3masculine singular יִכְלֶה Genesis 23:6; 2masculine singular תִּכְלָא Psalm 40:12; 2feminine singular תִּכְלָאִ֑י Isaiah 43:6; 1singular אֶכְלָא Psalm 40:10; Imperative suffix כְּלָאֵם Numbers 11:28; Infinitive construct לִכְלוֺא Ecclesiastes 8:8; Passive participle כָּלוּא Jeremiah 32:2, כָּלֻא Psalm 88:9; (on the metaplastic forms, as if from כלה, see Ges^{§ 75}, 21 c Kö^{i. 611}); —

1 shut up, with accusative 1 Samuel 6:10 (+ בְ local), Jeremiah 32:3; passive participle Jeremiah 32:2 (בְ local), figurative Psalm 88:9 (opposed to יצא).

2 restrain, with accusative 1 Samuel 25:33 (+ מִבּוֺא בְדָמִים), Psalm 119:101 (+ מִכָּלֿ); כְּלָאֵם (sc. מֵהִתְנַבֵּא) Numbers 11:28; שְׂפָתַי ׳כ Psalm 40:10; אֶתהָֿרוּחַ ׳כ Ecclesiastes 8:8. On Psalm 74:11 see כלה Pi`el 2. 3. withhold, אֶתקִֿבְרוֺ ׳כ מִמְּךָ מִקְּבֹר מֵתֶ֑ךָ Genesis 23:6 (P), רַחֲמֶיךָ מִמֶּ֑נּי ׳כ Psalm 40:12; Haggai 1:10 b, probably also v^a (read טָ֑ל for ᵑ0 ᵐ5 מִטָּ֑ל, We); absolute אַלתִּֿכְלָאִי (that is, exiles) Isaiah 43:6 ("" תְּנִי).

Niph`al Imperfect וַיִּכָּלֵא הַגֶּשֶׁם מִןהַֿשָּׁמַיִם Genesis 8:2 (J), and the rain from heaven was restrained, compare וַיִּכָּֽלְאוּ מַיִם רַבִּים Ezekiel 31:15 (in figurative; "" מנע); וַיִּכָּלֵא הָעָם מֵהָבִיא Exodus 36:6 (P).

Pi`el [Perfect כִּלָּא and] Infinitive construct לְכַלֵּא see כלה

Pi`el

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G430 (anexikakos): Patient, enduring, often in the context of restraint in the face of adversity.
• G2623 (katapauo): To restrain or cease, often used in the context of rest or cessation.
• G2967 (koluo): To hinder or prevent, similar to the idea of restraining or holding back.
• G3860 (paradidomi): To deliver or hand over, sometimes implying restraint by transferring control.
• G4912 (sunecho): To hold together, constrain, or compel, often used in the context of being restrained by circumstances.
• G5288 (hupostello): To draw back or withhold, similar to the idea of restraining or keeping back.

This lexical entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the Hebrew verb כָּלָא, illustrating its various uses and theological significance within the biblical text.

Usage: The verb כָּלָא is used in various contexts in the Hebrew Bible to denote the act of restraining or withholding something or someone. It can refer to physical restraint, such as shutting up or confining, as well as metaphorical restraint, such as withholding words or actions.

Context: • General Overview: The Hebrew verb כָּלָא appears in several contexts throughout the Old Testament, often conveying the idea of restriction or restraint. It is used to describe actions where something is held back or confined, whether it be people, words, or actions.
• Examples in Scripture:
• Physical Restraint: In Genesis 8:2, the verb is used to describe the stopping of the rain during the flood: "The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained."
• Withholding Words: In Job 4:2, it is used in the context of withholding speech: "If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?"
• Restraining Actions: In 1 Samuel 25:33, David blesses Abigail for restraining him from bloodshed: "Blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you for restraining me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hands."
• Theological Implications: The use of כָּלָא often highlights the sovereignty and control of God, who can restrain natural elements, human actions, and even divine judgment. It underscores the importance of self-control and the wisdom in knowing when to withhold or restrain actions and words.

Forms and Transliterations

אֶכְלָ֑א אכלא וַיִּכָּלְא֖וּ וַיִּכָּלֵ֥א ויכלא ויכלאו יִכְלֶ֥ה יכלה כְּלִתִ֜נִי כְּלָא֔וֹ כְּלָאֵֽם׃ כָּ֝לֻ֗א כָּל֥וּ כָּלְא֥וּ כָּלְאָ֥ה כָּלִ֣אתִי כָלוּא֙ כלא כלאה כלאו כלאם׃ כלאתי כלו כלוא כלתני לְכַלֵּ֨א לִכְל֣וֹא לכלא לכלוא תִּכְלָ֑אִי תִכְלָ֣א תכלא תכלאי ’eḵ·lā ’eḵlā chaLu echLa kā·lə·’āh kā·lə·’ū kā·li·ṯî kā·lu kā·lū ḵā·lū kalAh kālə’āh kālə’ū kaLiti kāliṯî kaLu kālu kālū ḵālū kə·lā·’êm kə·lā·’ōw kə·li·ṯi·nî kəlā’êm kəlā’ōw kelaEm kelaO keliTini kəliṯinî lə·ḵal·lê lechalLe ləḵallê lichLo liḵ·lō·w liḵlōw tichLa tichLai ṯiḵ·lā tiḵ·lā·’î ṯiḵlā tiḵlā’î vaiyikkaLe vaiyikkalU way·yik·kā·lê way·yik·kā·lə·’ū wayyikkālê wayyikkālə’ū yichLeh yiḵ·leh yiḵleh

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 8:2
HEB: וַֽאֲרֻבֹּ֖ת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיִּכָּלֵ֥א הַגֶּ֖שֶׁם מִן־
NAS: from the sky was restrained;
KJV: from heaven was restrained;
INT: and the floodgates of the sky was restrained and the rain from

Genesis 23:6
HEB: קִבְר֛וֹ לֹֽא־ יִכְלֶ֥ה מִמְּךָ֖ מִקְּבֹ֥ר
NAS: none of us will refuse you his grave
KJV: none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre,
INT: his grave not will refuse for burying

Exodus 36:6
HEB: לִתְרוּמַ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וַיִּכָּלֵ֥א הָעָ֖ם מֵהָבִֽיא׃
NAS: Thus the people were restrained from bringing
KJV: So the people were restrained from bringing.
INT: the contributions of the sanctuary were restrained the people bringing

Numbers 11:28
HEB: אֲדֹנִ֥י מֹשֶׁ֖ה כְּלָאֵֽם׃
NAS: Moses, my lord, restrain them.
KJV: My lord Moses, forbid them.
INT: my lord Moses restrain

1 Samuel 6:10
HEB: וְאֶת־ בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם כָּל֥וּ בַבָּֽיִת׃
NAS: them to the cart, and shut up their calves
KJV: them to the cart, and shut up their calves
INT: to the cart their calves and shut home

1 Samuel 25:33
HEB: אָ֑תְּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר כְּלִתִ֜נִי הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙
NAS: be you, who have kept me this
KJV: and blessed [be] thou, which hast kept me this day
INT: be you who have kept day this

Psalm 40:9
HEB: שְׂ֭פָתַי לֹ֣א אֶכְלָ֑א יְ֝הוָ֗ה אַתָּ֥ה
NAS: Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
KJV: congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips,
INT: my lips I will not restrain LORD You

Psalm 40:11
HEB: יְהוָ֗ה לֹא־ תִכְלָ֣א רַחֲמֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּ֑נִּי
NAS: You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassion
KJV: Withhold not thou thy tender mercies
INT: LORD will not withhold your compassion at

Psalm 88:8
HEB: תוֹעֵב֣וֹת לָ֑מוֹ כָּ֝לֻ֗א וְלֹ֣א אֵצֵֽא׃
NAS: me an object of loathing to them; I am shut up and cannot
KJV: me an abomination unto them: [I am] shut up, and I cannot come forth.
INT: have made an object I am shut and cannot go

Psalm 119:101
HEB: אֹ֣רַח רָ֭ע כָּלִ֣אתִי רַגְלָ֑י לְ֝מַ֗עַן
NAS: I have restrained my feet from every
KJV: I have refrained my feet
INT: way evil have restrained my feet because of

Ecclesiastes 8:8
HEB: שַׁלִּ֤יט בָּר֙וּחַ֙ לִכְל֣וֹא אֶת־ הָר֔וּחַ
NAS: has authority to restrain the wind
KJV: over the spirit to retain the spirit;
INT: has the wind to restrain the wind and there

Isaiah 43:6
HEB: וּלְתֵימָ֖ן אַל־ תִּכְלָ֑אִי הָבִ֤יאִי בָנַי֙
NAS: [them] up!' And to the south, 'Do not hold [them] back.' Bring
KJV: and to the south, Keep not back: bring
INT: the south not hold bring my sons

Jeremiah 32:2
HEB: הַנָּבִ֗יא הָיָ֤ה כָלוּא֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה
NAS: the prophet was shut up in the court
KJV: the prophet was shut up in the court
INT: the prophet become was shut the court of the guard

Jeremiah 32:3
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר כְּלָא֔וֹ צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־
NAS: of Judah had shut him up, saying,
KJV: of Judah had shut him up, saying,
INT: because had shut Zedekiah king

Ezekiel 31:15
HEB: וָֽאֶמְנַע֙ נַהֲרוֹתֶ֔יהָ וַיִּכָּלְא֖וּ מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים
NAS: waters were stopped up, and I made Lebanon
KJV: waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon
INT: and held rivers were stopped waters and many

Daniel 9:24
HEB: עִ֣יר קָדְשֶׁ֗ךָ לְכַלֵּ֨א הַפֶּ֜שַׁע [וּלַחְתֹּם
KJV: city, to finish the transgression,
INT: city and your holy to finish the transgression to seal

Haggai 1:10
HEB: כֵּ֣ן עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם כָּלְא֥וּ שָׁמַ֖יִם מִטָּ֑ל
NAS: of you the sky has withheld its dew
KJV: Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew,
INT: after that because has withheld the sky dew

Haggai 1:10
HEB: מִטָּ֑ל וְהָאָ֖רֶץ כָּלְאָ֥ה יְבוּלָֽהּ׃
NAS: and the earth has withheld its produce.
KJV: and the earth is stayed [from] her fruit.
INT: dew and the earth has withheld produce

18 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3607
18 Occurrences

ḵā·lū — 1 Occ.
’eḵ·lā — 1 Occ.
kā·lə·’āh — 1 Occ.
kā·li·ṯî — 1 Occ.
kā·lū — 3 Occ.
kə·lā·’êm — 1 Occ.
kə·lā·’ōw — 1 Occ.
kə·li·ṯi·nî — 1 Occ.
lə·ḵal·lê — 1 Occ.
liḵ·lō·w — 1 Occ.
ṯiḵ·lā — 1 Occ.
tiḵ·lā·’î — 1 Occ.
way·yik·kā·lê — 2 Occ.
way·yik·kā·lə·’ū — 1 Occ.
yiḵ·leh — 1 Occ.