2819. kléros
Strong's Lexicon
kléros: Lot, portion, inheritance, share

Original Word: κλῆρος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: kléros
Pronunciation: KLAY-ros
Phonetic Spelling: (klay'-ros)
Definition: Lot, portion, inheritance, share
Meaning: (a) a lot, (b) a portion assigned; hence: a portion of the people of God assigned to one's care, a congregation.

Word Origin: Derived from the root word κλάω (klao), meaning "to break" or "to divide."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H1486 (גּוֹרָל, goral): Lot, portion, destiny

- H5159 (נַחֲלָה, nachalah): Inheritance, possession, property

Usage: In the New Testament, "kléros" primarily refers to a lot or portion that is assigned or inherited. It can denote a physical inheritance, a share in ministry, or a metaphorical portion in spiritual matters. The term is often used to describe the method of casting lots to make decisions or to distribute land and responsibilities.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures, casting lots was a common practice for making decisions and distributing land or responsibilities. This method was seen as a way to discern divine will, as it was believed that God controlled the outcome of the lots. In the Old Testament, the land of Canaan was divided among the tribes of Israel by casting lots (Joshua 18:10). In the New Testament, the practice continued, as seen in the selection of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:26).

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2819 klḗros (a masculine noun derived from klēro, "to cast a lot") – properly, a lot, cast to distribute ("apportion"). Scripture encourages casting lots (2819 /klḗros) to better discern the preferred-will of God (cf. 2307 /thélēma and their association in Col 1:9-12).

[2818 /klēronómos ("heir") is derived from 2819 /klḗros ("lot, the casting of lots"), not the other way around – i.e. the term "lots" is not derived from 2818 (klēronómos). Moreover, 2819 (klḗros) is not etymologically related to (cognate with) 2975/lagxanō ("to cast lots," see there).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
a lot
NASB Translation
allotted to your charge (1), inheritance (2), lot (1), lots (5), portion (1), share (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2819: κλῆρος

κλῆρος, κλήρου, , from Homer down; the Sept. mostly for גּורָל and נַחֲלָה; a lot; i. e.:

1. an object used in casting or drawing lots, which was either a pebble, or a potsherd, or a bit of wood (hence, κλῆρος is to be derived from κλάω (cf. Ellicott on Colossians 1:12)): Acts 1:26 (see below); βάλλοντες κλῆρον, Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24 (Psalm 21:19 (); Jonah 1:7, etc.); the lots of the several persons concerned, inscribed with their names, were thrown together into a vase, which was then shaken, and he whose lot first fell out upon the ground was the one chosen (Homer, Iliad 3, 316, 325; 7, 175, etc.; Livy 23, 3 (but cf. B. D. American edition, under the word Lot)); hence, κλῆρος πίπτει ἐπί τινα, Acts 1:26 (Ezekiel 24:6; Jonah 1:7).

2. what is obtained by lot, allotted portion: λαγχάνειν and λαμβάνειν τόν κλῆρον τῆς διακονίας, a prrtion in the ministry common to the apostles, Acts 1:17, 25 R G; ἐστι μοι κλῆρος ἐν τίνι, dative of the thing, Acts 8:21; like κληρονομία (which see) it is used of the part which one will have in eternal salvation, λαμβάνειν ... τόν κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις, among the sanctified, Acts 26:18 (Wis. 5:5); of eternal salvation itself, κλῆρος τῶν ἁγίων, i. e. the eternal salvation which God has assigned to the saints, Colossians 1:12 (where cf. Lightfoot). of persons, οἱ κλῆροι, those whose care and oversight has been assigned to one (allotted charge), used of Christian churches, the administration of which falls to the lot of the presbyters: 1 Peter 5:3, cf. Acts 17:4; (for patristic usage see Sophocles Lexicon, under the word; cf. Lightfoot on Philippians, p. 246f).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
heritage, inheritance, lot, part.

Probably from klao (through the idea of using bits of wood, etc., for the purpose; a die (for drawing chances); by implication, a portion (as if so secured); by extension, an acquisition (especially a patrimony, figuratively) -- heritage, inheritance, lot, part.

see GREEK klao

Forms and Transliterations
κλήροι κλήροί κλήροις κληρον κληρόν κλήρον κλῆρον κληρος κλήρος κλήρός κλῆρος κληρου κλήρου κλήρους κλήρω κληρων κλήρων kleron klêron klēron klērōn klḗron klḗrōn klē̂ron kleros klêros klēros klē̂ros klerou klērou klḗrou klerous klērous klḗrous
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 27:35 N-AMS
GRK: αὐτοῦ βάλλοντες κλῆρον ἵνα πληρωθῇ
NAS: among themselves by casting lots.
KJV: casting lots: that
INT: of him casting lots that might be fulfilled

Matthew 27:35 Noun-AMS
GRK: μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον
KJV: vesture did they cast lots.
INT: of me they cast a lot

Mark 15:24 N-AMS
GRK: αὐτοῦ βάλλοντες κλῆρον ἐπ' αὐτὰ
NAS: themselves, casting lots for them [to decide] what
KJV: garments, casting lots upon them,
INT: of him casting lots for them

Luke 23:34 N-AMS
GRK: αὐτοῦ ἔβαλον κλήρους
NAS: And they cast lots, dividing
KJV: raiment, and cast lots.
INT: of him they cast a lot

John 19:24 N-AMS
GRK: μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον Οἱ μὲν
NAS: THEY CAST LOTS.
KJV: they did cast lots. These things
INT: of me they cast a lot The indeed

Acts 1:17 N-AMS
GRK: ἔλαχεν τὸν κλῆρον τῆς διακονίας
NAS: us and received his share in this
KJV: had obtained part of this
INT: obtained a part the ministry

Acts 1:26 N-AMP
GRK: καὶ ἔδωκαν κλήρους αὐτοῖς καὶ
NAS: And they drew lots for them, and the lot
KJV: their lots; and
INT: And they gave lots for them and

Acts 1:26 N-NMS
GRK: ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπὶ Μαθθίαν
NAS: lots for them, and the lot fell
KJV: lots; and the lot fell upon
INT: fell the lot on Matthias

Acts 8:21 N-NMS
GRK: μερὶς οὐδὲ κλῆρος ἐν τῷ
NAS: part or portion in this matter,
KJV: part nor lot in this
INT: part nor lot in the

Acts 26:18 N-AMS
GRK: ἁμαρτιῶν καὶ κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς
NAS: of sins and an inheritance among
KJV: and inheritance among
INT: of sins and inheritance among those that

Colossians 1:12 N-GMS
GRK: μερίδα τοῦ κλήρου τῶν ἁγίων
NAS: us to share in the inheritance of the saints
KJV: be partakers of the inheritance of the saints
INT: share of the inheritance of the saints

1 Peter 5:3 N-GMP
GRK: κατακυριεύοντες τῶν κλήρων ἀλλὰ τύποι
NAS: those allotted to your charge, but proving
KJV: being lords over [God's] heritage, but
INT: exercising lordship over those in your charge but examples

Strong's Greek 2819
12 Occurrences


κλήρων — 1 Occ.
κλῆρον — 6 Occ.
κλῆρος — 2 Occ.
κλήρου — 1 Occ.
κλήρους — 2 Occ.















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