Lexical Summary kilay or kelay: Mixtures, Mixed Kinds Original Word: כִּילַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance churl Or kelay {kay-lah'-ee}; from kuwl in the sense of withholding; niggardly -- churl. see HEBREW kuwl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nakal Definition a rascal NASB Translation rogue (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs כִּילַי, כֵּלַי Isaiah 32:5,7 see נכל (Köii. 118). כִּילַי, כֵּלַי noun masculine knave (for נְכִילַי see Köii.1, 118); — absolute כִּילַי Isaiah 32:5 (opposed to שׁוֺעַ, "" נָבָל); כֵּלַי Isaiah 32:7 (assonance with כֵּלָיו, from כְּלִי q. v.). Topical Lexicon Hebrew Term and Semantic Rangeכִּילַי depicts a grasping, ungenerous person whose inner corruption expresses itself through deceit, exploitation, and calculated injustice. Rather than an occasional lapse, the word portrays settled character—one whose moral poverty produces social harm. Occurrences in Scripture The term appears only in Isaiah 32:5 and Isaiah 32:7, a prophetic oracle that contrasts the coming reign of righteousness with the present blight of corrupt leadership. Isaiah 32:5: “No longer will a fool be called noble, nor a scoundrel said to be honorable.” Isaiah 32:7: “The scoundrel’s methods are wicked; he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the needy plead for justice.” Character Traits Highlighted • Self-serving miserliness that withholds good (cf. Proverbs 11:24). Social and Ethical Implications In ancient Judah, community stability relied on just judges, honest merchants, and generous landowners (Leviticus 19:13-18; Deuteronomy 24:14-15). The כִּילַי undermines covenant life by reversing those expectations—substituting exploitation for stewardship and deception for truth. The prophet exposes this inversion of values and assures his audience that God will not allow the distortion to stand. Prophetic Context in Isaiah 32 Isaiah 32 envisions a future king “who will reign in righteousness” (Isaiah 32:1). The כִּילַי serves as a foil to this ideal ruler: • Present Reality: scoundrels flourish, the needy are silenced. Thus the term functions both as indictment and as eschatological signpost. It magnifies the contrast between human misrule and the Messiah’s just kingdom. Theological Insights 1. Sin Expressed Socially: Personal greed inevitably injures others (Micah 2:1-2). Application for Ministry and Discipleship • Personal Integrity: Leaders in church and community must resist the temptation to appear generous while harboring selfish motives (Acts 5:1-11). Christological and Eschatological Considerations Jesus Christ fulfills Isaiah’s vision: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me… to preach good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). At His return He will exclude all who persist in the ways of the כִּילַי—“Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). Meanwhile the Church lives as a foretaste of that coming kingdom, evidencing the generosity, truth, and justice that expose and replace the spirit of the scoundrel. Forms and Transliterations וְכֵלַ֖י וּלְכִילַ֕י וכלי ולכילי ū·lə·ḵî·lay ulechiLai ūləḵîlay vecheLai wə·ḵê·lay wəḵêlayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 32:5 HEB: לְנָבָ֖ל נָדִ֑יב וּלְכִילַ֕י לֹ֥א יֵֽאָמֵ֖ר NAS: noble, Or the rogue be spoken KJV: liberal, nor the churl said INT: will the fool noble the rogue No be spoken Isaiah 32:7 2 Occurrences |
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