Berean Strong's Lexicon keleb: Dog Original Word: כֶּלֶב Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to yelp or to attack Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G2965 (κύων, kuōn): This Greek word is used in the New Testament with a similar connotation, often referring to dogs in a derogatory sense, as seen in Philippians 3:2 and Revelation 22:15. Usage: The Hebrew word "keleb" primarily refers to a dog. In the Biblical context, dogs were often seen as unclean animals, scavengers that roamed the streets and fields. The term is sometimes used metaphorically to describe people of low status or those considered impure or contemptible. In some instances, "keleb" is used to denote male prostitutes in pagan worship practices, as seen in Deuteronomy 23:18. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, dogs were not typically kept as pets as they are in many cultures today. They were more commonly associated with wild or semi-wild animals that lived on the fringes of human settlements. Dogs were often seen as symbols of impurity and were associated with negative traits such as greed and aggression. This cultural perception is reflected in various Biblical passages where dogs are used as metaphors for undesirable characteristics or people. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a dog NASB Translation dog (14), dog's (2), dogs (16). Brown-Driver-Briggs כֶּ֫לֶב noun masculine1Sam 24:15 dog (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician כלב; Aramaic כַּלְבָּא, , Arabic ; Ethiopic Assyrian kalbu DlHWB 328) — absolute ׳כ Judges 7:5 16t., כָּ֑לֶב Psalm 59:7; Psalm 59:15; plural כְּלָבִים 1 Kings 14:11 12t.; construct כַּלְבֵי Job 30:1; suffix כְּלָבֶיךָ Psalm 68:24; — dog: a. literal 1 Kings 14:11; 1 Kings 16:4; 1 Kings 21:19 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 21:23,24; 1 Kings 22:38; 2 Kings 9:10,36 (all of fierce, hungry dogs, devouring dead bodies and licking blood); compare Jeremiah 15:3 and (לְשׁוֺן כְּלָבֶיךָ) Psalm 68:24; eating torn flesh, Exodus 22:30 (E), כַּלְבֵי צאֹנִי = my sheep-dogs, only Job 30:1 (in both these with implied inferiority); dog-sacrifice was a heathen rite Isaiah 66:3 (Di and others); see especially RSSemitic i, 273 (291), 325 (343); invarious simile Judges 7:5; Proverbs 26:11,17; Psalm 59:7; Psalm 59:15; in proverbial sayings: לֹא לִשֹׁנוֺ ׳יֶחֱרַץכֿ Exodus 11:7 (see I. חרץ); מֵת טוֺב מִןֿ ׳לְכ הָאַרְיֵה הַמֵּת Ecclesiastes 9:4. b. applied, figurative, to men, in contempt 1 Samuel 17:43, so of psalmist's enemies Psalm 22:17; Psalm 22:21, or in excessive humility 2 Kings 8:13; still more emphatically מֵת ׳כ a dead dog, הַמֵּת ׳הַכּ 2 Samuel 9:8; 2 Samuel 16:9; also ׳ראֹשׁ כ 2 Samuel 3:8; כְּלָבִים אִלְּמִים Isaiah 56:10 (of misleading prophets), עַזֵּי נֶפֶשׁ ׳הַכּ Isaiah 56:11 (id.); ׳כ was name given to male temple-prostitutes Deuteronomy 23:19 (see Dr; compare קָדֵשׁ). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dog From an unused root means. To yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute -- dog. Forms and Transliterations הֲכֶ֣לֶב הַכְּלָבִ֑ים הַכְּלָבִ֔ים הַכְּלָבִ֖ים הַכְּלָבִ֛ים הַכְּלָבִים֙ הַכֶּ֔לֶב הַכֶּ֗לֶב הַכֶּ֤לֶב הַכֶּ֥לֶב הכלב הכלבים וְהַכְּלָבִ֣ים והכלבים כְּ֭כֶלֶב כְּלָ֫בִ֥ים כְּלָבִ֣ים כְּלָבֶ֑יךָ כֶּ֔לֶב כֶּ֗לֶב כֶּ֙לֶב֙ כֶּ֝֗לֶב כֶּ֣לֶב כֶּ֥לֶב כַּלְבֵ֥י כַכָּ֗לֶב כָ֑לֶב ככלב כלב כלבי כלביך כלבים לְכֶ֤לֶב לַכֶּ֖לֶב לכלב chakKalev Chalev hă·ḵe·leḇ haChelev hak·kə·lā·ḇîm hak·ke·leḇ hăḵeleḇ hakkəlāḇîm hakkelaVim hakkeleḇ hakKelev ḵā·leḇ ḵak·kā·leḇ ḵakkāleḇ kal·ḇê kalḇê ḵāleḇ kalVei kə·ḵe·leḇ kə·lā·ḇe·ḵā kə·lā·ḇîm ke·leḇ Kechelev kəḵeleḇ kəlāḇeḵā kəlāḇîm kelaVeicha keLaVim keleḇ kelev lak·ke·leḇ lakkeleḇ lakKelev lə·ḵe·leḇ leChelev ləḵeleḇ vehakkelaVim wə·hak·kə·lā·ḇîm wəhakkəlāḇîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 11:7 HEB: לֹ֤א יֶֽחֱרַץ־ כֶּ֙לֶב֙ לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ לְמֵאִ֖ישׁ NAS: of Israel a dog will not [even] bark, KJV: of Israel shall not a dog move INT: not move A dog his tongue man Exodus 22:31 Deuteronomy 23:18 Judges 7:5 1 Samuel 17:43 1 Samuel 24:14 2 Samuel 3:8 2 Samuel 9:8 2 Samuel 16:9 1 Kings 14:11 1 Kings 16:4 1 Kings 21:19 1 Kings 21:19 1 Kings 21:23 1 Kings 21:24 1 Kings 22:38 2 Kings 8:13 2 Kings 9:10 2 Kings 9:36 Job 30:1 Psalm 22:16 Psalm 22:20 Psalm 59:6 Psalm 59:14 Psalm 68:23 32 Occurrences |