כֶּלֶא
a prison
Definition
The Hebrew noun כֶּלֶא (keleʼ) refers to a place of confinement or imprisonment, specifically a prison where individuals are held captive. In its biblical usage, it consistently denotes a physical prison, as seen in passages like 2 Kings 17:4, where Hoshea is imprisoned by the king of Assyria, and Jeremiah 37:15, where Jeremiah is thrown into a dungeon. The word can also carry a metaphorical sense of bondage or captivity, particularly in Isaiah 42:7 and 42:22, where it describes the spiritual and physical imprisonment of God's people, from which God promises deliverance.
Biblical Usage
כֶּלֶא is used nine times in the Old Testament, primarily in historical and prophetic books. It appears in narratives about royal imprisonment, such as in 2 Kings 25:27-29 and 2 Chronicles 18:26, where kings or prophets are confined. In prophetic contexts, like Isaiah 42:7 and 42:22, it symbolizes the bondage of Israel, emphasizing God's role as liberator. The usage is consistent across books, always referring to a place or state of confinement, whether literal or figurative.
Etymology
כֶּלֶא derives from the root verb כָּלָא (kālāʼ, H3607), meaning 'to restrain, hold back, or shut up.' This root conveys the idea of confinement or restriction, which directly informs the noun's meaning as a prison. Cognates include כִּלְאַיִם (kilʼayim, H3610), referring to mixed kinds or forbidden mixtures (often in agriculture), and כְּלִיא (kelîʼ, H3628), another term for imprisonment or bonds, highlighting the semantic field of restraint and separation.
Semantic Range
כֶּלֶא is theologically significant as it illustrates themes of human bondage and divine liberation. In passages like Isaiah 42:7, it underscores God's promise to free the oppressed, pointing to messianic redemption. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches Bible reading by highlighting the contrast between human imprisonment and God's deliverance, resonating with broader biblical narratives of exile and restoration, such as in the Exodus or the Babylonian captivity.
In ancient Israelite culture, prisons were often used for political detainees, prisoners of war, or those awaiting trial, as seen in the cases of kings and prophets in 2 Kings and Jeremiah. Unlike modern prison systems, biblical imprisonment could involve pits, dungeons, or houses of confinement, reflecting a simpler but harsh form of detention. This cultural context helps modern readers grasp the severity and social implications of being 'shut up' in כֶּלֶא.
כְּלִיא (kelîʼ, H3628) — a synonym for imprisonment or bonds, often used interchangeably with כֶּלֶא but less frequent. בֵּית הָאֲסוּרִים (bêyth hāʼasûrîm, H1004) — literally 'house of the bound,' a common phrase for prison, emphasizing the location rather than the state of confinement.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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