כִּילַי
niggardly
Definition
The Hebrew noun כִּילַי (kîylay) describes a person who is stingy, miserly, or niggardly. It refers to someone who withholds resources, generosity, or kindness, particularly from those in need. In Isaiah 32:5, it is contrasted with the 'noble' person, and in Isaiah 32:7, the 'churl' (kîylay) devises wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words. The core meaning centers on a character defined by selfishness and a lack of liberality.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the book of Isaiah, specifically in Isaiah 32:5 and 32:7, within a prophetic oracle about a future righteous kingdom. In both instances, it is used to characterize a type of person whose behavior is antithetical to the coming reign of justice and righteousness. The 'churl' (kîylay) is presented as the opposite of the noble, generous individual who will typify the new social order.
Etymology
The word כִּילַי (kîylay) or its variant כֵּלַי is derived from the root כּוּל (H3557), which generally means 'to sustain, contain, or hold.' In this specific derivation, the sense shifts to 'withholding' what one contains. Thus, the etymology directly informs its meaning as one who holds back or refuses to dispense resources or kindness.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights a character flaw condemned in Scripture, especially within the prophetic tradition's concern for social justice. In Isaiah 32, the 'churl' represents the moral corruption of the present age, contrasted with the virtue that will characterize God's future kingdom. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by clarifying that the condemnation is not merely of general wickedness but of a specific, selfish heart attitude that oppresses the vulnerable, directly opposing God's call for generosity and care for the poor (e.g., Proverbs 14:31).
In ancient Israelite society, wealth and resources were often seen as blessings from God, to be shared within the community, especially with the poor, widow, and orphan. A person labeled a כִּילַי violated this core social and covenantal obligation. His stinginess was not a private character flaw but a public social evil that undermined community welfare and covenant faithfulness.
רָשָׁע (rāšāʿ, H7563) — A broader term for 'wicked' or 'guilty' one, encompassing general evil, not specifically stinginess. נָבָל (nāḇāl, H5036) — 'Fool' in the moral sense; one who acts disgracefully and without sense, often including selfish behavior (as in Nabal in 1 Samuel 25).
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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