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κλητός

klētós

G2822 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who is called, invited, or summoned for a specific purpose or to a particular status; more specifically, in literary and religious contexts, one who is summoned, invited, or designated to a group, privilege, or responsibility. The primary lexical meaning centers on being the recipient of a call, particularly in formal or communal contexts, and may imply selection or appointment.

Semantic Range

called, invited, summoned, designated, appointed, one who is the recipient of a formal invitation or summons, by extension one designated or selected for special role or status

Root / Etymology

From the root κλη- (related to καλέω, 'to call, summon, invite'). κλητός is the verbal adjective meaning 'called' or 'invited.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κλητός appears in official settings with the sense of 'one who is summoned' (e.g., an invited guest or summoned participant). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in religious Greek and the New Testament, κλητός is commonly used to describe those whom a deity or authoritative figure has 'called' or 'summoned,' especially in the context of communal identity or purpose. In the New Testament, the term often refers to those whom God has called to belong to a specific community or to fulfill a particular role, but the word itself focuses on the act of calling or invitation, not the successful realization or response. Standard English translations (e.g., 'called') sometimes conflate this with concepts of vocation or predestination, but κλητός refers to the recipient of a summons or invitation itself without automatically implying the theological consequences of such a call. The term is closely related etymologically and semantically to κλῆσις ('calling, invitation') and καλέω ('to call').

Translation Consistency

primary "call" 10 occurrences

'Call' is the most natural, broadly applicable rendering for κλητός (one who is called/invited/summoned). It matches the majority P2 pattern ('called'), covers the range 'invited/summoned/designated/appointed' without sounding overly formal, and will produce natural English across all inflected forms better than the narrower 'summon.'

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as κλῆσις; invited, i.e. appointed, or (specially), a saint:--called.

Root Family

κλητός (klētos) — called, summoned, invited, designated, appointed

Root κλη- to call, to summon, to invite

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2822-02 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.A DAT M PL called to the summoned ones to the called ones 5
G2822-01 κλητοὶ kletoi ADJ.P NOM M PL called summoned ones the called ones 3
G2822-03 κλητὸς kletos ADJ.A NOM M SG called called one called one 2

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2822-01 Matthew 22:14 κλητοὶ kletoi ADJ.P NOM M PL called summoned ones the called ones
G2822-03 Romans 1:1 κλητὸς kletos ADJ.A NOM M SG called called one called one
G2822-01 Romans 1:6 κλητοὶ kletoi ADJ.S NOM M PL the called summoned ones the called ones
G2822-02 Romans 1:7 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.A DAT M PL called to the summoned ones to the called ones
G2822-02 Romans 8:28 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.P DAT M PL called to the summoned ones to the called ones
G2822-03 1 Corinthians 1:1 κλητὸς kletos ADJ.A NOM M SG called called one called one
G2822-02 1 Corinthians 1:2 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.A DAT M PL called to the summoned ones to the called ones
G2822-02 1 Corinthians 1:24 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.A DAT M PL called to the summoned ones to the called ones
G2822-02 Jude 1:1 κλητοῖς kletois ADJ.S DAT M PL called to the summoned ones to the called ones
G2822-01 Revelation 17:14 κλητοὶ kletoi ADJ.S NOM M PL called summoned ones the called ones
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