כָּלָה
𐤊𐤋𐤄
kâlâh
H3617 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The act or state of being complete, finished, or brought to an end; also, the result or event of completion or total destruction, depending on context. Used of an end point in processes (a completion or consummation) or, by extension, the end resulting from extermination or consumption (destruction).
Semantic Range
completion, finished state, act of consummation, utter end, total destruction, event of termination, annihilation, act of being consumed
Root / Etymology
From the root כ-ל-ה (כלה) meaning 'to finish, complete, bring to an end, consume.' The noun כָּלָה derives from this root and expresses the idea of a state or event of finality, whether that is positive (completion of a process or aim) or negative (utter destruction).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, כָּלָה is employed both in neutral/positive contexts (completion, fulfillment) and negative contexts (destruction, annihilation). In prophetic literature, especially, the term often denotes a total or decisive end, whether of a period, fate, or a people (sometimes through catastrophic destruction, as in Isaiah and Daniel). In narrative or legal texts, however, it can refer to the simple completion of duties, time, or ceremonies. Its range overlaps with תָּמִים (tamim, 'complete, whole') but כָּלָה suggests a sense of final act or outcome. Traditional English translations sometimes narrowly render it as 'consummation' or 'destruction,' but these capture only the major poles of the semantic range. In later periods (e.g., post-exilic or Hellenistic Judean usage), the apocalyptic sense (final annihilation or ultimate culmination) became more prominent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּלָה; a completion; adverb, completely; also destruction; altogether, (be, utterly) consume(-d), consummation(-ption), was determined, (full, utter) end, riddance.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כלה (k-l-h) — finish, complete, bring to an end, consume
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3615 | כָּלָה | I will bring to completion |
| H3616 | כָּלֶה | and wasting-away ones |
| H3618 | כַּלָּה | completed woman |
| H3622 | כְּלוּהַי | Yah Completes |
| H3623 | כְּלוּלָה | your bridehood-completions |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3617-01 |
כָּלָ֑ה | kalah | HNcfsa |
an end | completion | 9 |
H3617-02 |
כָ֥לָה | khalah | HNcfsa |
a full end | complete end | 8 |
H3617-03 |
לְ/כָלָֽה | lekhalah | HR/Ncfsa |
completely | to utter end | 2 |
H3617-04 |
וְ/כָלָ֖ה | vekhalah | HC/Ncfsa |
a full end | and he brought to an end | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
21 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3617-01 |
Genesis 18:21 | כָּלָ֑ה | kalah | HNcfsa |
altogether | completion |
H3617-01 |
Exodus 11:1 | כָּלָ֕ה | kalah | HNcfsa |
completely | completion |
H3617-02 |
1 Samuel 20:33 | כָ֥לָה | khalah | HNcfsa |
it was determined | complete end |
H3617-02 |
Isaiah 10:23 | כָלָ֖ה | khalah | HNcfsa |
completion | complete end |
H3617-02 |
Isaiah 28:22 | כָלָ֨ה | khalah | HNcfsa |
destruction | complete end |
H3617-04 |
Jeremiah 4:27 | וְ/כָלָ֖ה | vekhalah | HC/Ncfsa |
a full end | and he brought to an end |
H3617-04 |
Jeremiah 5:10 | וְ/כָלָ֖ה | vekhalah | HC/Ncfsa |
and end | and he brought to an end |
H3617-01 |
Jeremiah 5:18 | כָּלָֽה | kalah | HNcfsa |
a full end | completion |
H3617-02 |
Jeremiah 30:11 | כָלָ֜ה | khalah | HNcfsa |
a full end | complete end |
H3617-02 |
Jeremiah 30:11 | כָלָ֔ה | khalah-2 | HNcfsa |
a full end | complete end |