קֵלָיָה
𐤒𐤋𐤉𐤄
Qelayah
H7041 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Qêlâyâh is a proper noun referring to an Israelite individual identified in post-exilic genealogies. The name may carry the sense of 'Yah[weh] has dishonored' or 'Yah[weh] has diminished,' reflecting the meaning of the underlying root, though it is attested only as a personal name in the Hebrew Bible. Its lexical use is confined to designating a historical figure rather than a title, role, or common noun.
Semantic Range
personal name; (from root) to bring into contempt, to diminish, to treat disgracefully; used only as a proper name in the Hebrew Bible
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root קָלָה (qalāh), meaning 'to dishonor, disgrace, treat with contempt, diminish,' combined with a theophoric Yah (ָיָה, 'yah,' a shortened form of Yahweh). Thus, Qêlâyâh likely means 'Yah has dishonored' or 'Yah has humiliated,' though the poetic or commemorative nuance of the name is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name קֵלָיָה (Qêlâyâh) occurs only in 1 Chronicles 3:24, where it designates a descendant in the Davidic line during the post-exilic period. The choice of a name meaning 'Yah has dishonored' or 'diminished' is unusual, possibly reflecting historical circumstances or the humility of the family. The name is rendered as 'Kelaiah' in some English translations. There is some uncertainty about the precise nuance: while based on the root for 'to disgrace,' Israelite personal names with negative theophoric elements often pointed to a remembered event or intended as a reflection of personal or communal experience. In the Septuagint, the name is transliterated as Κηλια (Kēlia). Later Jewish tradition and English translations often transliterate the name without noting its etymological significance. It should not be confused with similar-sounding names or roots, such as קֵילוֹן (Qêlôn). The use of such names in the post-exilic period sometimes carried subtle references to communal experience or aspiration.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָלָה; insignificance; Kelajah, an Israelite; Kelaiah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קלה (q-l-h) — to dishonor, to disgrace, to diminish, to treat with contempt
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7022 | קִיקָלוֹן | intense disgrace |
| H7033 | קָלָה | one being roasted |
| H7034 | קָלָה | one who makes light of |
| H7036 | קָלוֹן | in disgrace |
| H7039 | קָלִי | the roasted grain |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7041-01 |
וְ/קֵֽלָיָה֙ | veqelayah | HC/Np |
and Kelaiah | and Yah has dishonored | and Qelayah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7041-01 |
Ezra 10:23 | וְ/קֵֽלָיָה֙ | veqelayah | HC/Np |
and Kelaiah | and Yah has dishonored | and Qelayah |