כָּלָא

kâlâʼ /kaw-law'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto restrict, by act (hold back or in) or word (prohibit)
KJV usagefinish, forbid, keep (back), refrain, restrain, retain, shut up, be stayed, withhold.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word kâlâʼ, represented by H3607, is a primitive root meaning to restrict, by act (hold back or in) or word (prohibit). It also carries the meanings to finish, forbid, keep back, refrain, restrain, retain, shut up, be stayed, or withhold. It appears 18 times across 17 unique verses, illustrating its application in a variety of contexts involving restriction and cessation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H3607 is used to describe physical, natural, and personal restriction. It can denote physical confinement, as when King Zedekiah had shut up the prophet Jeremiah in the court of the prison Jeremiah 32:3. It is also used to describe the cessation of a natural event, such as when the rain from heaven was restrained after the great flood Genesis 8:2. In the context of human action, the people were restrained from bringing any more work for the sanctuary offering at the command of Moses Exodus 36:6. On a personal level, the psalmist declares, "I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word" Psalms 119:101.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to clarify and expand upon the concept of restriction and finality:

  • H4513 mânaʻ (to debar... deny, keep back, refrain, restrain, withhold): This word functions very similarly to H3607. It is used to describe God's generosity, stating that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly Psalms 84:11.
  • H2856 châtham (to close up; especially to seal; make an end, mark, seal up, stop): This term relates to the idea of closing or finalizing something. In a key prophetic passage, it appears alongside H3607 to describe the time when God will seal up the vision and prophecy Daniel 9:24.
  • H5341 nâtsar (to guard... protect, maintain, obey... conceal): This word carries the sense of protective guarding. In the Psalms, a plea is made for God not to withhold H3607 His tender mercies, but to let His lovingkindness and truth continually preserve H5341 the speaker Psalms 40:11.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H3607 is seen in its application to divine, human, and prophetic actions.

  • Divine Sovereignty: The word is used to demonstrate God's control over the natural world. He restrained the floodwaters Genesis 8:2 and stayed the heavens from giving dew and the earth from yielding fruit as a consequence of the people's actions Haggai 1:10.
  • Moral and Spiritual Restraint: H3607 highlights the importance of actively preventing sin. Abigail's wise advice kept David from the sin of avenging himself 1 Samuel 25:33, and the psalmist purposefully refrained his feet from evil paths Psalms 119:101.
  • Prophetic Completion: Its most profound theological use is in Daniel's prophecy, which states that a period of seventy weeks is determined "to finish the transgression" Daniel 9:24. Here, the word points to the ultimate end and restriction of sin as part of God's redemptive plan.

Summary

In summary, H3607 is a versatile term that conveys the concept of restriction in multiple dimensions. From the physical act of shutting up a person or animal (Jeremiah 32:3, 1 Samuel 6:10) to the divine power that can restrain the forces of nature Genesis 8:2, the word is consistently applied to acts of holding back or bringing to an end. Its use culminates in a prophetic context, signifying the ultimate goal of God's plan to finish transgression and bring in everlasting righteousness Daniel 9:24.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 18 occurrences, inflected in 15 grammatical forms.

  • Niphal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Participle Passive Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 2×
  • Niphal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Piel Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Qal Imperative 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Qal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×

+ 3 rarer forms

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Passive
The subject is acted upon.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 17 verses across 11 books. Most frequent in Psalms (4 verses).

2
Genesis
1
Exodus
1
Numbers
2
1 Samuel
4
Psalms
1
Ecclesiastes
1
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Daniel
1
Haggai

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