from an unused root means. to yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute; dog.
Transliteration:keleb
Pronunciation:keh'-leb
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term כֶּלֶב ( *keleb*, `{{H3611}}`) primarily denotes a "dog." Its etymology is traced to an unused root suggesting the actions of "yelping" or "attacking," which aptly describes the common behaviors of canines. In its most straightforward sense, *keleb* refers to the domesticated animal. However, its semantic range extends significantly beyond this literal meaning, often carrying strong negative connotations within the biblical text. Beyond the literal animal, *keleb* can function metaphorically to describe individuals or groups characterized by a lack of moral restraint, savagery, or low status. Crucially, the term also serves as a euphemism, specifically for a "male cult prostitute," a usage that carries profound theological and social implications.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of *keleb* in the Hebrew Bible reveal a multifaceted perception of dogs, predominantly negative.
1. **Literal Animal - Scavenger and Unclean:** Dogs are frequently depicted as scavengers, often associated with death and disgrace. They are shown eating the bodies of the dead, particularly those under divine judgment or disgrace, as seen in the prophecies against Ahab and Jezebel ([[1 Kings 14:11]], [[1 Kings 16:4]], [[1 Kings 21:19]], [[1 Kings 21:23]], [[1 Kings 21:24]], [[2 Kings 9:10]], [[2 Kings 9:36]]). This association with consuming carrion rendered them unclean animals within Israelite purity laws, unfit for sacrifice or consumption ([[Exodus 22:31]]).
2. **Symbol of Lowliness and Contempt:** The term *keleb* is often used to express extreme humility or contempt. When Goliath insults David, he asks, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" ([[1 Samuel 17:43]]), indicating the low esteem in which dogs were held. Similarly, David himself uses the phrase "a dead dog" to describe his own perceived worthlessness before Saul ([[1 Samuel 24:14]]) and Mephibosheth uses it before David ([[2 Samuel 9:8]]), signifying utter abasement.
3. **Metaphorical for Wickedness or Folly:** The proverb, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly" ([[Proverbs 26:11]]), graphically illustrates the repulsive and self-defeating nature of persistent foolishness. This imagery is later echoed in the New Testament ([[2 Peter 2:22]]). Isaiah describes negligent watchmen as "dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber" ([[Isaiah 56:10]]), highlighting their failure to warn the people.
4. **Euphemism for Male Cult Prostitute:** Perhaps the most significant and debated usage appears in [[Deuteronomy 23:18]] (MT 23:19): "You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God in payment for any vow, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God." Here, "dog" ( *keleb*) is paired with "prostitute" ( *zônāh*, `{{H2181}}`) and is widely understood by scholars to refer to a male cult prostitute ( *qādēsh*, `{{H6945}}`), who engaged in ritual sexual acts in pagan temples. This usage highlights the profound abhorrence of such practices in Yahwistic worship, marking them as utterly defiling and unacceptable in the sanctuary.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of *keleb* naturally intersects with several related biblical concepts and terms.
* **Unclean Animals:** The status of *keleb* as an unclean animal links it to other creatures prohibited for consumption or sacrifice, reinforcing Israel's distinctiveness and the purity required by the Mosaic Law.
* **Cultic Prostitution:** The euphemistic use of *keleb* is intrinsically linked to the broader biblical condemnation of cultic prostitution. Terms like *qādēsh* (male cult prostitute, `{{H6945}}`) and *qedesha* (female cult prostitute, `{{H6948}}`) are directly related, underscoring the deep theological opposition to Canaanite fertility cults and their practices.
* **Humility and Self-Abasement:** The phrase "dead dog" connects *keleb* to the concept of extreme humility, often used by individuals to express their lowliness before a superior.
* **Folly and Repentance:** The proverb in [[Proverbs 26:11]] ties *keleb* to the concept of persistent foolishness and the difficulty of breaking destructive patterns, contrasting with the wisdom tradition's call for repentance and change.
* **Watchfulness and Leadership:** Isaiah's use of "dumb dogs" relates *keleb* to the responsibilities of spiritual leaders and the dangers of their negligence.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *keleb* is profound, particularly in its dual literal and euphemistic senses.
1. **Impurity and Judgment:** As an unclean scavenger, *keleb* often symbolizes impurity and is frequently associated with divine judgment. The consumption of bodies by dogs signifies a particularly ignominious end, a mark of God's severe displeasure and the complete disgrace of the judged individual (e.g., Jezebel). This underscores God's righteousness and the consequences of rebellion.
2. **Holiness of God and Purity of Worship:** The most potent theological implication arises from the use of *keleb* as a euphemism for a male cult prostitute in [[Deuteronomy 23:18]]. This verse unequivocally condemns the practice of bringing the "wages of a dog" into the Lord's house. It highlights the absolute holiness of Yahweh and the demand for purity in His worship, sharply contrasting with the pagan practices prevalent in the ancient Near East. The prohibition emphasizes that cultic sexual acts, whether heterosexual or homosexual, were an abomination, defiling both the worshiper and the sanctuary. This command serves to protect the unique, uncompromised worship of the one true God and to maintain Israel's distinct covenant identity.
3. **Moral Warning:** The imagery of the dog returning to its vomit serves as a stark moral warning against the dangers of backsliding and repeating past errors, emphasizing the need for genuine transformation and perseverance in righteousness.
4. **Humility and Divine Sovereignty:** The "dead dog" motif, while expressing human lowliness, implicitly magnifies the greatness and sovereignty of the one before whom such humility is expressed, ultimately pointing to God's supreme authority.
### Summary
The Hebrew word כֶּלֶב ( *keleb*, `{{H3611}}`) primarily denotes a "dog," an animal often perceived negatively in biblical culture as an unclean scavenger associated with impurity, contempt, and divine judgment. Its metaphorical uses reinforce these negative connotations, depicting foolishness, negligence, or extreme lowliness. Crucially, *keleb* also functions as a potent euphemism for a male cult prostitute, particularly in [[Deuteronomy 23:18]]. This usage carries immense theological weight, underscoring God's absolute holiness and His abhorrence of cultic sexual immorality, which was considered an abomination and strictly forbidden in the worship of Yahweh. Thus, *keleb* serves as a powerful descriptor for both the literal animal and a specific form of grave spiritual defilement, consistently reflecting themes of impurity, judgment, and the imperative for pure worship.
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