xlit kᵉlûb corrected to kᵉlûwb; from the same as כֶּלֶב; a bird-trap (as furnished with a clap-stick or treadle to spring it); hence, a basket (as resembling a wicker cage); basket, cage.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kᵉlûwb**, represented by `{{H3619}}`, is defined as a bird-trap, a **basket**, or a **cage**. The word appears only **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Its meaning shifts between a simple container and a trap, depending on the context in which it is used.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H3619}}` serves as a powerful prophetic symbol. In the book of Amos, the Lord shows the prophet a vision of a **basket** of summer fruit, signifying that the end has come for the people of Israel [[Amos 8:1-2]]. In Jeremiah, the word is translated as **cage**, used in a simile to describe the state of corruption: "As a **cage** is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit" [[Jeremiah 5:27]]. In both instances, the object is used to illustrate a message of impending judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the imagery associated with `{{H3619}}`:
* `{{H7019}}` **qayits** (summer fruit, harvest): This word is used alongside **kᵉlûwb** in the vision shown to Amos, where the basket is filled with **summer fruit**, symbolizing a finality and ripeness for judgment [[Amos 8:1]].
* `{{H5775}}` **ʻôwph** (bird, fowl): In Jeremiah's prophecy, the **cage** is filled with these, creating a metaphor for entrapment [[Jeremiah 5:27]].
* `{{H4392}}` **mâlêʼ** (full, filling): This term describes how the **cage** is **full** of birds and, in parallel, how the houses are **full** of deceit [[Jeremiah 5:27]].
* `{{H1004}}` **bayith** (house): This word is used to draw a direct comparison to the **cage** in [[Jeremiah 5:27]], where the deceit-filled **houses** of the wicked are likened to a cage full of trapped birds.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3619}}` is conveyed through its use in divine warnings to Israel.
* **Symbol of Final Judgment:** In Amos, the vision of the **basket** of **summer fruit** is not a sign of blessing but of an end. The Lord uses this image to declare that He will no longer pass by His people, signaling that the time for judgment has arrived [[Amos 8:2]].
* **Metaphor for Deceit and Corruption:** Jeremiah uses the image of a **cage** to illustrate how the people have amassed wealth through treachery. Their **houses** are filled with deceit just as a trapper's **cage** is filled with **birds**, which has led to them becoming great and rich [[Jeremiah 5:27]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3619}}` is a word that, despite its infrequent use, carries significant prophetic meaning. Whether translated as a **basket** or a **cage**, it functions as a visual aid to communicate divine truth. It powerfully illustrates the concepts of finality in judgment, as seen with the **basket** of summer fruit in Amos [[Amos 8:2]], and the entrapment caused by moral decay, as seen with the **cage** full of birds in Jeremiah [[Jeremiah 5:27]].
TRV