from כָּלָה; completed; Keluhai, an Israelite; Chelluh.
Transliteration:Kᵉlûwhay
Pronunciation:kel-oo-hah'-ee
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew proper noun כְּלוּהַי (Kᵉlûwhay), Strong's number `{{H3622}}`, is derived from the root כָּלָה (kalah), Strong's number `{{H3615}}`. The base definition provided indicates a meaning of "completed" or "finished." The root כָּלָה (kalah) carries a broad semantic range, encompassing ideas of bringing something to an end, achieving completion, ceasing, consuming, or even utterly destroying. In the context of a personal name, כְּלוּהַי (Kᵉlûwhay) likely signifies a state of being "completed" or "finished," perhaps alluding to a personal characteristic, a divine decree concerning the individual, or a hope for a fulfilled life. As a proper noun, its semantic range is inherently limited to its referent, but its etymological root provides a rich backdrop for understanding its potential significance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name כְּלוּהַי (Kᵉlûwhay) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the book of Ezra.
* **[[Ezra 10:29]]**: "From the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Keluhai."
This solitary occurrence places Keluhai among the list of Israelites who had taken foreign wives and were required to put them away as part of Ezra's reforms following the return from Babylonian exile. The list in Ezra 10 details those who confessed their sin and made a covenant to separate from their foreign spouses. The inclusion of Keluhai in this list signifies his participation in this significant act of repentance and covenant renewal. While the name itself, "Completed" or "Finished," does not directly comment on his action, its presence in this specific historical and spiritual context is noteworthy. It marks him as one who participated in the "completion" of the purification process for the community, bringing an end to a period of spiritual compromise.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the root verb כָּלָה (kalah), `{{H3615}}`, from which כְּלוּהַי (Kᵉlûwhay) is derived. This root is frequently used throughout the Old Testament to describe:
* **Completion of tasks or periods**: e.g., the completion of creation [[Genesis 2:1]], the finishing of a building project [[1 Kings 6:38]].
* **Cessation or coming to an end**: e.g., the end of a famine [[Genesis 47:18]], the ceasing of a plague [[Numbers 17:15]].
* **Consumption or destruction**: e.g., the consumption of sacrifices [[Leviticus 10:19]], the destruction of a people or city [[Jeremiah 1:16]].
While כְּלוּהַי (Kᵉlûwhay) is a unique proper noun, its connection to כָּלָה (kalah) links it to a profound theological concept: the bringing of things to their appointed end, whether in judgment or in fulfillment. Other names in the biblical tradition often carry meanings related to divine action or human characteristics, and Keluhai's name, "Completed," can be seen in this light, perhaps signifying a divine work of completion in his life or in the life of the community he represents.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of כְּלוּהַי (Kᵉlûwhay) lies primarily in its etymological root and its unique historical context. The name "Completed" or "Finished" appearing in the list of those who repented of foreign marriages in Ezra 10 is deeply symbolic.
1. **Completion of Transgression**: It could subtly signify the "completion" or "end" of the period of spiritual transgression and disobedience regarding intermarriage, which had plagued the returned exiles.
2. **Completion of Repentance**: For Keluhai and the others, their act of putting away foreign wives represented the "completion" of their repentance and their commitment to covenant fidelity. It marked a decisive end to a sinful practice.
3. **God's Work of Finishing**: More broadly, the name can point to God's sovereign work in bringing about an end to a season of sin and initiating a new phase of purity and dedication among His people. God is the one who "completes" His purposes, whether in judgment or restoration. The community's purification was, in a sense, a "completed" work orchestrated by divine providence through Ezra's leadership.
4. **A Name of Hope or Destiny**: While speculative, the name could have been given with the hope that the individual's life would be one of completion or fulfillment in God's plan, or that he would be instrumental in bringing something to a good end. In the context of Ezra, he was part of the generation that "completed" the return to covenant obedience.
### Summary
כְּלוּהַי (Kᵉlûwhay), Strong's number `{{H3622}}`, is a Hebrew proper noun meaning "Completed" or "Finished," derived from the root כָּלָה (kalah), `{{H3615}}`. It appears only once in the Bible, in [[Ezra 10:29]], where Keluhai is listed among the men who had taken foreign wives and agreed to put them away during Ezra's reforms. The name's meaning, "Completed," takes on significant theological resonance within this context, symbolizing the "completion" of a period of transgression, the "completion" of repentance and covenant renewal among the Israelites, and God's sovereign work in bringing His people to a state of purity. It stands as a subtle reminder of the divine and human effort required to bring a season of disobedience to an end and complete the work of restoration.
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