or כְּלוּא; from כְּלִי (compare כֶּלֶא); a prison; prison.
Transliteration:kᵉlîyʼ
Pronunciation:kel-ee'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H3628, כְּלִיא (kᵉlîyʼ) or כְּלוּא (kᵉlûʼ), denotes "a prison" or "prison." Its semantic range is singularly focused on a place of confinement or incarceration. Etymologically, it is closely related to and derived from the root כלא (kala'), meaning "to restrain," "to shut up," or "to hold back." This verbal root gives rise to the noun `{{H3627}}` (כֶּלֶא, keleʼ), which also signifies "restraint," "confinement," or "prison." Thus, H3628 specifically refers to the physical structure or institution where such restraint is carried out. It does not carry broader metaphorical meanings beyond literal imprisonment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H3628 appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, but its few occurrences are significant, primarily within the historical and prophetic books, underscoring its literal and often political context.
* **[[2 Kings 25:27]]**: "And it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison." Here, H3628 refers to the Babylonian prison where King Jehoiachin was held captive. This verse marks a significant, albeit limited, act of mercy by a foreign king towards a deposed Judean monarch, signifying a slight improvement in his dire circumstances after decades of confinement.
* **[[Jeremiah 37:4]]**: "Now Jeremiah was coming in and going out among the people, for they had not yet put him into prison." This passage highlights the precarious situation of the prophet Jeremiah. Before his eventual imprisonment, he moved freely, but the threat of confinement was ever-present due to his unpopular prophecies. The use of H3628 here anticipates the literal imprisonment that Jeremiah would later endure, emphasizing the political and social pressures faced by God's messengers.
* **[[Jeremiah 52:31]]**: "And it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison." This verse is a near-verbatim parallel to [[2 Kings 25:27]], reiterating the release of King Jehoiachin from the Babylonian H3628. Its repetition underscores the historical importance of this event as a turning point in Jehoiachin's long captivity, even if it did not restore his kingship.
In all contexts, H3628 consistently denotes a literal place of detention, often associated with political power, punishment, or the suppression of prophetic voices.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic relative of H3628 is `{{H3627}}` (כֶּלֶא, keleʼ), which is the more common noun for "imprisonment," "confinement," or "prison." Both terms derive from the verbal root כלא (kala'), meaning "to restrain," "to shut up," or "to hold back." This root is foundational to understanding the concept of confinement in the Hebrew Bible.
Other Hebrew terms and concepts related to H3628 include:
* `{{H4525}}` (מַסְגֵּר, masger): Often translated as "dungeon" or "prison," particularly a more severe or secure form of confinement.
* `{{H6115}}` (עָצַר, 'atsar): A verb meaning "to restrain," "to shut up," or "to hold back," similar to כלא, and sometimes used in contexts of imprisonment.
* `{{H1004}}` (בַּיִת, bayit): While primarily meaning "house," it can refer to a "prison house" or "jail" in certain contexts (e.g., בֵּית הַכֶּלֶא, "house of the prison").
* **Captivity (גָּלוּת, galut)**: The broader state of being exiled or held captive, often in a foreign land, of which imprisonment is a specific form of experience.
* **Judgment and Punishment**: Imprisonment is frequently a consequence of divine or human judgment for transgression, rebellion, or perceived threats to authority.
* **Prophetic Suffering**: The experience of prophets like Jeremiah, who faced imprisonment for delivering God's challenging messages, highlights the cost of faithfulness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H3628 lies primarily in its portrayal of human power, divine judgment, and the steadfastness of God's purposes even amidst suffering.
1. **Consequence of Sin and Rebellion**: For figures like King Jehoiachin, imprisonment in Babylon was a direct consequence of Judah's rebellion against God and subsequent defeat. It serves as a stark physical manifestation of divine judgment against a disobedient nation and its leadership.
2. **Prophetic Endurance and Persecution**: Jeremiah's experience with the threat and reality of H3628 underscores the suffering often endured by God's faithful messengers. Prophets frequently faced opposition, ridicule, and physical confinement for speaking God's truth to a rebellious people. This highlights the cost of discipleship and the unwavering commitment required to deliver God's word, even when it leads to personal hardship.
3. **Divine Sovereignty over Human Power**: While H3628 represents the exercise of human authority and punitive power, the biblical narrative subtly reminds the reader that even within the confines of a prison, God's ultimate sovereignty remains. Jehoiachin's release, though by a foreign king, can be seen as a glimmer of hope or an act orchestrated, directly or indirectly, by God, demonstrating that no human institution, not even a prison, can ultimately thwart divine plans or extinguish the possibility of future restoration. The very fact that Jehoiachin's release is recorded holds significance for the continuation of the Davidic line, however tenuous.
4. **Hope and Release**: The narrative of Jehoiachin's release from H3628 provides a minor, yet significant, note of hope amidst the despair of exile. It suggests that even the most severe forms of human confinement are not necessarily permanent, offering a faint echo of God's ultimate power to liberate and restore.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H3628 (כְּלִיא, kᵉlîyʼ) specifically denotes "a prison," a place of literal confinement derived from the root meaning "to restrain" (כלא). Though it appears only a few times in the biblical text, primarily in [[2 Kings 25:27]], [[Jeremiah 37:4]], and [[Jeremiah 52:31]], its occurrences are impactful. It describes the physical location of King Jehoiachin's long Babylonian captivity and the threatened imprisonment of the prophet Jeremiah. Theologically, H3628 serves as a potent symbol of divine judgment for national sin, the suffering and persecution faced by God's faithful prophets, and the ultimate sovereignty of God, who can orchestrate release even from the deepest confinement. It highlights the realities of human power and punishment, yet subtly points to a God who remains active and purposeful, even within the walls of a prison.
TRV