What does כָּלָא (kālāʾ) mean in the Bible?
כָּלָא (kālāʾ): Restricts through both physical constraint and verbal prohibition; emphasizes active prevention or containment.
Hebrew · H3607
כָּלָא
To restrict , by act ( hold back or in ) or word ( prohibit )
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כָּלָאH3607
Pronunciationkālāʾ
What does כָּלָא (kālāʾ) mean in the Bible?
כָּלָא (kālāʾ): Restricts through both physical constraint and verbal prohibition; emphasizes active prevention or containment.
Full entry for כָּלָא (H3607) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3607?
The BSB source-word alignment has 17 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include were restrained (2), and penned up (1), had imprisoned him (1), has withheld (1), have withheld (1).
Where does כָּלָא (kālāʾ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 8:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (4), 1 Samuel (2), Genesis (2), Haggai (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itwere restrained2×Exodus 36:6, Ezekiel 31:15
and penned up1×1 Samuel 6:10
had imprisoned him1×Jeremiah 32:3
has withheld1×Haggai 1:10
have withheld1×Haggai 1:10
hold them back1×Isaiah 43:6
I am confined1×Psalms 88:8
I have kept1×Psalms 119:101
imprisoned1×Jeremiah 32:2
seal1×Psalms 40:9
stop them1×Numbers 11:28
to contain1×Ecclesiastes 8:8
was restrained1×Genesis 8:2
will withhold1×Genesis 23:6
withhold1×Psalms 40:11
you kept me1×1 Samuel 25:33
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 8:2וַיִּכָּלֵ֥אtowas restrainedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 23:6יִכְלֶ֥הtowill withholdVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 36:6וַיִּכָּלֵ֥אtowere restrainedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 11:28כְּלָאֵֽם׃tostop themVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine plural1 Samuel 6:10כָּל֥וּtoand penned upVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1 Samuel 25:33כְּלִתִ֜נִיtoyou kept meVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular | first person common singularPsalms 40:9אֶכְלָ֑אtosealVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularPsalms 40:11תִכְלָ֣אtowithholdVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularPsalms 88:8כָּ֝לֻ֗אtoI am confinedVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularPsalms 119:101כָּלִ֣אתִיtoI have keptVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 8:2
Aligned rows17
Books represented10
Genesis2Exodus1Numbers11 Samuel2Psalms4Ecclesiastes1Isaiah1Jeremiah2Ezekiel1Haggai2
Source forms
וַיִּכָּלֵ֥א2xway·yik·kā·lêGenesis 8:2, Exodus 36:6
אֶכְלָ֑א1x’eḵ·lāPsalms 40:9
וַיִּכָּלְא֖וּ1xway·yik·kā·lə·’ūEzekiel 31:15
יִכְלֶ֥ה1xyiḵ·lehGenesis 23:6
כָּ֝לֻ֗א1xkā·luPsalms 88:8
כָּלְאָ֥ה1xkā·lə·’āhHaggai 1:10
כְּלָא֔וֹ1xkə·lā·’ōwJeremiah 32:3
כָּלְא֥וּ1xkā·lə·’ūHaggai 1:10
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xGenesis 8:2, Exodus 36:6
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2x1 Samuel 6:10, Haggai 1:10
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular2xPsalms 88:8, Jeremiah 32:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xEzekiel 31:15
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xEcclesiastes 8:8
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine plural1xNumbers 11:28
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular1xPsalms 40:9
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular1xIsaiah 43:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Restricts through both physical constraint and verbal prohibition; emphasizes active prevention or containment.
Strong'sH3607
Lexical occurrences18 versesWord forms1 form10 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 8:1-5Source Gloss
to restrict , by act ( hold back or in ) or word ( prohibit )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Restricts through both physical constraint and verbal prohibition; emphasizes active prevention or containment.
to restrict, by act (hold back or in) or word (prohibit) BDB: shut up Usage: finish, forbid, keep (back), refrain, restrain, retain, shut up, be stayed, withhold.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms10
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
Perfect1Sam 6:10 · Hag 1:10 · Ps 119:1014×
ImperfectGen 23:6 · Ps 40:10 · Ps 40:123×
Participle passiveJer 32:2 · Ps 88:92×
JussiveIsa 43:61×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God actively holds back or restrains the waters of the flood
Showing 1 selected witness from 18 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
כָּלָא is a primitive root - no further derivation.