Word Study · Strong's H3611 · Hebrew
כֶּלֶב
keleb
keh'-leb
“a dog”
Strong's Dictionary · 1890 · public domain
a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute
Rendered in the KJV as
dog.
- 32occurrencesin the Old Testament
- 13 of 39Old Testament bookswhere the word stands
- 26inflected formsdistinct spellings
Across 32 occurrences
The word itself
Inflected forms · 26
- הַכְּלָבִ֛ים3
- הַכְּלָבִ֑ים2
- הַכְּלָבִים֙2
- הַכְּלָבִ֖ים2
- כַכָּ֗לֶב2
- הֲכֶ֣לֶב1
- הַכֶּ֗לֶב1
- הַכֶּ֥לֶב1
- הַכֶּ֤לֶב1
- הַכֶּ֔לֶב1
- הַכְּלָבִ֔ים1
- וְהַכְּלָבִ֣ים1
and 14 more spellings in the ledger below.
How it is rendered · 13
- the dogs10
- a dog7
- the dog4
- like the dog2
- ¿ a dog1
- [are] dogs1
- [the] dogs of1
- and the dogs1
- dogs1
- dogs your1
- like a dog1
- to a dog1
The sense the word carries at each spot — how the translators read it there, not a fixed translation.
How it parses · 10
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine plural10
- noun · masculine singular7
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular4
- preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular3
- noun · masculine plural2
- preposition + noun · masculine singular2
- conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine plural1
- noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)1
- noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular1
- question particle + noun · masculine singular1
Show the grammar codes as tagged
- HTd/Ncmpa · 10
- HNcmsa · 7
- HTd/Ncmsa · 4
- HRd/Ncmsa · 3
- HNcmpa · 2
- HR/Ncmsa · 2
- HC/Td/Ncmpa · 1
- HNcmpc · 1
- HNcmpc/Sp2ms · 1
- HTi/Ncmsa · 1
All 32, in canonical order
The ledger of occurrences
Where this word lives
1 Kings carries the most and opens below; every other book is one click.
Exodus2 occurrences
- Exodus 11:7כֶּ֙לֶב֙kelevnoun · masculine singularBut among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.here: a dog
- Exodus 22:31לַכֶּ֖לֶבlakelevpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularYou are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.here: to the dog[s]
1 Samuel2 occurrences
- 1 Samuel 17:43הֲכֶ֣לֶבhakhelevquestion particle + noun · masculine singular“Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.here: ¿ a dog
- 1 Samuel 24:14כֶּ֣לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singularAgainst whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?here: a dog
2 Samuel3 occurrences
- 2 Samuel 3:8כֶּ֥לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singularAbner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!here: a dog
- 2 Samuel 9:8הַכֶּ֥לֶבhakelevthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularMephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”here: the dog
- 2 Samuel 16:9הַכֶּ֤לֶבhakelevthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularThen Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”here: the dog
1 Kings7 occurrences
- 1 Kings 14:11הַכְּלָבִ֔יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralAnyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.’ For the LORD has spoken.here: the dogs
- 1 Kings 16:4הַכְּלָבִ֑יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralAnyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.”here: the dogs
- 1 Kings 21:19הַכְּלָבִים֙hakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralTell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”here: the dogs
- 1 Kings 21:19הַכְּלָבִ֛יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralTell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”here: the dogs
- 1 Kings 21:23הַכְּלָבִ֛יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralAnd the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’here: the dogs
- 1 Kings 21:24הַכְּלָבִ֑יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralAnyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.”here: the dogs
- 1 Kings 22:38הַכְּלָבִים֙hakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralAnd the chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, according to the word that the LORD had spoken.here: the dogs
2 Kings3 occurrences
- 2 Kings 8:13הַכֶּ֔לֶבhakelevthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular“But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael. And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”here: the dog
- 2 Kings 9:10הַכְּלָבִ֛יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralAnd on the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour Jezebel, and there will be no one to bury her.’” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.here: the dogs
- 2 Kings 9:36הַכְּלָבִ֖יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralSo they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel.here: the dogs
Psalms5 occurrences
- Psalms 22:16כְּלָ֫בִ֥יםkelavimnoun · masculine pluralFor dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.here: dogs
- Psalms 22:20כֶּ֝֗לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singularDeliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.here: a dog
- Psalms 59:6כַכָּ֗לֶבkhakalevpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularThey return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.here: like the dog
- Psalms 59:14כַכָּ֗לֶבkhakalevpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularThey return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.here: like the dog
- Psalms 68:23כְּלָבֶ֑יךָkelaveikhanoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singularthat your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes— the tongues of your dogs in the same.”here: dogs your
Proverbs2 occurrences
Ecclesiastes1 occurrence
Isaiah3 occurrences
- Isaiah 56:10כְּלָבִ֣יםkelavimnoun · masculine pluralIsrael’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.here: [are] dogs
- Isaiah 56:11וְהַכְּלָבִ֣יםvehakelavimconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluralLike ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:here: and the dogs
- Isaiah 66:3כֶּ֔לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singularWhoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.here: a dog