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Hebrew noun (masculine) · H3611

כֶּלֶב

kelebkeh'-leb

dog

32 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H3611is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 13 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 26
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H3611

a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute

The King James renders it: dog.

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

keleb is rendered "dog". It stands 32 times in the Hebrew text, across thirteen books.

  • Seven of the uses stand in 1 Kings, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Exodus 11:7But 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.
  • The Greek text spells it twenty-six different ways.

The first use

But 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.

Exodus 11:7כֶּ֙לֶב֙

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

The word stands in thirteen of the 39 Old Testament books.

The other 26 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • the dogs10
  • a dog7
  • the dog4
  • dogs2
  • like the dog2
  • ¿ a dog1
  • and the dogs1
  • dogs of1
  • dogs your1
  • like a dog1
  • to a dog1
  • to the dog1

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

כֶּלֶאkeleprisonUses10
כֶּלַחkelachvigorUses2

All 32, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

26 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • הַכְּלָבִ֛ים3
  • הַכְּלָבִ֑ים2
  • הַכְּלָבִים֙2
  • הַכְּלָבִ֖ים2
  • כַכָּ֗לֶב2
  • הֲכֶ֣לֶב1
  • הַכֶּ֗לֶב1
  • הַכֶּ֥לֶב1
  • הַכֶּ֤לֶב1
  • הַכֶּ֔לֶב1
  • הַכְּלָבִ֔ים1
  • וְהַכְּלָבִ֣ים1

and 14 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine plural10HTd/Ncmpa
  • noun · masculine singular7HNcmsa
  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular4HTd/Ncmsa
  • preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular3HRd/Ncmsa
  • noun · masculine plural2HNcmpa
  • preposition + noun · masculine singular2HR/Ncmsa
  • conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine plural1HC/Td/Ncmpa
  • noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)1HNcmpc
  • noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular1HNcmpc/Sp2ms
  • question particle + noun · masculine singular1HTi/Ncmsa

Exodus

two uses
  • But 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.

    Exodus 11:7

    • כֶּ֙לֶב֙kelevnoun · masculine singulartagged: a dog
  • You 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.

    Exodus 22:31

    • לַכֶּ֖לֶבlakelevpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: to the dog

Deuteronomy

one use
  • You must not bring the wages of a prostitute, whether female or male, into the house of the LORD your God to fulfill any vow, because both are detestable to the LORD your God.

    Deuteronomy 23:18

    • כֶּ֗לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singulartagged: a dog

Judges

one use
  • So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.”

    Judges 7:5

    • הַכֶּ֗לֶבhakelevthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the dog

1 Samuel

two uses
  • “Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

    1 Samuel 17:43

    • הֲכֶ֣לֶבhakhelevquestion particle + noun · masculine singulartagged: ¿ a dog
  • Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?

    1 Samuel 24:14

    • כֶּ֣לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singulartagged: a dog

2 Samuel

three uses
  • Abner 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!

    2 Samuel 3:8

    • כֶּ֥לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singulartagged: a dog
  • Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”

    2 Samuel 9:8

    • הַכֶּ֥לֶבhakelevthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the dog
  • Then 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!”

    2 Samuel 16:9

    • הַכֶּ֤לֶבhakelevthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the dog

1 Kings

seven uses
  • Anyone 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.

    1 Kings 14:11

    • הַכְּלָבִ֔יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs
  • Anyone 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.”

    1 Kings 16:4

    • הַכְּלָבִ֑יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs
  • Tell 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!’”

    1 Kings 21:19

    • הַכְּלָבִים֙hakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs
    • הַכְּלָבִ֛יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs
  • And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’

    1 Kings 21:23

    • הַכְּלָבִ֛יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs
  • Anyone 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.”

    1 Kings 21:24

    • הַכְּלָבִ֑יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs
  • And 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.

    1 Kings 22:38

    • הַכְּלָבִים֙hakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs

2 Kings

three uses
  • “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.”

    2 Kings 8:13

    • הַכֶּ֔לֶבhakelevthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the dog
  • And 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.

    2 Kings 9:10

    • הַכְּלָבִ֛יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs
  • So 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.

    2 Kings 9:36

    • הַכְּלָבִ֖יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs

Job

one use
  • “But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to entrust with my sheep dogs.

    Job 30:1

    • כַּלְבֵ֥יkalveinoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: dogs of

Psalms

five uses
  • For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.

    Psalms 22:16

    • כְּלָ֫בִ֥יםkelavimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: dogs
  • Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.

    Psalms 22:20

    • כֶּ֝֗לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singulartagged: a dog
  • They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

    Psalms 59:6

    • כַכָּ֗לֶבkhakalevpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: like the dog
  • They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

    Psalms 59:14

    • כַכָּ֗לֶבkhakalevpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: like the dog
  • that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes— the tongues of your dogs in the same.”

    Psalms 68:23

    • כְּלָבֶ֑יךָkelaveikhanoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: dogs your

Proverbs

two uses
  • As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

    Proverbs 26:11

    • כְּ֭כֶלֶבkekhelevpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a dog
  • Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

    Proverbs 26:17

    • כָ֑לֶבkhalevnoun · masculine singulartagged: a dog

Ecclesiastes

one use
  • There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

    Ecclesiastes 9:4

    • לְכֶ֤לֶבlekhelevpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: to a dog

Isaiah

three uses
  • Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.

    Isaiah 56:10

    • כְּלָבִ֣יםkelavimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: dogs
  • Like 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:

    Isaiah 56:11

    • וְהַכְּלָבִ֣יםvehakelavimconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and the dogs
  • Whoever 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.

    Isaiah 66:3

    • כֶּ֔לֶבkelevnoun · masculine singulartagged: a dog

Jeremiah

one use
  • I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.

    Jeremiah 15:3

    • הַכְּלָבִ֖יםhakelavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the dogs

The letters

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →