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Hebrew verb · H3637

כָּלַם

kalamkaw-lawm'

be humiliated

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

Concordance spelling: kâlam

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H3637is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 14 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 36
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H3637

properly, to wound; but only figuratively, to taunt or insult

The King James renders it: be (make) ashamed, blush, be confounded, be put to confusion, hurt, reproach, (do, put to) shame.

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

kalam is rendered "be humiliated". It stands 38 times in the Hebrew text, across fourteen books.

  • Six of the uses stand in Psalms, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Numbers 12:14But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”
  • The Greek text spells it thirty-six different ways.

The first use

But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”

Numbers 12:14תִכָּלֵ֖ם

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

Where the word stands

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

The other 25 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

  • humiliated3
  • and may they be humiliated2
  • and you will be ashamed2
  • and be humiliated1
  • and I am humiliated1
  • and they are humiliated1
  • and they may be humiliated1
  • and they may be put to shame1
  • and to be ashamed1
  • and you have humiliated us1
  • and you will be humiliated1
  • he had put to shame him1

and 22 more, 38 uses in all

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.

כָּלָהkalahto end: finishUses208
כָּלָהkalahconsumptionUses21
כָּלָאkalato restrainUses17
כָּלִילkalilentireUses15
כָּלַלkalalto perfectUses2
כָּלֶהkalehlongingUses1
כָּלִבּוֹKalibboCalebiteUses1

The words it stands beside

All 38, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

36 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

  • וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ2
  • נִכְלָמִ֣ים2
  • בְּהַכְלִ֖ים1
  • הַכְלִים֙1
  • הִכָּלֵֽם׃1
  • הִכְלִמ֖וֹ1
  • הָכְלַ֙מְנוּ֙1
  • הֶכְלַמְנ֗וּם1
  • הַנִּכְלָמ֖וֹת1
  • הַנִּכְלָמִ֔ים1
  • וְהִכָּלֵם֙1
  • וְהִכָּלְמ֛וּ1

and 24 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • HC/VNu3mp5HC/VNu3mp
  • Hc/VNq2fs3Hc/VNq2fs
  • verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common plural3HVNp3cp
  • verb · causative (hiphil), participle · masculine singular2HVhrmsa
  • verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singular2HVNp1cs
  • verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · masculine plural2HVNrmpa
  • conjunction (“and”) + verb · causative passive (hophal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common plural1HC/VHp3cp
  • Hc/Vhw2ms/Sp1bp1Hc/Vhw2ms/Sp1bp
  • conjunction (“and”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), infinitive (“to…”)1HC/VNcc
  • conjunction (“and”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singular1HC/VNp1cs
  • conjunction (“and”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), command · 2nd person masculine plural1HC/VNv2mp
  • preposition + verb · causative (hiphil), infinitive (“to…”)1HR/Vhcc

Numbers

one use
  • But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”

    Numbers 12:14

    • תִכָּלֵ֖םtikalemverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: will she be put to shame

Judges

one use
  • So the five men departed and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living securely, like the Sidonians, tranquil and unsuspecting. There was nothing lacking in the land and no oppressive ruler. And they were far away from the Sidonians and had no alliance with anyone.

    Judges 18:7

    • מַכְלִ֨יםmakhlimverb · causative (hiphil), participle · masculine singulartagged: putting to shame

Ruth

one use
  • When Ruth got up to glean, Boaz ordered his young men, “Even if she gathers among the sheaves, do not insult her.

    Ruth 2:15

    • תַכְלִימֽוּהָ׃takhlimuhaverb · causative (hiphil), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine plural + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: you must humiliate her

1 Samuel

three uses
  • Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of the month, for he was grieved by his father’s shameful treatment of David.

    1 Samuel 20:34

    • הִכְלִמ֖וֹhikhlimoverb · causative (hiphil), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he had put to shame him
  • Now I hear that it is time for shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.

    1 Samuel 25:7

    • הֶכְלַמְנ֗וּםhekhlamnumverb · causative (hiphil), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common plural + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: we have humiliated them
  • Yet these men were very good to us. When we were in the field, we were not harassed, and nothing of ours went missing the whole time we lived among them.

    1 Samuel 25:15

    • הָכְלַ֙מְנוּ֙hakhelamnuverb · causative passive (hophal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common pluraltagged: we were humiliated

2 Samuel

two uses
  • When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

    2 Samuel 10:5

    • נִכְלָמִ֣יםnikhlamimverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: humiliated
  • So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle.

    2 Samuel 19:3

    • הַנִּכְלָמִ֔יםhanikhlamimthe definite article (“the”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: who are ashamed

1 Chronicles

one use
  • When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

    1 Chronicles 19:5

    • נִכְלָמִ֣יםnikhlamimverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: humiliated

2 Chronicles

one use
  • And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.

    2 Chronicles 30:15

    • נִכְלְמוּ֙nikhlemuverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they were ashamed

Ezra

one use
  • and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.

    Ezra 9:6

    • וְנִכְלַ֔מְתִּיvenikhlamticonjunction (“and”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: and I am humiliated

Job

two uses
  • Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

    Job 11:3

    • מַכְלִֽם׃makhlimverb · causative (hiphil), participle · masculine singulartagged: puts to shame
  • Ten times now you have reproached me; you shamelessly mistreat me.

    Job 19:3

    • תַּכְלִימ֑וּנִיtakhlimuniverb · causative (hiphil), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine plural + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: you have insulted me

Psalms

six uses
  • May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

    Psalms 35:4

    • וְיִכָּלְמוּ֮veyikalmuHC/VNu3mptagged: and they may be humiliated
  • May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

    Psalms 40:14

    • וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּveyikalmuHC/VNu3mptagged: and may they be humiliated
  • But You have rejected and humbled us; You no longer go forth with our armies.

    Psalms 44:9

    • וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּvatakhlimenuHc/Vhw2ms/Sp1bptagged: and you have humiliated us
  • May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of Hosts; may those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel.

    Psalms 69:6

    • יִכָּ֣לְמוּyikalmuverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), jussive (“let him”) · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: they be humiliated
  • May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

    Psalms 70:2

    • וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּveyikalmuHC/VNu3mptagged: and may they be humiliated
  • Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name.

    Psalms 74:21

    • נִכְלָ֑םnikhlamverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · masculine singulartagged: humiliated

Proverbs

two uses
  • do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

    Proverbs 25:8

    • בְּהַכְלִ֖יםbehakhlimpreposition + verb · causative (hiphil), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: when puts to shame
  • A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

    Proverbs 28:7

    • יַכְלִ֥יםyakhlimverb · causative (hiphil), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he shames

Isaiah

five uses
  • Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.

    Isaiah 41:11

    • וְיִכָּ֣לְמ֔וּveyikalmuHC/VNu3mptagged: and they may be put to shame
  • They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.

    Isaiah 45:16

    • נִכְלְמ֖וּnikhlemuverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they will be put to shame
  • But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated, to ages everlasting.

    Isaiah 45:17

    • תִכָּלְמ֖וּtikalmuverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: you will be put to shame
  • Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.

    Isaiah 50:7

    • נִכְלָ֑מְתִּיnikhlametiverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I have been humiliated
  • Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

    Isaiah 54:4

    • תִּכָּלְמִ֖יtikalmiverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), jussive (“let him”) · 2nd person feminine singulartagged: you be ashamed

Jeremiah

six uses
  • Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to be ashamed.

    Jeremiah 3:3

    • הִכָּלֵֽם׃hikalemverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: to be ashamed
  • Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.

    Jeremiah 6:15

    • הַכְלִים֙hakhlimverb · causative (hiphil), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: to exhibit shame
  • Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD.

    Jeremiah 8:12

    • וְהִכָּלֵם֙vehikalemconjunction (“and”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: and to be ashamed
  • The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads.

    Jeremiah 14:3

    • וְהָכְלְמ֖וּvehakhelemuconjunction (“and”) + verb · causative passive (hophal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: and they are humiliated
  • The wind will drive away all your shepherds, and your lovers will go into captivity. Then you will be ashamed and humiliated because of all your wickedness.

    Jeremiah 22:22

    • וְנִכְלַ֔מְתְּvenikhlamtHc/VNq2fstagged: and you will be humiliated
  • After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

    Jeremiah 31:19

    • נִכְלַ֔מְתִּיnikhlamtiverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I was humiliated

Ezekiel

six uses
  • Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct.

    Ezekiel 16:27

    • הַנִּכְלָמ֖וֹתhanikhlamotthe definite article (“the”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · feminine pluraltagged: who were ashamed
  • So you will bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you did to comfort them.

    Ezekiel 16:54

    • וְנִכְלַ֕מְתְּvenikhlamtHc/VNq2fstagged: and you will be ashamed
  • Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of My covenant with you.

    Ezekiel 16:61

    • וְנִכְלַמְתְּ֒venikhlamtHc/VNq2fstagged: and you will be ashamed
  • It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD—let it be known to you. Be ashamed and disgraced for your ways, O house of Israel!

    Ezekiel 36:32

    • וְהִכָּלְמ֛וּvehikalmuconjunction (“and”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), command · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: and be humiliated
  • As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. Let them measure the plan,

    Ezekiel 43:10

    • וְיִכָּלְמ֖וּveyikalmuHC/VNu3mptagged: so they may be ashamed
  • and if they are ashamed of all they have done, then make known to them the design of the temple—its arrangement and its exits and entrances—its whole design along with all its statutes, forms, and laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its complete design and all its statutes and may carry them out.

    Ezekiel 43:11

    • נִכְלְמ֞וּnikhlemuverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they are ashamed

The letters

Gematria 90· 650 mispar gadol

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 →