Original Word: כְּלִי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kliy
Pronunciation: keh-LEE
Phonetic Spelling: (kel-ee')
Definition: Vessel, implement, utensil, article, equipment, tool, weapon
Meaning: something prepared, any apparatus

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb כָּלָה (kalah), meaning "to complete" or "to finish."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G4632 (skeuos): Vessel, implement, equipment

- G3696 (hoplon): Tool, implement, weapon

Usage: The Hebrew word "keli" is a versatile term used to describe various objects, ranging from everyday utensils and tools to weapons and sacred articles. It signifies items that are crafted for specific purposes, whether for domestic, military, or religious use. The term can refer to simple household items, such as pots and pans, or more complex instruments, like musical instruments or weapons of war.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite culture, "keli" encompassed a wide array of objects essential for daily life, worship, and warfare. The Israelites, like other ancient Near Eastern peoples, relied on these implements for survival, religious practices, and defense. The construction and use of these items were often guided by specific instructions, especially those related to the tabernacle and temple, highlighting their importance in both secular and sacred contexts.

Word Origin
from kalah
Definition
an article, utensil, vessel
NASB Translation
armor (24), armory* (1), article (10), articles (30), bag (2), baggage (12), bags (2), basket (1), bowls* (1), cargo (1), clothing (1), earthenware* (1), equipment (6), everything* (1), furnishings (10), furniture (4), gear (1), goods (6), implements (2), instruments (14), items (1), jar (2), jars (1), jars* (1), jewels (3), jewels* (1), object (3), pots (1), pottery (1), sack (1), something* (1), thing (5), things (3), tool (1), utensils (66), vessel (28), vessels (37), vessels of kinds (1), water (1), weapon (5), weapons (22), weapons of and equipment (1), yokes (1).

כְּלִי₃₂₄ noun masculine^{Hosea 8:8} article, utensil, vessel (Late Hebrew id.; according to Thes from כלה = conficere, like German Zeug fromzeugen; properly therefore anything finished, made, produced; according to Ba^{ZMG 1887, 605} from meaning enclose, contain; he finds plural of כְּלִי in כלאי M-I:23 (compare כלאים)) — ׳כ absolute Jeremiah 18:4 +; הַכֶּ֑לִי 1 Samuel 17:49; 1 Samuel 21:6; construct כְּלִי Hosea 13:15 +; suffix כֶּלְיְךָ Deuteronomy 23:25; plural כֵּלִים Exodus 22:6 +; construct כְּלֵי Genesis 24:53 +; suffix כֵּלַי Genesis 31:37 2t.; כֵּלֶיךָ Genesis 27:3; Ezekiel 12:4; כֵּלֵינוּ 1 Samuel 9:7; כְּלֵיכֶם Genesis 43:11 +; כְּלֵיהֶם Joshua 7:11 +; —

1 in General, article, object, made of any material, thing, especially thing of value זָהָב ׳כ 1 Samuel 6:8,15 (images of mice, etc.), personal or household property Genesis 31:37 (twice in verse) (E; v^b כֹּל כְּלֵיבֵֿיתֶ֑ךָ), Genesis 45:20 (E), כְּלֵי בֵיתֿ טוֺבִיָּהוּ Nehemiah 13:18; Joshua 7:11 (JE), כֶּסֶף אוֺ כֵּלִים Exodus 22:6 (E) money or articles (property), כְּלִימָּֿ֑ז Job 28:17 (apparently collective); things carried, plural = stuff, load, baggage (impedimenta) 1 Samuel 17:22 (twice in verse), apparently = baggage-train 1 Samuel 10:22; 1 Samuel 25:13; 1 Samuel 30:24; Isaiah 10:28; (compare Genesis 31:37 above); כְּלֵי גוֺלָה things of exile, i.e. the most necessary articles, such as exiles may take, Jeremiah 46:19; Ezekiel 12:3,4b; Ezekiel 12:7b, compare Ezekiel 12:4a, Ezekiel 12:7a; = ornaments or jewels Genesis 24:53 (J; זָהָב ׳כֶסֶף וכ ׳כ, probably = ornaments), זהב ׳כסף וכ ׳כ also Exodus 3:22; Exodus 11:2; Exodus 12:35 (all E); Isaiah 61:10; Exodus 35:22; Numbers 31:50, כְּלֵי מַעֲשֶׂה Numbers 31:51 (all P), כְּלִי יְקָר Proverbs 20:15 (in figurative), תִפְאַרְתֵּךְ ׳כ Ezekiel 16:17,39; Ezekiel 23:26 ( all in figure); כְּלֵי נְחשֶׁת as merchandise Ezekiel 27:13; כֵּלִים as cargo of ship Jonah 1:5; כסף וזהב וּכְלֵי נְחשֶׁת וּבַרְזֶל Joshua 6:19,24 (J E; spoil of war); of any household article (on which one sits) Leviticus 15:4,6,22,23,26 (all P); of skin Numbers 31:20, or wood Numbers 31:20 (P); כְּלִי חֶמְדָּה Nahum 2:10 precious thing, so Hosea 13:15 (figurative), Jeremiah 25:34 (simile), 2 Chronicles 32:27; Daniel 11:8, כלי חֲמֻדוֺת2Chronicles 20:25 (apparently = ornaments); also כְּלִי אֵיןחֵֿפֶץ בּוֺ Jeremiah 22:28 (figurative of Coniah, "" עֶצֶב נִבְזֶה נָפוּץ), Hosea 8:8 (simile; compare Jeremiah 48:38 below); specifically of garments (one's 'things'): כְּלִיגֶֿבֶר Deuteronomy 22:5 ("" שִׂמְלַת אִשָּׁה), so כְּלִיֿ עוֺר Leviticus 13:49 (compare מְלֶאכֶת עוֺר Leviticus 13:48), Leviticus 13:52; Leviticus 13:53; Leviticus 13:57; Leviticus 13:58; Leviticus 13:59 (all P).

2 utensil, implement, apparatus:

a. implement of hunting and (especially) war, = weapon Genesis 27:3 (J), 1 Samuel 20:40; 1 Samuel 21:9 (גַּם חַרְבִּי וְגַם כֵּלַי), 1 Kings 11:8 2Chronicles 23:7; 1 Kings 11:11; Isaiah 54:16,17; Jeremiah 22:7; probably also Numbers 35:32, כְּלִי בַּרְזֶל Numbers 35:16, כְּלִי עֵץיָֿד Numbers 35:18 (all P); כְּלֵי חָמָם Genesis 49:5 (poem); כְּלִי מַשְׁחֵתוֺ Ezekiel 9:1, מַמָּצוֺ ׳כ Ezekiel 9:2; figurative of God's weapons כְּלֵימָֿוֶת Psalm 7:14 ("" חִצָּיו); זַעְמוֺ ׳כ Isaiah 13:5; Jeremiah 50:25; of entire equipment of warrior, armour or armament offensive and defensive 1 Samuel 17:54 (compare 1 Samuel 17:5ff.), 1 Samuel 21:6 (twice in verse) (see Dr^{Sm 139. 293}), 1 Samuel 31:9,10 = 1 Chronicles 10:9,10; hence נשֵֹׁא כֵלִים (כֵּלָיוׅ armour#NAME?weapon-bearer Judges 9:54; 1 Samuel 14:1,6,7,12 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 14:13 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 14:14,17; 1 Samuel 16:21; 1 Samuel 31:4 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 31:5,6 = 1 Chronicles 10:4 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 10:5, 2 Samuel 18:15; 2 Samuel 23:37 = 1 Chronicles 11:39; figurative וְכֵלַי כֵּלָיו רָעִים Isaiah 32:7 and a knave, his weapons (i.e. devices, Che 'machinations') are evil; more precisely כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה Judges 18:11,16,17; 1 Samuel 8:12; 2 Samuel 1:27; Deuteronomy 1:41; Jeremiah 21:4; Jeremiah 50:20 (figurative), Ezekiel 32:27; 1 Chronicles 12:34 (van d. H v.1 Chronicles 12:33); כְּלֵי צְבָא מִלְחָמָה 1 Chronicles 12:38 (van d. H v.1 Chronicles 12:37); כְּלֵי קְרָב Ecclesiastes 9:18; בֵּית כֵּלָיו 2 Kings 20:13 = Isaiah 39:2 is perhaps armoury; ׳כ Ezekiel 40:42 is sacrificial knife.

b. instrument of music כְּלֵי (הַ)שִּׁיר Amos 6:5; 1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 16:42; 2Chronicles 5:13; 7:6; 23:13; 34:12; כְּלֵי דָוִיד2Chronicles 29:26,27, שִֿׁיר דָּוִיד׳כ Nehemiah 12:36; כְּלִי נֶבֶל Psalm 71:22, נְבָלִים ׳כ 1 Chronicles 16:5; כֵּלִים alone 1 Chronicles 23:5, compare Numbers 31:6 (P; כְּלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ); — for בִּכְלֵי עֹז (ליהוהׅ2Chronicles 30:21 read בְּכָלעֹֿז (Kau^AT, compare Be).

c. implement of labour, tool בַרְזֶל ׳כ 1 Kings 6:7, or of one's calling, pursuit קַחלְֿךָ כְּלִי רֹעֶה אֱוִלִי Zechariah 11:15 (otherwise 1 Samuel 17:40, see 3).

d. equipment of oxen (yoke, etc.) 2 Samuel 24:22; 1 Kings 19:21.

e. כְּלֵי רִכְכּוֺ 1 Samuel 8:22 his chariot-equipments.

f. as General term for utensils and furniture of Solomon's palace 1 Kings 10:21 2Chronicles 9:20; especially (very often) of tabernacle Exodus 25:9,39; Exodus 27:3 #NAME? 1 Kings 7:45,47,48; 2 Kings 12:14 +; of both palace and temple Jeremiah 27:18,19,21; combinations are כְּלֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן Exodus 27:19, הַמִּזְבֵּחַ ׳כ Exodus 38:3, יהוה ׳כ Isaiah 52:11, ׳בֵית י ׳כ Jeremiah 27:16; Jeremiah 28:3,6; Ezra 1:7, ׳כְּלֵי חֶמְדַּת בֵּית י2Chronicles 36:10, בֵית ׳כ אֱלֹהִים2Chronicles 28:24 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 36:18; Nehemiah 13:9; Daniel 1:2, הַמִּקְדָּשׁ ׳כ Nehemiah 10:40; הַשָּׁרֵת ׳כ Numbers 4:12 utensil of ministry, עֲבֹדָתָם ׳כ Numbers 4:26; 1 Chronicles 9:28; 1 Chronicles 28:14 (twice in verse), ׳עֲבוֺדַת בֵּית י ׳כ 1 Chronicles 28:13, מִשְׁמֶרֶת מַשָּׂאָם ׳כ Numbers 4:32; also הַקֹּדֶשׁ ׳כ 1 Kings 8:4; 1 Chronicles 9:29; of appliances of idol-workship 2 Kings 23:4.

3 vessel, receptacle, of various materials and for various purposes Genesis 43:11 (J); 1 Samuel 9:7; Deuteronomy 23:25; = sack Genesis 42:25 (E; שַׂק in "" clause, compare אַמְתַּחַת Genesis 42:27); כְּלִי הָרֹעִים shepherd's bag or wallet 1 Samuel 17:40, compare 1 Samuel 17:49; חֶרֶשׂ ׳כ Jeremiah 32:14 is earthen-ware receptacle for deed of sale; for liquids 1 Kings 17:10; 2 Kings 4:3 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 4:4,6 (3 t. in verse), מַשְׁקֶה ׳כ 1 Kings 10:21 2Chronicles 9:20, כְּלֵי שַׁמְנָהּ Numbers 4:9, compare Numbers 4:10; וְלֹא הוּרַק מִכְּלִי אֶלכֶּֿ֑לִי Jeremiah 48:11 (figurative), compare Jeremiah 48:12 ("" נְבָלִים); for cooking Leviticus 6:21 (חֶרֶשׂ ׳כ), Leviticus 6:21 (נְחשֶׁת ׳כ); see also (הַ)יּוֺצֵר 2 Samuel 17:28; Jeremiah 19:11 (simile), Psalm 2:9 (simile), לַצֹּרֵף כֶּ֑לִי Proverbs 25:4; ׳כ פָתוּחַ Numbers 19:15 an open (uncovered) vessel. טָהוֺר ׳כ Isaiah 66:20 a clean vessel; figurative of Eliakim's relatives כְּלֵי הַקָּטָ֑ן מִכְּלֵי הָאַגָּנוֺת וְעַד כָּלכְּֿלֵי הַנְּבָלִים Isaiah 22:24 the vessels of smallness (Da^{Synt. § 32, R. 5}), from the basin-vessels to all the pitcher-vessels.

4 specifically כְּלֵיגֹֿמֶא Isaiah 18:2 vessels (boats) of paper-reed.

II. כלה (√ of following; meaning unknown).

armour bearer, artillery, bag, carriage, furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel,

From kalah; something prepared, i.e. Any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon) -- armour ((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.

see HEBREW kalah

בִּכְלִ֣י בִּכְלִ֤י בִּכְלִ֥י בִּכְלִ֨י בִּכְלִי־ בִּכְלֵ֣י בִּכְלֵ֤י בִּכְלֵֽי־ בִּכְלֵי־ בִּכְלֵיכֶ֔ם בִכְלִי־ בִכְלֵיהֶֽם׃ בַּכְּלִ֖י בַּכֵּלִ֕ים בַּכֶּֽלִי׃ בכלי בכלי־ בכלי׃ בכליהם׃ בכליכם בכלים הַ֠כֵּלִים הַכְּלִ֔י הַכְּלִ֗י הַכְּלִ֛י הַכְּלִי֙ הַכֵּלִ֑ים הַכֵּלִ֔ים הַכֵּלִ֖ים הַכֵּלִ֗ים הַכֵּלִ֜ים הַכֵּלִ֣ים הַכֵּלִ֣ים ׀ הַכֵּלִ֥ים הַכֵּלִֽים׃ הַכֵּלִים֙ הַכֶּ֗לִי הכלי הכלים הכלים׃ וְהַכֵּלִ֑ים וְהַכֵּלִ֖ים וְהַכֵּלִ֗ים וְהַכֵּלִ֜ים וְכֵלִ֔ים וְכֵלִ֖ים וְכֵלִֽים׃ וְכֵלָ֑יו וְכֵלָ֣יו וּבְכֵלָֽיו׃ וּבִכְלִ֤י וּבִכְלֵ֣י וּבִכְלֵי־ וּכְלִ֣י וּכְלִ֥י וּכְלִי־ וּכְלֵ֖י וּכְלֵ֣י וּכְלֵ֤י וּכְלֵ֥י וּכְלֵ֨י וּכְלֵֽי־ וּכְלֵי֙ וּכְלֵי־ וּמִכְּלֵי֙ ובכלי ובכלי־ ובכליו׃ והכלים וכלי וכלי־ וכליו וכלים וכלים׃ ומכלי כְּלִ֔י כְּלִ֕י כְּלִ֖י כְּלִ֞י כְּלִ֣י כְּלִ֤י כְּלִ֥י כְּלִי־ כְּלֵ֖י כְּלֵ֛י כְּלֵ֞י כְּלֵ֣י כְּלֵ֤י כְּלֵ֥י כְּלֵ֧י כְּלֵ֨י כְּלֵֽי־ כְּלֵי֙ כְּלֵי־ כְּלֵיהֶ֔ם כְּלֵיהֶ֛ם כְּלֵיהֶֽם׃ כְּלֵיהֶם֮ כְּלֵיכֶ֑ם כְלִ֖י כְלִֽי־ כְלִי־ כְלֵ֧י כְלֵֽי־ כְלֵיהֶם֙ כִּכְלִ֖י כִּכְלִ֛י כִּכְלִ֥י כִּכְלֵ֤י כִּכְלֵ֥י כֵּ֠לַי כֵּלִ֥ים כֵּלִים֙ כֵּלֶ֑יהָ כֵּלֶ֔יהָ כֵּלֶ֖יהָ כֵּלֶֽיהָ׃ כֵּלַ֗י כֵּלַי֙ כֵּלָ֑יו כֵּלָ֔יו כֵּלָ֖יו כֵּלָ֗יו כֵּלָ֞יו כֵּלָ֣יו כֵּלָֽיו׃ כֵּלָיו֮ כֵלִ֤ים כֵלִֽים׃ כֵלִים֙ כֵלֶ֔יךָ כֵלֶ֜יךָ כֵלֶֽיהָ׃ כֵלָ֔יו כֵלָ֖יו כֵלָ֗יו כֵלָ֜יו כֵלָֽיו׃ כֵלָיו֙ כֶּ֑לִי כֶּ֔לִי כֶּֽלִי׃ כֶּלְיְךָ֖ ככלי כלי כלי־ כלי׃ כליה כליה׃ כליהם כליהם׃ כליו כליו׃ כליך כליכם כלים כלים׃ מִכְּלִי֙ מִכְּלֵ֣י מִכְּלֵי֙ מִכֵּלִ֣ים מִכֵּלֵ֔ינוּ מכלי מכלים מכלינו bak·ke·lî bak·kə·lî bak·kê·lîm bakKeli bakkelî bakkəlî bakkeLim bakkêlîm bichlei bichleiChem bichLi biḵ·lê biḵ·lê- ḇiḵ·lê·hem biḵ·lê·ḵem biḵ·lî biḵ·lî- ḇiḵ·lî- biḵlê biḵlê- ḇiḵlêhem biḵlêḵem biḵlî biḵlî- ḇiḵlî- cheLav chelei cheLeicha cheLeiha cheleiHem cheli cheLim hak·ke·lî hak·kə·lî hak·kê·lîm hakkeLi hakkelî hakkəlî hakkeLim hakkêlîm kê·lāw ḵê·lāw kê·lay kə·lê ḵə·lê kə·lê- ḵə·lê- kê·le·hā ḵê·le·hā kə·lê·hem ḵə·lê·hem ḵê·le·ḵā kə·lê·ḵem ke·lî kə·lî ḵə·lî kə·lî- ḵə·lî- kê·lîm ḵê·lîm kel·yə·ḵā keLai keLav kêlāw ḵêlāw kêlay kəlê ḵəlê kəlê- ḵəlê- kêlehā ḵêlehā kəlêhem ḵəlêhem kelei keleiChem keLeiha keleiHem ḵêleḵā kəlêḵem keLi kelî kəlî ḵəlî kəlî- ḵəlî- keLim kêlîm ḵêlîm kelyeCha kelyəḵā kichLei kichLi kiḵ·lê kiḵ·lî kiḵlê kiḵlî mik·kə·lê mik·kê·lê·nū mik·kə·lî mik·kê·lîm mikkəlê mikkeLei mikkeLeinu mikkêlênū mikkeLi mikkəlî mikkeLim mikkêlîm ū·ḇə·ḵê·lāw ū·ḇiḵ·lê ū·ḇiḵ·lê- ū·ḇiḵ·lî ū·ḵə·lê ū·ḵə·lê- ū·ḵə·lî ū·ḵə·lî- ū·mik·kə·lê ūḇəḵêlāw ūḇiḵlê ūḇiḵlê- ūḇiḵlî ucheLei ucheli ūḵəlê ūḵəlê- ūḵəlî ūḵəlî- ūmikkəlê umikkeLei uvecheLav uvichLei uvichLi vecheLav vecheLim vehakkeLim vichleiHem vichli wə·hak·kê·lîm wə·ḵê·lāw wə·ḵê·lîm wəhakkêlîm wəḵêlāw wəḵêlîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts