כִּילַי (ki.lay)
ki.lay
rogue
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun kiylay describes a person who is fundamentally dishonest or corrupt, often translated as "rogue," "knave," or "scoundrel." It refers to someone whose character is defined by deceit and moral failure. The word carries a strong negative judgment, painting the subject not merely as mistaken, but as actively untrustworthy and wicked in their dealings with others.
This term appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 32:6 and 59:14). In these contexts, it is used to depict a society where integrity has collapsed. The sources highlight its use alongside descriptions of foolish speech or violent injustice, suggesting that kiylay represents a specific type of person who contributes to social breakdown through their lack of honor.
Its rarity in Scripture makes each occurrence significant. Rather than describing a general sinner, it targets those who hold positions of influence or community standing yet act with duplicity. The word serves as a sharp critique of leadership and social order, emphasizing that true justice cannot exist where such rogues are permitted to operate unchecked.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kiylay describes a person whose character is defined by deceit and moral failure. It refers to someone who is fundamentally dishonest, often translated as a rogue or knave. This term carries a strong negative judgment, painting the subject not merely as mistaken, but as actively untrustworthy in their dealings with others.
In Isaiah, this word depicts a society where integrity has collapsed. It targets those who hold positions of influence yet act with duplicity. The text highlights that true justice cannot exist where such individuals are permitted to operate unchecked, contributing to social breakdown through their lack of honor.
For your faith, this serves as a reminder to value honesty above status. When leaders or community members compromise truth for personal gain, it harms the vulnerable. Trusting in God’s ultimate justice brings comfort when human integrity fails, knowing that He sees the heart and will right what is wrong.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ of/ a scoundrel1×
- and/ a scoundrel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/לְ/כִילַ֕י1×
- וְ/כֵלַ֖י1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 32:5
The fool will no longer be called noble, nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
This verse establishes a sharp contrast between true nobility and the hollow status of the rogue, showing that respect should not be given to those defined by deceit.
-
Isaiah 32:7
The ways of the scoundrel are evil. He devises wicked plans to destroy the humble with lying words, even when the needy speaks right.
Here the word describes the specific methods of the rogue, who uses lying words to destroy the humble even when the needy speak rightly, highlighting the active harm caused by such dishonesty.