כִּלְאַיִם (kil.a.yim)
kil.a.yim
mixture
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 kil’ayim refers to a mixture or, more specifically, the blending of two distinct kinds. Its form suggests a dual nature, pointing directly to the concept of combining things that are meant to remain separate. In the biblical text, this word appears exclusively in legal codes within Leviticus and Deuteronomy, where it serves as the technical term for prohibited combinations.
The sources highlight three specific areas where this mixing is forbidden: agriculture, animal husbandry, and clothing. The law prohibits sowing a vineyard with different seeds (Deuteronomy 22:9), breeding cattle of different species (Leviticus 19:19), and wearing garments woven from two distinct materials like wool and linen (Leviticus 19:19). These restrictions create clear boundaries, ensuring that the natural categories established in creation are not blurred by human intervention.
Translators typically render kil’ayim as "mixture" or "mixed kinds," though the English word "hybrid" captures the agricultural sense well. The term does not appear outside these specific prohibitions, giving it a narrow but precise legal weight. It marks a boundary between what is permitted and what is forbidden, emphasizing order and distinction in daily life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kil’ayim points to a mixture of distinct kinds that are meant to remain separate. In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, it marks clear boundaries for agriculture, animal husbandry, and clothing. These laws were not arbitrary rules but reminders of the order established at creation. By keeping seeds, animals, and fabrics distinct, the people acknowledged that God’s design has specific purposes for each kind.
For your faith today, this concept invites you to value clarity and integrity in your own life. Just as the ancient Israelites were called to maintain distinctions in their fields and garments, you are encouraged to keep your heart and actions aligned with truth. When we avoid blending conflicting values or compromising our convictions, we reflect a respect for the order God has set.
Consider how this applies to your daily choices. Whether in work, relationships, or worship, maintaining clear boundaries helps you stay focused on what is good and true. This word reminds us that holiness often involves keeping things distinct, honoring the way God created the world with purpose and precision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- two kinds4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כִּלְאָ֑יִם2×
- כִּלְאַ֙יִם֙1×
- כִּלְאַ֔יִם1×
Key Verses
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Leviticus 19:19
“‘You shall keep my statutes. “‘You shall not cross-breed different kinds of animals. “‘You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; “‘Don’t wear a garment made of two kinds of material.
This verse lists three specific prohibitions—cross-breeding animals, sowing mixed seeds, and wearing mixed fabrics—showing how kil’ayim applies to multiple areas of daily life.
-
Deuteronomy 22:9
You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest all the fruit be defiled, the seed which you have sown, and the increase of the vineyard.
Here the term explains why mixing seeds in a vineyard is forbidden, as it would defile both the sown seed and the vine’s fruit, highlighting the consequences of blurring created boundaries.