כָּלָה (ka.lah)
ka.lah
to end: finish
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 174 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb kâlâh describes the state of being complete, finished, or brought to an end. It covers a wide range of situations where something reaches its conclusion, whether that is a task being accomplished, a period of time passing, or resources being used up. In Genesis 2:1-2, it marks the moment God finished His creative work and rested, showing the word’s positive sense of completion.
However, kâlâh also carries a darker weight when applied to people or nations. It can mean to perish, vanish, or be destroyed, as seen in the warnings of judgment against Israel in Hosea 9:7. This dual nature reflects how the same concept of "ending" applies both to the successful completion of a good work and the finality of destruction.
The word appears frequently in Chronicles and Psalms, often describing the end of an era or the fulfillment of a prophecy. Its root suggests a sense of wholeness or totality, implying that nothing remains when kâlâh is fully realized. Translators render it as "finish," "complete," "end," or "destroy" depending on context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kâlâh captures the quiet satisfaction of a task brought to its proper conclusion. In Genesis 2, it marks the moment God finished His creative work and rested. This ending was not a loss but a completion, showing that rest is built into the rhythm of creation. When we see our own efforts reach a natural close, there is peace in knowing that finishing well matters to God.
Yet this word also carries weight when describing endings that feel abrupt or final. It appears in contexts where resources run out or judgments are executed. These moments remind us that human control has limits. We do not carry the burden of ensuring every outcome; we trust the One who holds the beginning and the end.
Whether you are completing a long project or facing a season that feels like it is closing, this word invites you to look for the wholeness in the finish. It encourages faithfulness in the process, trusting that God’s purposes are not thwarted by transitions. There is hope in every ending because God remains faithful to His promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 174 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he finished11×
- when/ finished/ he7×
- when/ had finished5×
- they will come to an end4×
- he had finished4×
- and/ just as/ finished4×
- you will finish3×
- they finished3×
- make an end3×
- it has been determined3×
- and/ they finished3×
- when/ finishing/ you2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יְכַ֣ל6×
- כְּ/כַלּ֣וֹת5×
- כָּ֣לָה4×
- לִ/כְל֥וֹת3×
- כָּלָ֣ה3×
- כְּ/כַלֹּת/וֹ֙3×
- תְכַלֶּ֞ה2×
- כָּלָ֥ה2×
- כָּל֣וּ2×
- כָּל֖וּ2×
- כַּלּוֹתָֽ/ם\׃2×
- כִּלּֽוּ\׃\ \ס2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 2:1
The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished.
This verse uses kâlâh to describe the perfect completion of creation, establishing a pattern where work ends in rest and blessing.
-
Genesis 49:33
When Jacob finished charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered to his people.
Here the word marks Jacob’s final act of charging his sons before his death, highlighting the transition from one generation to the next.
-
Exodus 31:18
When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.
The term signifies the conclusion of God’s direct communication with Moses on Sinai, leading to the giving of the covenant tablets.
-
Genesis 41:53
The seven years of plenty, that were in the land of Egypt, came to an end.
It describes the natural end of a period of plenty, setting the stage for the coming famine and Joseph’s rise to power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kâlâh mean in the Bible?
Is kâlâh always negative?
How is kâlâh different from other words for 'end'?
Every Occurrence (174 verses across 27 books)
Genesis 16 verses
The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished.
Genesis 2:2On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he…
Genesis 6:16You shall make a roof in the ship, and you shall finish it to a cubit upward. You shall set the door of the ship in its…
Genesis 17:22When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
Genesis 18:33Yahweh went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Genesis 21:15The water in the container was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs.
Genesis 24:15Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of…
Genesis 24:19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished…
Genesis 24:22As the camels had finished drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her…
Genesis 24:45Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to…
Genesis 27:30As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau…
Genesis 41:30Seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will…
Genesis 41:53The seven years of plenty, that were in the land of Egypt, came to an end.
Genesis 43:2When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a…
Genesis 44:12He searched, beginning with the oldest, and ending at the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
Genesis 49:33When Jacob finished charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered…