כַּלָּה (kal.lah)
kal.lah
daughter-in-law: bride
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 33 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun kallah refers to a woman in the pivotal transition between her family of origin and her new marital home. It carries two primary meanings: daughter-in-law, describing the relational tie to a husband’s parents, and bride, highlighting her status as a newlywed or beloved partner. This dual sense captures both the legal structure of the household and the personal intimacy of marriage.
Its etymology links it to the root for "crowning" or "completing," suggesting that the sources view the kallah as one who is adorned or brought to fulfillment. In Genesis 38, the term identifies Tamar in her role as Judah’s daughter-in-law, a position fraught with legal vulnerability. Conversely, in Song of Solomon, it describes the beloved as a bride, emphasizing beauty and joy.
Translators often use "daughter-in-law" for narrative passages like Ruth 4:15 or Leviticus 18:15, where family lineage and law are central. In poetic books like Isaiah 62:5 and Jeremiah 2:32, the word shifts to "bride," portraying Israel’s relationship with God as a marriage covenant. This usage underscores a deep, committed bond rather than a mere legal arrangement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kallah bridges two vital roles in ancient life: the daughter-in-law bound by family duty and the bride celebrated for her beauty. In narratives like Ruth, it highlights a woman’s loyalty to her mother-in-law during hard times, showing how faithfulness strengthens household bonds. This legal tie was not just about rules; it involved deep personal care and provision for the future.
In poetic books like Song of Solomon, the same word shifts to describe a beloved partner, emphasizing intimacy and joy. The Bible also uses this image to show God’s relationship with His people, portraying a covenant that is both committed and tender. Whether in family struggles or romantic celebration, kallah reminds us that relationships are meant to be honored.
For your own life, this word invites you to value the connections you build. It encourages you to treat family ties with respect and to cherish the trust placed in you by those who love you. These bonds reflect a deeper pattern of care and faithfulness found throughout Scripture.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 33 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a bride6×
- daughter-in-law/ his4×
- bride4×
- daughter-in-law/ your3×
- daughters-in-law/ her2×
- daughter-in-law/ her2×
- O bride2×
- to/ daughter-in-law/ her1×
- like <the>/ bride1×
- brides/ your1×
- and/ like <the>/ bride1×
- and/ daughters-in-law/ her1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כַּלָּת֔/וֹ3×
- כַּלָּ֑ה3×
- כַלָּ֑ה3×
- כַּלָּ֖ה2×
- כַּלָּ֔ה2×
- לְ/כַלָּתָ֗/הּ1×
- כַּלּֽוֹתֵי/כֶם֙1×
- כַּלָּתָ֑/הּ1×
- כַּלָּתֶ֔/ךָ1×
- כַּלָּת֜/וֹ1×
- כַּלָּה֒1×
- כַּלָּֽתְ/ךָ֖1×
Key Verses
-
Ruth 1:8
Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May Yahweh deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
Naomi uses this term to address Ruth, highlighting the relational duty and potential for kindness within the family structure.
-
Song of Solomon 4:9
You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck.
The speaker calls his beloved 'my bride,' using the word to express deep personal affection and romantic joy.
-
Isaiah 62:5
For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.
This verse compares God’s rejoicing over His people to a bridegroom’s joy, linking the word to divine covenant love.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word kallah mean?
How is kallah different from other words for wife?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (33 verses across 11 books)
Genesis 4 verses
Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife.…
Genesis 38:11Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown…
Genesis 38:16He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his…
Genesis 38:24About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold,…