כְּלוּב (ke.luv)
ke.luv
basket
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun kelub refers to a container, typically translated as either a basket or a cage depending on its context. Its basic meaning is a woven vessel used for holding things, whether those are goods for transport or animals for confinement.
In the Old Testament, this word appears in three distinct verses. In Jeremiah 24:2 and 40:7, it describes baskets of figs, illustrating its use as a practical container for harvest produce. Conversely, Amos 5:26 uses kelub to describe an idol called "Kiyyun" that was carried in a cage or basket, highlighting its function as a portable enclosure for religious objects.
The shift from holding fruit to holding idols underscores the word’s versatility. It does not imply a specific shape but rather a constructed receptacle. Translators must look closely at the surrounding nouns to decide whether "basket" or "cage" best captures the image intended by the original author.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kelubuv describes a woven container, often translated as a basket or cage. In Scripture, it holds both the fruit of the harvest and the idols of nations. This contrast reminds us that God examines what we carry in our own lives. He sees whether our hearts hold the good gifts He has given or the empty things we have built to replace Him.
When Amos saw a basket of summer fruit, he understood it as a sign that the time for judgment had arrived. The ripeness of the figs meant the moment was here. For us, this word invites reflection on what is currently 'ripe' in our spiritual walk. Are we ready to receive God’s message, or are we holding onto old idols?
God uses ordinary objects like baskets to speak profound truths. He cares about the details of our lives and uses them to draw us closer to Himself. Let this word encourage you to examine your heart honestly, trusting that God desires to fill it with His truth rather than empty distractions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a basket of2×
- like/ a cage1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כִּ/כְלוּב֙1×
- כְּל֥וּב1×
- כְּל֣וּב1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 8:1
Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit.
This verse introduces the vision of a basket of summer fruit, setting the stage for the message of impending judgment.
-
Amos 8:2
He said, “Amos, what do you see?” I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then Yahweh said to me, “The end has come on my people Israel. I will not again pass by them any more.
Here the word is explicitly linked to the end of Israel, showing that the ripeness of the fruit signals a decisive moment in history.
-
Jeremiah 5:27
As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit. Therefore they have become great, and grew rich.
Although this verse uses the related concept of a cage for birds, it illustrates how kelubuv can represent entrapment by deceit and sin.