כְּלוּלָה (ke.lu.lah)
ke.lu.lah
betrothal
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun kelulah refers to the formal stage of betrothal in ancient Israel, a binding commitment that preceded the actual marriage ceremony. It is not merely an engagement in the modern sense of casual dating; it was a legal contract that established the couple as husband and wife, even before they lived together or consummated the union.
This specific word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Jeremiah 2:2. There, God recalls the devotion of Israel when they followed Him through the wilderness, describing that early period as the time of their kelulah. The prophet uses this marital imagery to highlight a covenant relationship that was once faithful but has since been broken by idolatry.
Because it is rare, the word carries significant weight in its single occurrence. It underscores the seriousness of the bond between God and His people, framing their history not just as a political alliance, but as an intimate, legally binding marriage covenant that demands exclusive loyalty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kelulah describes a formal betrothal, a binding commitment that preceded the actual marriage ceremony in ancient Israel. It was not merely an engagement in the modern sense of casual dating; it was a legal contract that established the couple as husband and wife, even before they lived together or consummated the union.
In Jeremiah 2:2, God uses this imagery to recall Israel’s early devotion. He remembers their love as a bride following Him through the wilderness. This metaphor highlights the seriousness of the bond between God and His people, framing their history as an intimate, legally binding marriage covenant that demands exclusive loyalty.
For your faith, this reminds us that our relationship with God is rooted in a profound, committed love. Just as Israel was called to faithful devotion in their youth, we are invited to respond to God’s steadfast kindness with our whole hearts. This covenantal love remains the foundation of our spiritual life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- betrothal<s>/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִ/ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 2:2
“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
This is the only occurrence of kelulah in the Hebrew Bible, where God uses the term to describe Israel's initial faithful devotion as a bride following Him through the wilderness.