כֶּ֫לַח (ke.lach)
ke.lach
vigor
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 ke.lach denotes a sense of full, firm, or rugged strength. It is not merely physical power but implies a robust vitality that can withstand pressure. The word appears only twice in the entire Old Testament, both within the book of Job.
In these sparse occurrences, the term describes the sturdy constitution of animals. Specifically, it refers to the thick, strong necks of wild oxen or cattle (Job 39:10, 18). This usage highlights a natural, untamed vigor rather than cultivated human might. The imagery suggests an animal built for endurance and heavy labor.
Because the word is so rare, its meaning is anchored entirely in these concrete examples of animal strength. It serves as a vivid contrast to human frailty in Job’s dialogues, pointing to a raw, resilient energy found in the natural world that humans do not possess by default.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ke.lach describes a rugged, untamed vigor found in the natural world. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both within the book of Job. In these verses, it refers to the sturdy necks of wild oxen, highlighting a raw resilience that humans do not possess by default.
When we face seasons of weakness or uncertainty, this imagery reminds us that strength often looks different than we expect. It is not always about polished power or human effort. Sometimes, true endurance comes from a quiet, steadfast vitality that withstands pressure without breaking.
This rare word invites us to trust in a strength greater than our own. We can find comfort knowing that God sustains both the wild ox and the weary heart with a resilience that outlasts our frailty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- vigor1×
- in/ full strength1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כָּֽלַח\׃1×
- בְ/כֶ֣לַח1×
Key Verses
-
Job 5:26
You will come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.
This verse uses the concept of fullness and strength to describe a life completed in peace, suggesting that true vigor leads to a natural, timely end rather than premature failure.
-
Job 30:2
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men in whom ripe age has perished?
Here the text contrasts human frailty with the strength of others, highlighting how even physical power can seem useless when age and decay have taken hold.