כֶּ֫לַח (ke.lach)
ke.lach
Calah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Kelah refers to an ancient city in Assyria, identified by some scholars with the archaeological site of Nimrud. The name itself carries the meaning "vigour" or "strength," a fitting title for a major urban center that served as a significant political and military hub in the region.
This location appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Genesis. It is mentioned in the genealogical records of Shem (Genesis 10:11) and again in the narrative of Jonah’s journey to Nineveh (Jonah 3:3). In the latter instance, Jonah travels through Calah before reaching his ultimate destination, highlighting its status as a key city along the Tigris River during that historical period.
While the text does not elaborate on the daily life or specific events within the city, its inclusion in these passages underscores its importance in the ancient Near Eastern landscape. The brevity of its biblical mentions contrasts with its likely prominence in Assyrian history, leaving readers to infer its power from its name and strategic location.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Calah, meaning strength or vigour, reminds us that human power is often built on solid foundations of industry and ambition. In Genesis, it stands as a testament to the rapid expansion of civilization in the ancient Near East. For believers today, this city serves as a quiet backdrop to God’s larger story, showing how nations rise and fall while His purposes continue.
When Jonah passes through Calah on his way to Nineveh, we see that even cities known for their might are within reach of divine mercy. The journey highlights that no place is too far or too strong to escape God’s call. We can find comfort in knowing that history is not just about human achievement, but about God’s faithful movement through time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Calah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כָּֽלַח\׃1×
- כָּ֑לַח1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 10:11
Out of that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,
This verse establishes Calah as part of Nimrod’s empire, showing how human ambition and city-building began to spread across the earth after the flood.