כָּלִיל (ka.lil)
ka.lil
entire
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word kâlîl describes something that is complete, entire, or perfect in its wholeness. It functions as an adjective for things that lack nothing, and as a noun to denote the totality of a subject. In the Old Testament, this term carries significant weight when describing offerings, specifically referring to sacrifices that are without blemish or defect.
Its most notable usage appears in the context of the "whole burnt offering," known as the olâh. This connection is evident in passages like Leviticus 1:3 and Exodus 20:24, where the requirement for an unblemished animal underscores the idea of total dedication to God. The word emphasizes that nothing is withheld; the entire value or substance is presented.
This concept of completeness extends beyond ritual objects. In Lamentations, the term highlights the totality of destruction or loss, reinforcing the gravity of the situation by pointing to what has been entirely consumed. By focusing on wholeness rather than partiality, kâlîl communicates a standard of integrity and fullness that is central to biblical descriptions of holy things.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Scripture speaks of something being kâlîl, it points to a wholeness that lacks nothing. In the ancient world, this meant an offering was without defect, representing total dedication rather than a partial gift. For your faith, this invites a posture of integrity where you bring your full self to God, not leaving parts of your life hidden or withheld.
This completeness is not about perfectionism but about sincerity. Whether in the solemnity of Lamentations or the hope of Samuel’s prayer, the word reminds us that God values the entirety of our devotion. It encourages a life where actions and heart align, offering a steady, undivided focus on what matters most.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- an entirety of3×
- perfect of1×
- completely1×
- and/ [the] whole offering1×
- a whole offering1×
- [the] entirety of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כָּלִ֥יל1×
- כָּלִ֖יל1×
- כְּלִ֥יל1×
- כְּלִ֣ילַת1×
- כְּלִ֛יל1×
- כְּלִ֖יל1×
- כְלִיל\־1×
- וְ/כָלִ֖יל1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 7:9
Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.
Samuel uses a whole burnt offering to represent total intercession, showing that complete dedication invites God's direct response.
-
Exodus 28:31
“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
The robe being made of all blue signifies a unified, unbroken wholeness in the priestly garments, reflecting holy integrity.
-
Lamentations 2:15
All that pass by clap their hands at you. They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, “Is this the city that men called ‘The perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth’?”
The city is called the joy of the whole earth, using the word to emphasize total completeness before its tragic fall.