κᾰλέω G2564
To call, name, summon, or invite — covering designation by name, divine calling to salvation, summoning to come, and inviting to a feast or gathering.
The verb καλέω (kaleo) is one of the New Testament's most versatile words, bridging everyday speech and profound theology. At its simplest it means to give someone a name — 'you shall call his name Jesus' (Matt 1:21). But Paul transformed it into a technical term for God's sovereign call to salvation: 'those whom he called, he also justified' (Rom 8:30). In narrative passages it retains the basic Greek sense of summoning — Herod secretly calling the Magi (Matt 2:7), Jesus calling his disciples (Matt 4:21). The most concrete sense, 'to invite,' emerges clearly in the parables of banquets (Matt 22:3–9; Luke 14:7–24), where Korean 초대하다 and Spanish invitar sharply distinguish it from mere summoning. Four distinct senses, one word — and context is everything.
Senses
1. to name or designate — To give a name or title to someone or something, or to bear a designation. The most frequent sense at 67 occurrences, covering both active naming ('you shall call his name Jesus,' Matt 1:21) and passive bearing of a name ('he shall be called a Nazarene,' Matt 2:23). Spanish llamado ('called/named'), Korean 불리다 (bullida, 'to be called'), and Swahili -itwa all converge on designation rather than summoning. Matthew's infancy narrative is dense with this sense — naming the child in fulfillment of prophecy. The passive 'will be called sons of God' (Matt 5:9) extends naming into identity and status. 67×
AR["المَدعوُّ", "المَدعوِّ", "المُدعوَ", "المُسَمَّى", "المُسَمّى", "الْمَدْعُوَّ", "سَيُدْعَى", "مَدعُوَّ", "مَدعُوُّ", "مَدْعُوٍّ", "مَدْعُوَّ", "مَدْعُوَّةُ", "مَدْعُوِّ", "يُدعى", "يُدْعى", "يُدْعَى"]·ben["καλούμενον-বলা-হয়", "ডাকা", "ডাকা-হয়", "নামক", "বলা", "বলা-হবে", "বলা-হবে।", "যাকে-বলা-হত", "যাকে-বলা-হয়"]·DE["rufen", "ruft"]·EN["being-called", "having-been-called", "he-will-be-called", "will-be-called"]·FR["appeler"]·heb["בַּרְסַבָּא", "הַמְּכֻנֶּה", "הַנִּקְרָא", "יִקָּרֵא", "נִקְרֵאת", "נִקְרָא"]·HI["कहलाएगा", "कहलाता", "कहलाता-था", "कहलाता-है", "कहलाती-है", "कहलाते-थे", "कहलाते-हुए", "कहलाने-वाले", "निकट", "बारसब्बास", "बुलाया-गया-था", "बुलाया-जाने-वाला", "बुलाये-जाने-वाले"]·ID["akan-disebut", "akan-disebut.", "dipanggil", "disebut", "yang-disebut"]·IT["chiamare"]·jav["badhe-kasebat", "badhé-dipunsebat.", "dipun-sebat", "dipun-wastani", "ingkang-dipun-sebat", "ingkang-dipun-wastani", "ingkang-kasebat", "kasebat", "kasebut"]·KO["그-", "불리는", "불리우는", "불리우리라", "불린", "솔로몬-의"]·PT["chamado", "será-chamado"]·RU["названное", "называемая", "называемого", "называемое", "называемой", "называемый", "наречётся"]·ES["llamado", "será-llamado"]·SW["aitwaye", "aliliitwa", "ataitwa", "iitwayo", "paitwalo", "uitwao", "unaitwa", "unapoitwa"]·TR["-o", "denilen", "çağrılacak", "çağrılan"]·urd["رکھا-گیا-تھا", "پکارا-جانے-والا", "پکارے-جانے-والے", "کہلائے-جانے-والا", "کہلائے-گا", "کہلاتا-تھا", "کہلاتا-ہے", "کہلاتے", "کہلاتے-تھے", "کہلاتے-ہوئے", "کہلانے-والا", "کہلانے-والی", "کہلایا", "کہلایا-جانے-والا"]
2. to call to salvation or vocation — To call or choose someone for divine purpose, salvation, or spiritual vocation — God as the agent who calls believers to faith, holiness, or service. Predominantly Pauline and epistolary, with 36 occurrences. This is the theologized sense that generates the noun κλῆσις ('calling/vocation') and the adjective κλητός ('called one'). Romans 8:30 chains it into the golden sequence: 'those whom he predestined he also called; those whom he called he also justified.' Spanish fue llamado and Korean 부르심을 받다 (burusim-eul badda, 'to receive a calling') both mark the passive reception of divine initiative. 1 Corinthians 1:9 and Galatians 1:15 are key passages. 36×
AR["الدّاعي", "الَّذي-دَعاكُم", "الَّذي-دَعانا", "دَعانا", "دَعاني", "دُعيتُم", "دُعيتُمْ", "دُعِيَ"]·ben["-সেই", "আহ্বান-করেছেন", "আহ্বানকারী", "ডাকনেওয়ালা", "ডাকা-হয়েছিল,", "ডাকা-হয়েছিলে", "ডাকা-হয়েছিলে,", "ডাকা-হল", "ডেকেছিলেন", "তোমরা-আহূত-হয়েছ", "তোমরা-ডাকা-হয়েছিলে", "যিনি-ডেকেছেন"]·DE["rufen", "ruft"]·EN["calling", "having-called", "to-be-called", "was-called", "were-called", "you-were-called"]·FR["appeler"]·heb["הַ-קּוֹרֵא", "הַקּוֹרֵא", "נִקְרֵאתֶם", "נִקְרָא", "קּוֹרֵא", "קוֹרֵא", "קוֹרֵאֵנוּ"]·HI["जिस्ने-बुलय", "तुम-बुलअये-गये", "बुलअने-वअल", "बुलअने-वअले", "बुलअय", "बुलअये-गये,", "बुलाए-गए", "बुलाता-है", "बुलाने-वाले", "बुलाया-गया", "रखा-गया", "वह"]·ID["dia-dipanggil,", "dipanggil", "dipanggil,", "disebut", "kamu dipanggil", "kamu-dipanggil", "kamu-dipanggil;", "memanggil", "yang-memanggil"]·IT["chiamare"]·jav["dipun-paringi-nami", "dipun-sebat", "dipun-timbali", "dipun-timbali;", "dipunsebut", "katimbalan,", "nimbali", "panjenengan-dipuntimbali,", "panjenengan-katimbalan", "sampun-nimbali"]·KO["그-", "너희가-부르심을-받았다", "부르시는", "부르시는-자", "부르신-분", "부르신-이-의", "부르심을-받았으니", "부른", "부름-받았다", "부름을-받았노라,", "불렸다", "불림받았다", "불림받았다;"]·PT["chamou", "foi-chamado", "foi-chamado,", "fostes-chamados", "fostes-chamados,", "fostes-chamados;", "me-chamou", "que-chama", "que-vos-chamou", "ser-chamado"]·RU["было-названо", "вы-были-призваны,", "названо-было", "называющим", "нарекли", "призвавшего", "призвавший", "призван,", "призваны", "призваны;", "призывающего", "призывающий"]·ES["fue-llamado", "fue-llamado?", "fuisteis-llamados", "habiendo-llamado", "llamó", "que-llama", "ser-llamado"]·SW["akaitwa", "akaniita", "aliitwa,", "aliyetuita", "aliyewaita", "aliyoitwa,", "anayeita", "anayewaita", "kuitwa", "likaitwa", "mliitwa"]·TR["cagirildiniz", "cagrildiniz", "içine-", "ki-", "çağrıldı", "çağrıldı mı", "çağrıldınız", "çağrıldıysa", "çağıran", "çağıranın", "çağırıldınız", "öyle-ki"]·urd["بلائے-گئے-تم،", "بلاتا-ہے", "بلانے-والا", "بلانے-والے", "بُلائے-گئے", "بُلانے-والا-ہے", "بُلانے-والے", "بُلایا", "بُلایا-گیا", "تم-بلائے-گئے", "رکھا-گیا", "کہلائی", "کہلایا-گیا"]
Matt 27:8, Luke 2:21, Acts 1:19, Acts 24:2, Rom 4:17, Rom 9:12, Rom 9:25, 1 Cor 1:9, 1 Cor 7:18, 1 Cor 7:18, 1 Cor 7:20, 1 Cor 7:21 (+24 more)
3. to summon or call to come — To summon or call someone to come, to bid a person approach. The basic transitive sense of directing someone to come to the speaker, with 28 occurrences in narrative contexts. Herod calling the Magi (Matt 2:7), Jesus calling disciples (Matt 4:21), summoning servants or crowds. Hindi बुलाना (bulaana, 'to call/summon'), Spanish llamar a, and French appeler in its directive sense all track this meaning. Distinguished from sense 2 by the absence of theological freight and from sense 4 by the absence of hospitality context. Acts 24:2 ('when he had been called') and Matthew 9:13 ('I came not to call the righteous') illustrate the range. 28×
AR["أَدعوَ", "أَنْ-يَدْعوَهُمْ", "دَعا", "دَعانا", "دَعَا", "دَعَا-هُمْ", "دَعَاهُمَا", "لِأَدعوَ", "لِأَدْعُوَ", "لِيَدعوَ", "مُنَادِينَ", "يَدعوهُ"]·ben["ডাকতে", "ডাকল", "ডাকলেন", "ডাকে", "ডেকে", "ডেকেছেন", "তিনি-ডাকলেন", "তিনি-ডেকেছেন"]·DE["rufen", "ruft"]·EN["called", "calls", "has-called", "having-called", "he-called", "to-call"]·FR["appeler"]·heb["לִ-קְרֹא", "לִקְרֹא", "קָרְאוּ", "קָרָא", "קוֹרֵא", "שֶׁלּוֹ"]·HI["कहने-में", "बुलअय", "बुलाकर", "बुलाता-है", "बुलाने", "बुलाने-को", "बुलाया", "बुलाया-है"]·ID["Dia-memanggil", "Ia-memanggil", "Ia-memanggil,", "Ia-memanggil;", "Ia-panggil", "memanggil", "menyebut"]·IT["chiamare"]·jav["Panjenenganipun-nimbali", "Panjenenganipun-timbali,", "Sasampunipun-nimbali", "nimbali", "nyebat", "nyebut", "sasampunipun-nyebat"]·KO["부르고", "부르기-위해", "부르기라", "부르기를", "부르러", "부르려고", "부르셨고", "부르셨다", "부르셨으니", "부른다", "불렀다"]·PT["chama", "chamando", "chamar", "chamou", "chamou,", "chamou;", "para-chamar", "tendo-chamado", "tendo-os-chamado"]·RU["-призвал", "называет", "называть", "позвал", "позвать", "призвав", "призвал", "призвать"]·ES["a-llamar", "ha-llamado", "habiendo-llamado", "llama", "llamar", "llamó"]·SW["akiwaita", "alituita", "alivyomwita", "aliwaita", "amewaita", "kuwaita", "wakiwaita", "yeye"]·TR["çağırdı", "çağırdı-", "çağırmak", "çağırmak-için", "çağırmaya", "çağırıp", "çağırıyor"]·urd["اُس-نے-بُلایا", "بلا-کر", "بلانے", "بلانے-کو", "بلایا", "بُلا-کر", "بُلانے", "بُلایا", "بُلایا-ہے", "بُلایا؛", "کہتا-ہے", "کہنے-میں"]
Matt 1:25, Matt 2:7, Matt 2:15, Matt 4:21, Matt 9:13, Matt 20:8, Matt 22:3, Matt 22:9, Matt 22:43, Matt 22:45, Matt 25:14, Mark 1:20 (+16 more)
4. to invite to an event — To invite someone to a feast, banquet, or social gathering. Clearly identified by Korean 초대하다/초대받다 (chodaehada, 'to invite/be invited'), Spanish invitar/invitado, and Swahili -alikwa — all of which use a distinct hospitality verb rather than a generic 'call' word. The 17 occurrences cluster in parable settings: the wedding feast (Matt 22:3–4, 8), the great banquet (Luke 14:7–24), and Simon the Pharisee's dinner (Luke 7:39). Jesus' instruction 'when you are invited to a wedding feast, do not sit in the place of honor' (Luke 14:8) hinges on this sense. The metaphor can extend theologically — the invited who refuse the king's banquet — but the base meaning is concrete social hospitality. 17×
AR["المَدعوُّينَ", "المَدْعُوِّينَ", "الَّذِي-دَعَاهُ", "الّذي-دَعاهُ", "تُدْعَى", "دَعَا", "دَعَاكَ", "دُعِيَ", "لِلمَدْعوّينَ", "مَدْعُوًّا", "يَدعوكُم"]·ben["আমন্ত্রণকারী", "আমন্ত্রণকারীকে", "আমন্ত্রিত", "আমন্ত্রিত-হও", "আমন্ত্রিতদের", "ডাকল", "ডাকে", "ডেকেছিল-যে", "নিমন্ত্রিত-হলেন", "নিমন্ত্রিতদের", "নিমন্ত্রিতরা"]·DE["rufen", "ruft"]·EN["having-been-called", "having-called", "having-invited", "invited", "invites", "inviting", "was-called", "you-are-invited"]·FR["appeler"]·heb["אֶת-", "הַקְּרוּאִים", "הַקּוֹרֵא", "הֻזְמַן", "לֹא", "קְרוּאִים", "קָרָא", "קָרוּא", "קוֹרֵא", "תִּקָּרֵא"]·HI["बुलाए-गए", "बुलाए-गए-लोगों", "बुलाए-गए-लोगों-से", "बुलाए-गए-से", "बुलाए-हुए", "बुलाता-है", "बुलाने-वाला", "बुलाने-वाले", "बुलाने-वाले-से", "बुलानेवाले-ने", "बुलाया", "बुलाया-गया", "बुलाया-जाए"]·ID["Diundang", "diundang", "engkau-diundang", "mengundang", "yang-diundang", "yang-mengundang", "yang-telah-mengundang"]·IT["chiamare"]·jav["dipun-undang", "dipuntimbali", "ingkang-kaaturi", "ingkang-katimbalan", "ingkang-nimbali", "ngaturi", "ngulemi", "nimbali", "panjenengan-katimbalan"]·KO["초대-받은-자들이", "초대되었다", "초대받으면", "초대받은", "초대받은-자들-에게", "초대받은-자들-을", "초대받은-자들에게", "초대받은-자들은", "초대받은-자들의", "초대하면", "초대한", "초대한-이가", "초대한-이에게", "초대했다"]·PT["Foi-chamado", "convida", "convidado", "convidados", "convidados,", "convidou", "fores-convidado", "que-convidou", "que-o-tinha-convidado", "que-te-convidou"]·RU["будешь-приглашён", "званые", "званым,", "званых", "пригласившему", "пригласивший", "пригласил", "приглашает", "приглашён-был", "приглашённый", "приглашённым", "приглашённых", "призванные"]·ES["el-que-invitó", "fue-invitado", "fueres-invitado", "invita", "invitado", "invitados", "invitó", "llamados.", "que-invitó", "que-lo-había-invitado", "que-te-invitó"]·SW["Tazama", "akaalikwa", "akawaalika", "aliyekukaribisha", "aliyemkaribisha", "aliyemwalika", "aliyewakaribisha", "amealikwa", "anawaalika", "hawakuwa", "ukikaribishwa", "walioalikwa", "walioalikwa."]·TR["davet ediyorsa", "davet-eden", "davet-edene", "davet-edilirsen", "davet-edilmiş", "davet-etti", "davetliler", "davetlilere", "davetlileri", "çağrılanlar", "çağrıldı", "çağıran"]·urd["اُسے", "بلائے-ہوؤں-سے", "بلائے-ہوؤں-کو", "بلائے-ہوئوں", "بلائے-ہوئے", "بلاتا-ہے", "بلانے-والا", "بلانے-والے", "بلایا", "بلایا-جائے", "بلایا-گیا", "بلایا-ہوا", "بُلائے-ہوئے"]
Matt 22:3, Matt 22:4, Matt 22:8, Luke 7:39, Luke 14:7, Luke 14:8, Luke 14:8, Luke 14:9, Luke 14:10, Luke 14:10, Luke 14:12, Luke 14:16 (+5 more)
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κᾰλέω, Aeolic dialect κάλημι (which see), Epic dialect infinitive καλήμεναι Refs 8th c.BC+: Ionic dialect imperfect καλέεσκον Refs; 3rd.pers. singular κάλεσκε Refs 3rd c.BC+: future, Ionic dialect καλέω Refs 8th c.BC+, Attic dialect καλῶ LXX+5th c.BC+aorist 1 subjunctive): aorist 1 ἐκάλεσα, Epic dialect ἐκάλεσσα, κάλεσσα, Refs 8th c.BC+ (late Epic dialect ἔκλησα Refs 2nd c.BC+: perfect κέκληκα…