κλῆρος G2819
A lot cast for decisions; by extension, an allotted portion, inheritance, or assigned share.
Originally the physical object thrown to determine outcomes by chance, kleros acquired rich theological overtones in the New Testament. At the cross, soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garments (Matt 27:35; John 19:24), fulfilling Psalm 22:18 — here the word retains its concrete, ancient sense. But Paul speaks of 'the inheritance (kleros) among those sanctified' (Acts 26:18), and Colossians 1:12 thanks the Father who qualified believers 'to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.' Spanish splits the senses neatly: 'suertes' for the casting of lots, 'herencia' for the spiritual inheritance — a distinction the Greek leaves unified under one evocative word.
Senses
1. lot (for casting) — A lot — the concrete object cast or drawn to make decisions, or the act of casting lots itself. All four Gospels record soldiers casting lots (kleron) for Jesus' garments at the crucifixion (Matt 27:35; John 19:24), and Acts 1:26 describes the apostles casting lots to replace Judas. Spanish 'suertes' and German 'Los' preserve the chance-decision nuance. French 'sort' carries a similar resonance of fate determined by casting. 7×
AR["القُرْعَةُ", "قُرْعَةً"]·ben["κλήρους-গুটি", "গুলি।", "গুলিবঁট", "গুলিবাঁট"]·DE["Los"]·EN["a-lot", "lot", "lots"]·FR["sort"]·heb["גּוֹרָל", "גּוֹרָלוֹת", "גוֹרָל"]·HI["चिट्ठियाँ", "चिट्ठी", "मत्तियास-पर"]·ID["undi"]·IT["sorte"]·jav["undhi", "undhi;", "undhi}.", "undian"]·KO["그-", "제비-를", "제비를", "주었다"]·PT["sorte", "sortes"]·RU["жребии", "жребий", "жребий."]·ES["suerte", "suertes"]·SW["kura", "zamu"]·TR["kura", "kuraları", "kura}"]·urd["قرعہ", "قرعے"]
2. inheritance, allotted heritage — An inheritance or allotted heritage — the theological extension where what God assigns to His people becomes their spiritual or eschatological portion. In Acts 26:18, Paul's commission includes granting Gentiles 'an inheritance among those sanctified,' and Col 1:12 speaks of sharing 'the inheritance of the saints in light.' Spanish shifts to 'herencia,' clearly marking this as a distinct theological register from the lot-casting sense. 3×
AR["الميراثِ", "ميراثِ", "مِيرَاثًا"]·ben["অংশ", "অংশগুলির-উপর", "উত্তরাধিকার-এর"]·DE["Los"]·EN["allotted", "an-inheritance", "inheritance"]·FR["sort"]·heb["חֲלָקִים", "נַחֲלָה"]·HI["विरसत", "विरासत", "सौंपे-गए-लोगों-पर"]·ID["bagian", "warisan"]·IT["sorte"]·jav["pusaka,", "warisan"]·KO["기업의", "분깎를", "유산을"]·PT["herança"]·RU["наследия", "удел", "уделами,"]·ES["herencia", "herencias"]·SW["urithi", "waliowekwa"]·TR["miras", "mirasinin", "payların"]·urd["حصّوں-پر،", "میراث", "میراث-کے"]
3. share, portion (assigned role) — A share, portion, or assigned role — the metaphorical extension from 'what falls to one by lot' to one's allotted place in a group or enterprise. Judas 'was allotted his share in this ministry' (Acts 1:17), and Simon Magus is told he has 'no part or share in this matter' (Acts 8:21). Spanish uses both 'parte' and 'suerte' here, reflecting the ambiguity between concrete lot and abstract portion. 2×
AR["حِصَّةٌ", "نَصِيبَ"]·ben["অংশ", "ভাগ"]·DE["Los"]·EN["lot"]·FR["sort"]·heb["גּוֹרָל", "נַחֲלָה"]·HI["-सेवकाई-का", "हिस्सा"]·ID["bagian", "warisan"]·IT["sorte"]·jav["undian", "warisan,"]·KO["그-", "프-이"]·PT["parte", "sorte"]·RU["жребий", "жребия"]·ES["parte", "suerte"]·SW["fungu", "urithi"]·TR["-o", "kura"]·urd["حصہ", "قرعہ"]
Related Senses
H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)H5159 1. inherited land or property (170×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)G2983 1. receive, obtain (134×)H3423 1. Qal: take possession of land (130×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G2983 2. take, take up (113×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G2398 1. one's own, belonging to oneself (91×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κλῆρος __A, Doric dialect κλᾶρος Refs 5th c.BC+, ου, ὁ:— lot, κλῆρον ἐσημήναντο ἕκαστος, ἐν δ᾽ ἔβαλον κυνέῃ Refs 8th c.BC+; κλήρῳ πεπαλάσθαι Refs 8th c.BC+; πάντας ἀνέφεδρος ἐπαγκρατίασε τοὺς κ., i.e. he never drew a bye, Refs 2nd c.AD+; κλήρου κατὰ μοῖραν Refs 5th c.BC+; κλάροισι θεοπροπέων divining by lots, Refs 5th c.BC+ __A.2 casting of lots, drawing of lots, κ. τίθεσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+; =…