κλῆσις G2821
Calling, vocation — the divine summons to salvation, service, and the hope that accompanies God's invitation
The noun κλῆσις (klesis) refers to God's effectual calling — the summons by which he draws people into relationship, salvation, and purpose. Paul insists that God's gifts and calling are irrevocable (Rom 11:29) and urges believers to live worthy of their calling (Eph 4:1; 2 Thess 1:11). In 1 Corinthians 1:26 he notes that not many wise or powerful received this calling, underscoring its gracious character. The term also appears in the sense of one's station in life at the time of conversion: 'let each person remain in the calling in which they were called' (1 Cor 7:20). Spanish 'llamamiento/vocación' and French 'vocation/appel' both capture the dual sense of divine invitation and life-station.
Senses
1. calling, vocation — The divine act of summoning persons to salvation, faith, and eschatological hope. Paul speaks of the 'hope of your calling' (Eph 1:18), its irrevocable nature (Rom 11:29), and the humble social profile of those whom God calls (1 Cor 1:26). Believers are exhorted to walk worthy of this calling (Eph 4:1, 4; Phil 3:14; 2 Thess 1:11; 2 Pet 1:10). Spanish 'llamamiento' and French 'appel' emphasize the initiating voice of God. 11×
AR["الدَّعوَةِ", "الدَّعْوَةِ", "دَعوَتَكُم", "دَعوَتِكُم", "دَعوَتِهِ", "دَعْوَةً", "دَعْوَةٍ", "دَعْوَةُ", "دَعْوَةِ", "دَعْوَتَ"]·ben["আহ্বান", "আহ্বান-র", "আহ্বানে", "আহ্বানের"]·DE["Berufung"]·EN["calling", "of-calling", "with-calling"]·FR["appel"]·heb["בְּקְרִיאָה", "קְרִאָה", "קְרִיאָה"]·HI["बुलअवअ", "बुलअहत", "बुलहत-से", "बुलावा", "बुलाहट", "बुलाहट-के"]·ID["dengan-panggilan", "panggilan", "panggilanmu"]·IT["chiamata", "vocazione"]·jav["panimbalan", "timbalan", "timbalanipun", "timbalèn"]·KO["부르심", "부르심-을", "부르심과", "부르심은", "부르심의", "부름"]·PT["com-vocação", "de-vocação", "vocação"]·RU["призвание", "призванием", "призвании", "призвания"]·ES["con-llamamiento", "de-llamamiento", "llamada", "llamamiento", "vocación"]·SW["wenu", "wito", "ya-wito"]·TR["cagrilisinin", "cagrinizin", "cagrisinin", "o-", "çağrının", "çağrınızı", "çağrısı", "çağrısının", "çağrıyla"]·urd["بلاوا", "بلاوے", "بلاہٹ", "بُلاوے", "بُلاوے-کو", "بُلاوے-کے", "بُلاہٹ"]
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
κλῆσις, εως, ἡ, (καλέω) calling, call, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 calling into court, summons, prosecution, Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 invitation to a feast, Refs 4th c.BC+ __4 invocation, θεῶνRefs 5th c.BC+ __5 calling to aid, Refs 2nd c.BC+ __6 calling in a religious sense, NT __II name, appellation, Refs 5th c.BC+by name, Refs; reputation, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III Grammars, αἱ κ. τῶν ὀνομάτων the nominatives,…