H3611 H3611
dog — a domestic canine, often associated with scavenging and used figuratively as a term of contempt
Kelev appears 32 times and carries a predominantly negative cultural valence that surprises modern readers accustomed to viewing dogs as companions. In ancient Israel the dog was a semi-wild scavenger: the Deuteronomistic History repeatedly threatens that dogs will devour the corpses of wicked kings (1 Kgs 14:11; 16:4; 21:19-24; 2 Kgs 9:10, 36). To call oneself a 'dead dog' was the deepest self-deprecation (1 Sam 24:14; 2 Sam 9:8), and Goliath takes mortal offense when David approaches with a staff, asking 'Am I a dog?' (1 Sam 17:43). The only neutral use is Job 30:1, where kelev tson ('sheep-dog') names a working animal too lowly even for comparison. Deuteronomy 23:18 bans bringing the 'price of a dog' into the temple, likely a reference to cultic prostitution. The cognate appears across the Semitic family — Aramaic kalba, Arabic kalb — all denoting the same animal.
Senses
1. dog (animal) — The domestic dog, viewed primarily as a scavenger and culturally despised animal. Literal references depict fierce, hungry dogs devouring corpses and licking blood in the Deuteronomistic judgment oracles (1 Kgs 14:11; 21:19; 2 Kgs 9:10, 36). Figuratively, 'dead dog' expresses extreme self-abasement (1 Sam 24:14; 2 Sam 9:8). Job 30:1 names the only working dog — the sheep-dog — and even there it implies low status. Deut 23:18 bans the 'price of a dog' from the sanctuary. 32×
AR["ال-كِلابُ", "الـ-كَلْب", "الكَلبُ-", "الكَلبِ", "الكِلابُ", "الْكَلْبُ", "الْكَلْبِ", "الْكِلابُ", "الْكِلَابُ", "كَلبٍ", "كَلْبٌ", "كَلْبٍ"]·ben["কুকুর", "কুকুরের", "কুকুরেরা"]·DE["Hund", "[כלב]", "der-Hund", "der-Hunde", "ein-Hund"]·EN["a-dog", "dog", "the-dog", "the-dogs"]·FR["[כלב]", "chien", "comme-cœur", "dog", "le-chien", "le-chiens", "un-chien"]·heb["ה-כלב", "ה-כלבים", "כלב"]·HI["कुत्ता", "कुत्ते", "कुत्ते-का", "कुत्ते-की", "कुत्ते-के", "कुत्तों-ने", "हक्कलावीम", "हक्केलेव"]·ID["-anjing", "-anjing-anjing", "aku", "anjing", "anjing-anjing"]·IT["[כלב]", "cane", "come-cuore", "il-cane", "il-cani", "il-dog", "un-cane", "un-dog"]·jav["sang-segawon", "segawon", "segawon-segawon"]·KO["개", "개-의", "개가", "개냐", "개들이", "개를", "개의", "개의-목을", "그-개", "그-개들이"]·PT["cão", "o-cão", "os-cães"]·RU["-псу", "-пёс", "пса", "псы", "пёс", "собака", "собаки", "собакой", "собачья"]·ES["Los-perros", "el-perro", "los-perros", "perro", "un-perro"]·SW["mbwa", "ya-mbwa"]·TR["koyacaksın-onu", "köpek", "köpekler", "köpeğe", "köpeğin"]·urd["کتا", "کتوں-نے", "کتّے-کا", "کتے", "کتے-کی", "کتے-کے", "کُتّا", "کُتّے", "کُتّے-کے", "کُتے", "ہ-کتے"]
Exod 11:7, Exod 22:31, Deut 23:18, Judg 7:5, 1 Sam 17:43, 1 Sam 24:14, 2 Sam 3:8, 2 Sam 9:8, 2 Sam 16:9, 1 Kgs 14:11, 1 Kgs 16:4, 1 Kgs 21:19 (+20 more)
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)H6260 1. male goat, he-goat (28×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כֶּ֫לֶב n.m. 1 S 24:15 dog (NH id.; Ph. כלב; Aramaic כַּלְבָּא, ܟܰܠܒܳܐ; Arabic كَلْبٌ; Ethiopic ከልብ: Assyrian kalbu DlHWB 328)—abs. כ׳ Ju 7:5 + 16 times, כָּ֑לֶב ψ 59:7, 15; pl. כְּלָבִים 1 K 14:11 + 12 times; cstr. כַּלְבֵי Jb 30:1; sf. כְּלָבֶיךָ ψ 68:24;—dog: a. lit. 1 K 14:11; 16:4; 21:19(×2), 23, 24; 22:38; 2 K 9:10, 36 (all of fierce, hungry dogs, devouring dead bodies and licking blood);…