2807. kleis

Lexicon

kleis: Key

Original Word: κλείς
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: kleis
Pronunciation: klays
Phonetic Spelling: (klice)
Definition: Key
Meaning: a key.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

key.

From kleio; a key (as shutting a lock), literally or figuratively -- key.

see GREEK kleio

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from kleió
Definition
a key
NASB Translation
key (4), keys (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2807: κλείς

κλείς, κλειδός, accusative κλεῖδα and κλεῖν (Luke 11:52; Revelation 3:7), accusative plural κλεῖδας and κλείς (Matthew 16:19; Revelation 1:18; cf. Kühner, § 130, i., p. 357; Winers Grammar, 65 (63), cf. Buttmann, 24 (22); (WH's Appendix, p. 157)), ἡ (from Homer down); a key. Since the keeper of the keys has the power to open and to shut, the word κλείς is figuratively used in the N. T. to denote power and authority of various kinds (cf. B. D., under the word ) viz. τοῦ φρέατος, to open or unlock the pit, Revelation 9:1, cf. ; τῆς ἀβύσσου, to shut, Revelation 20:1, cf. ; τοῦ θανάτου καί τοῦ ᾅδου, the power to bring back into life from Hades and to leave there, Revelation 1:18; τῆς γνώσεως, the ability and opportunity to obtain knowledge, Luke 11:52; τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν (see βασιλεία, 3 e., p. 97b under the end), Matthew 16:19; τοῦ Δαυίδ, the power of David (who is a type of the Messiah, the second David), i. e. of receiving into the Messiah's kingdom and of excluding from it, Revelation 3:7 (apparently after Isaiah 22:22, where ἡ κλείς οἴκου Δαυίδ is given to the steward of the royal palace).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb κλείω (kleio), meaning "to shut" or "to close."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 4668: מַפְתֵּחַ (maphteach) – A key; used in Isaiah 22:22, where it is associated with the authority of Eliakim, foreshadowing the messianic authority of Christ as depicted in Revelation 3:7.

Usage: The term κλείς is used metaphorically in the New Testament to denote authority or power to open and close, to permit or deny access, particularly in spiritual or ecclesiastical contexts.

Context: The Greek word κλείς appears in the New Testament in contexts that emphasize authority and control. In Matthew 16:19, Jesus tells Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Here, κλείς symbolizes the authority given to Peter and, by extension, the Church, to govern spiritual matters and make binding decisions.

In Revelation 1:18, Jesus declares, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and Hades." In this passage, κλείς represents Christ's authority over death and the afterlife, signifying His power to grant or deny access to eternal life.

Additionally, in Revelation 3:7, the message to the church in Philadelphia includes, "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." The "key of David" is a reference to Isaiah 22:22, symbolizing the messianic authority of Christ to control access to the kingdom of God.

The metaphorical use of κλείς in these passages underscores the concept of divine authority and the power to govern spiritual realms, reflecting the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty and the delegation of authority to His representatives on earth.

Forms and Transliterations

κλειδα κλείδα κλεῖδα κλειδας κλεῖδας κλειδός κλειδών κλειν κλείν κλεῖν κλεις κλείς κλεὶς κλεῖς kleida kleîda kleidas kleîdas klein kleîn kleis kleìs kleîs

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 16:19 N-AFP
GRK: σοι τὰς κλεῖδας τῆς βασιλείας
NAS: I will give you the keys of the kingdom
KJV: unto thee the keys of the kingdom
INT: to you the keys of the kingdom

Luke 11:52 N-AFS
GRK: ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως
NAS: For you have taken away the key of knowledge;
KJV: ye have taken away the key of knowledge:
INT: you took away the key of the knowledge

Revelation 1:18 N-AFP
GRK: ἔχω τὰς κλεῖς τοῦ θανάτου
NAS: and I have the keys of death
KJV: and have the keys of hell and
INT: have the keys of death

Revelation 3:7 N-AFS
GRK: ἔχων τὴν κλεῖν Δαυίδ ὁ
NAS: who has the key of David,
KJV: he that hath the key of David,
INT: has the key of David who

Revelation 9:1 N-NFS
GRK: αὐτῷ ἡ κλεὶς τοῦ φρέατος
NAS: to the earth; and the key of the bottomless
KJV: was given the key of the bottomless
INT: to it the key of the pit

Revelation 20:1 N-AFS
GRK: ἔχοντα τὴν κλεῖν τῆς ἀβύσσου
NAS: holding the key of the abyss
KJV: having the key of the bottomless pit
INT: having the key of the abyss

Strong's Greek 2807
6 Occurrences

κλεῖδα — 1 Occ.
κλεῖδας — 1 Occ.
κλεῖν — 2 Occ.
κλεῖς — 2 Occ.