Strong's Hebrew: 3614. כָּלִבִּי (Kalibbo or Kalebi) -- Caleb

◄ 3614. Kalibbo or Kalebi ►

Lexical Summary

Kalibbo or Kalebi: Caleb

Original Word: כָּלִבּוֹ
Part of Speech: Adjective, of a people
Transliteration: Kalibbow
Pronunciation: kah-LEE-bo or kah-LEH-bee
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-lib-bo')
KJV: of the house of Caleb
NASB: Calebite
Word Origin: [patronymically from H3612 (כָּלֵב - Caleb)]

1. a Calebite or descendant of Caleb

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

of the house of Caleb

Probably by erroneous transcription for Kalebiy {kaw-lay-bee'}; patronymically from Kaleb; a Calebite or descendant of Caleb -- of the house of Caleb.

see HEBREW Kaleb

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Kaleb
Definition
desc. of Caleb
NASB Translation
Calebite (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

כָּלִבִּי adjective, of a people of כָּלֵב 1 Samuel 25:3 Qr (Kt כְּלִבּוֺ).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

כָּלִבּוֹ belongs to a family of Hebrew expressions that combine the idea of “all” with “heart.” Although this exact form never appears in the canonical text, its conceptual thread—wholehearted devotion—runs through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The word therefore functions as a topical gateway into the biblical call for undivided loyalty to God, total sincerity before Him, and integrity in human relationships.

Wholehearted Devotion in the Old Testament

• Covenant Loyalty: Deuteronomy 6:5 commands Israel, “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” The same demand for total allegiance is repeated in Deuteronomy 10:12 and 30:6, framing the covenant in terms of complete inner dedication.
• Leadership Examples:

– Caleb (Numbers 14:24) is singled out for having “followed Me wholeheartedly,” becoming the model of unwavering faith amid national unbelief.

– David exhorts Solomon to “serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

– Hezekiah “worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21), illustrating that wholehearted labor brings divine favor.
• Worship and Repentance: Psalm 119 repeatedly links obedience to seeking God “with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:2, 34, 58, 69, 145). Prophets such as Joel urge Israel, “Return to Me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12), calling for sincere repentance instead of ritual formalism.

Theological Significance

1. Integrity of the Inner Person: In biblical anthropology the “heart” (לֵב) is the control center of intellect, emotion, and will. To give God “all the heart” is to yield every faculty to Him.
2. Exclusive Worship: The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) binds Israel to monotheistic worship. Half-heartedness is tantamount to idolatry (1 Kings 11:4).
3. Covenant Blessing and Curse: Wholehearted obedience leads to blessing (Deuteronomy 28:1-14); divided allegiance invites judgment (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

Related Hebraic Expressions

• בְּכָל־לְבָבוֹ “with all his heart” (e.g., 2 Chronicles 15:12)
• לֵב שָׁלֵם “a whole heart” (1 Kings 8:61)
• שָׁלֵם לֵבָב “blameless heart” (1 Kings 11:4)

Each underscores totality, sincerity, and completeness rather than mere emotional intensity.

Transition to the New Testament

• Jesus cites Deuteronomy 6:5 as the “first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30), affirming continuity between covenants.
• Apostolic Teaching: Paul exhorts believers, “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23) and to serve “doing the will of God from your heart” (Ephesians 6:6).
• Christ’s Example: The Son’s declaration, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 4:34), embodies perfect wholehearted obedience, culminating in the cross (Philippians 2:8).

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Discipleship: True conversion entails a heart wholly surrendered to Christ; partial commitment contradicts the very essence of faith (Luke 9:62).
2. Worship: Corporate gatherings must encourage authentic, undivided adoration rather than performance-driven ritual (John 4:23-24).
3. Service: Ministry effectiveness flows from a heart fully aligned with God’s purposes. Double-minded service breeds burnout and hypocrisy (James 1:8).
4. Stewardship: Wholehearted generosity mirrors God’s character and advances His kingdom (2 Corinthians 9:7).
5. Spiritual Formation: Regular self-examination (Psalm 139:23-24) and the Spirit’s sanctifying work (Ezekiel 36:26-27) cultivate integrity and prevent disintegration of the inner life.

Practical Applications for Today

• Personal Devotion: Schedule unhurried time in Scripture and prayer to keep affections centered on Christ.
• Ethical Consistency: Let inner convictions govern outward conduct in family, workplace, and community.
• Resilient Faith: Like Caleb, hold fast in seasons of opposition, trusting God’s promises over prevailing unbelief.
• Unified Community: Encourage mutual accountability so that churches display collective wholeheartedness, avoiding factionalism (Acts 4:32).

Conclusion

Though כָּלִבּוֹ itself is absent from the biblical text, its idea permeates scriptural revelation. Wholehearted love for God is the central thread weaving together law, prophets, wisdom, gospel, and epistles. Every generation of believers is summoned to demonstrate an undivided heart, echoing the psalmist’s prayer: “Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with all my heart” (Psalm 119:34).

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts