Lexical Summary kelulah: Completion, perfection, entirety Original Word: כְּלוּלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance espousal Denominative passive participle from kallah; bridehood (only in the plural) -- espousal. see HEBREW kallah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as kallah Definition betrothal NASB Translation betrothals (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [כְּלוּלָה] noun feminine betrothal; — only plural כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ (compare ' espousals ') Jeremiah 2:2 thy betrothal-time ("" נְעוּרַיִךְ). Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Immediate Context The word appears once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 2:2. Speaking through the prophet, the LORD recalls Israel’s early covenant devotion: “I remember the devotion of your youth, the love of your bridehood, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown” (Jeremiah 2:2). In this single usage the term crystallizes the tenderness, exclusivity, and purity expected in the covenant relationship between Israel and her God. The Bridal Covenant Motif in Scripture From Sinai to the New Jerusalem, Scripture frequently casts God’s bond with His people in bridal imagery. Exodus 19:4-6 records the proposal, Ezekiel 16:8 the formal covenant, and Hosea 2:19-20 the promised renewal after infidelity. Jeremiah’s remembrance of Israel’s “bride-love” fits naturally within this pattern, highlighting the affectionate obedience that once characterized the nation. The New Testament applies the same motif to the Church: “I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2), culminating in “the marriage of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7). Historical Background: The Wilderness as Honeymoon Jeremiah 2:2 looks back to the formative desert years, a period when Israel depended on daily manna, divine guidance, and miraculous preservation (Exodus 16; Deuteronomy 8). The hardships of the wilderness served as a crucible of intimacy. Israel had no alliances, land, or idols—only the LORD. By recalling that season, the prophet underscores the contrast between past fidelity and present apostasy. Prophetic Contrast and Warning Immediately after evoking bridal devotion, Jeremiah charges the nation with forsaking their Husband (Jeremiah 2:5,13). The single mention of the word therefore functions both as memorial and indictment. As God’s covenant partner, Israel is accountable for spiritual adultery (Jeremiah 3:1-9). The prophetic use of bridal language intensifies the moral gravity of idolatry, portraying it as marital betrayal rather than mere ritual error. New Testament Fulfillment and Expansion The imagery reaches its climax in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the Bridegroom who loves sacrificially (Ephesians 5:25-27) and secures a spotless bride through His blood (Revelation 1:5-6). What Israel failed to sustain, Christ fulfills, and the Church is called to preserve “first love” (Revelation 2:4) reminiscent of the early wilderness devotion celebrated by Jeremiah. Ministry Implications 1. Revival preaching often begins by calling God’s people back to their initial passion, mirroring Jeremiah’s appeal. Homiletical Themes • Remembering First Love (Jeremiah 2:2; Revelation 2:4-5) Devotional Reflection Jeremiah’s single use of the term invites believers to rehearse God’s past mercies and rekindle undivided affection. The prophetic memory becomes a mirror: the passion of yesterday should inform and inspire obedience today, until the Bridegroom returns. Forms and Transliterations כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ כלולתיך kə·lū·lō·ṯā·yiḵ keluloTayich kəlūlōṯāyiḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 2:2 HEB: נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ אַהֲבַ֖ת כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ לֶכְתֵּ֤ךְ אַחֲרַי֙ NAS: The love of your betrothals, Your following KJV: the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest INT: of your youth the love of your betrothals your following after 1 Occurrence |
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