Lexical Summary Qelayah: Kelaiah Original Word: קֵלָיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kelaiah From qalah; insignificance; Kelajah, an Israelite -- Kelaiah. see HEBREW qalah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a Levite, the same as NH7042 NASB Translation Kelaiah (1). Topical Lexicon Identity and Background Kelaiah is named once in Scripture as a Levite (Ezra 10:23). The form קֵלָיָה (Qēlāyāh) likely preserves the sense “Yah has dishonored” or “Yah is light,” hinting at a life that moved from reproach toward restoration. His alternative designation, “Kelita,” appears elsewhere (see Related Names and Textual Notes), linking him with a recognized group of temple-serving Levites. Historical Setting: The Post-exilic Purification Ezra 9–10 records a crisis shortly after the first return from Babylon. Intermarriage with pagan wives threatened Israel’s covenantal distinctiveness and, by extension, the purity of temple service. Ezra’s grief (Ezra 9:3–5) and public confession (Ezra 9:6–15) catalyzed national repentance. The assembled community agreed “to do according to the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commandments of our God” (Ezra 10:3). The ensuing investigation listed offenders from every societal level—including Levites whose vocation was to model holiness. The Sole Biblical Mention: Ezra 10:23 “From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer” (Ezra 10:23). 1. Levitical Responsibility: As a Levite, Kelaiah was expected to guard the sanctity of worship (Numbers 18:1–7). His lapse endangered both his witness and Israel’s worship. Spiritual Restoration and Later Service If Kelaiah is identical with the “Kelita” of Nehemiah, his account advances from failure to fruitful ministry: These appearances suggest that repentance opened the door to restored usefulness, demonstrating the sufficiency of grace for those once compromised. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Holiness and Leadership: Leaders must exemplify covenant fidelity. Compromise among them affects the entire body (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:6). Practical Applications for Contemporary Believers • Sin, even in private spheres, disrupts public ministry. Related Names and Textual Notes Kelita (Strong’s Hebrew 7042) appears five times in Nehemiah. Ancient scribes sometimes preserved both a fuller theophoric form (Kelaiah) and a contracted form (Kelita). The context, chronology, and Levitical association make it plausible—though not certain—that both names refer to the same individual. If so, Scripture furnishes a poignant portrait of a Levite who moved from discipline in Ezra to leadership in Nehemiah, illustrating the transformative power of covenant faithfulness. Forms and Transliterations וְקֵֽלָיָה֙ וקליה vekelaYah wə·qê·lā·yāh wəqêlāyāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 10:23 HEB: יוֹזָבָ֣ד וְשִׁמְעִ֗י וְקֵֽלָיָה֙ ה֣וּא קְלִיטָ֔א NAS: Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), KJV: and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same [is] Kelita,) INT: Jozabad Shimei Kelaiah he Kelita 1 Occurrence |
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