2564. kaleó
Strong's Lexicon
kaleó: To call, to name, to invite

Original Word: καλέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kaleó
Pronunciation: kä-le'-ō
Phonetic Spelling: (kal-eh'-o)
Definition: To call, to name, to invite
Meaning: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name.

Word Origin: A primary verb

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with "καλέω" is קָרָא (qara, Strong's H7121), which also means "to call" or "to summon."

Usage: The Greek verb "καλέω" (kaleó) primarily means "to call" or "to summon." It is used in various contexts in the New Testament, including calling someone by name, inviting someone to an event, or calling someone to a particular purpose or mission. The term can also imply a divine calling or vocation, as seen in the context of God's call to individuals for salvation or service.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, calling someone by name was a significant act, often implying authority or relationship. In Jewish culture, names held deep significance, often reflecting character or destiny. The concept of being "called" by God is rooted in the Old Testament, where God calls individuals like Abraham, Moses, and the prophets for specific purposes. In the New Testament, this idea is expanded to include the calling of believers into the body of Christ and their mission in the world.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
to call
NASB Translation
call (13), called (99), calling (2), calls (7), give (1), invite (2), invited (15), invited guests (1), invites (1), name given (1), named (2), so-called (1), summoned (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2564: καλέω

καλέω, καλῷ; imperfect ἐκάλουν; future καλέσω (Winer's Grammar, § 13, 3 c.); 1 aorist ἐκάλεσα; perfect κέκληκά; passive, present καλοῦμαι; perfect 3 person singular κέκληται (1 Corinthians 7:18 L T Tr WH; (Revelation 19:13 L T Tr WH)), participle κεκλημένος; 1 aorist ἐκλήθην; 1 future κληθήσομαι; (from Homer down); Hebrew קָרָא; Latinvoco; i. e.:

1. to call (German rufen (cf. βοάω, at the end));

a. to call aloud, utter in a loud voice: ἄχρις οὗ τό σήμερον καλεῖται, as long as the word 'today' is called out or proclaimed, Hebrews 3:13; τινα, to call one to approach or stand before one, Matthew 20:8; Matthew 22:3 (where εἰς τούς γάμους seems to belong to τούς κεκλημένος); Matthew 25:14; (Mark 3:31 L T Tr WH); Luke 19:13; τά ἰδίᾳ πρόβατα κατ' ὄνομα, his own sheep each by its name, John 10:3 (where L T Tr WH φωνεῖ); used of Christ, calling certain persons to be his disciples and constant companions, Matthew 4:21 (note what precedes in 19: δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου); Mark 1:20; to order one to be summoned, Matthew 2:15 (see just below); before the judges, Acts 4:18; Acts 24:2; followed by ἐκ with the genitive of place, equivalent to to call out, call forth from: Matthew 2:15, cf. Hebrews 11:8. metaphorically, to cause to pass from one state into another: τινα ἐκ σκότους εἰς τό φῶς, 1 Peter 2:9.

b. like the Latinvoco equivalent to to invite; properly: εἰς τούς γάμους, Matthew 22:3, 9; Luke 14:8; John 2:2; to a feast, Luke 14:16; 1 Corinthians 10:27 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 593 (552)); Revelation 19:9; καλέσας, Luke 7:39; Luke 14:9; κεκληκώς τινα, Luke 14:10, 12; οἱ κεκλημένοι, Matthew 22:8; Luke 14:7, 17, 24; (2 Samuel 13:23; Esther 5:12; and often so in Greek writings from Homer, Odyssey 4, 532; 11,187 down). β. metaphorically: to invite one, εἰς τί, to something i. e. to participate in it, enjoy it; used thus in the Epistles of Paul and Peter of God as inviting men by the preaching of the gospel (διά τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, 2 Thessalonians 2:14) to the blessings of the heavenly kingdom: εἰς τήν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, 1 Thessalonians 2:12; εἰς ζωήν αἰώνιον, 1 Timothy 6:12; εἰς δόξαν αἰώνιον, 1 Peter 5:10; εἰς τήν κοινωνίαν τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, 1 Corinthians 1:9; so καλεῖν τινα used alone: Romans 8:30; Romans 9:24; 1 Corinthians 7:17f, 20-22, 24; τινα καλεῖν κλήσει, 2 Timothy 1:9; ἐν ἐκληθημεν, in whom lies the reason why we were called, who is the ground of our having been invited, Ephesians 1:11 Lachmann; ἄξιος τῆς κλήσεως, ἧς (by attraction for (or perhaps ἥν; cf. Winers Grammar, § 24, 1; Buttmann, 287 (247); Ellicott, in the place cited)) ἐκλήθητε, Ephesians 4:1; God is styled καλῶν τινα (he that calleth one, the caller, cf. Winer's Grammar, § 45, 7), Galatians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; and καλέσας τινα, Galatians 1:6; Colossians 1:12 Lachmann; 1 Peter 1:15; 2 Peter 1:3. οἱ κεκλημένοι, Hebrews 9:15; καλεῖν and καλεῖσθαι are used with a specification of the mediate end (for the highest or final end of the calling is eternal salvation): ἐπ' ἐλευθερία, Galatians 5:13; οὐκ ἐπ' ἀκαθαρσία ἀλλ' ἐν ἁγιασμῷ, 1 Thessalonians 4:7; ἐν εἰρήνη, 1 Corinthians 7:15; ἐν ἑνί ἐλπίδι, that ye might come into one hope, Ephesians 4:4 (see ἐν, I. 7 (yet cf. Winers Grammar, 417 (389); Buttmann, 329 (283); especially Ellicott in loc.), and ἐπί, Buttmann, 2 a. ζ'.); εἰς εἰρήνην τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν ἑνί σώματι, that ye may be in one body i. e. be members of one and the same body, Colossians 3:15; εἰς τοῦτο (which refers to what precedes) followed by ἵνα, 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 3:9; (but everywhere in the N. T. Epistles only those are spoken of as called by God who have listened to his voice addressed to them in the gospel, hence those who have enlisted in the service of Christ — see Romans 8:30 and Rückert's Commentary, at the passage cited, p. 464, cf. 1 Corinthians 1:24; those who have slighted the invitation are not reckoned among the called); Christ also is said καλεῖν τινα, namely, to embrace the offer of salvation by the Messiah, in Matthew 9:13 and Mark 2:17 (in both passages Rec. adds εἰς μετάνοιαν). God is said to call those who are not yet born, viz. by promises of salvation which have respect to them, so that καλεῖν is for substance equivalent to to appoint one to salvation, Romans 9:12 (11); καλοῦντος τά μή ὄντα ὡς ὄντα, Romans 4:17, where cf. Fritzsche (others besides, cf. Meyer (especially Weiss edition) at the passage). to call (equivalent to to select) to assume some office, τινα, of God appointing or committing an office to one (German berufen): Galatians 1:15; Hebrews 5:4 (Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 51:2). to invite equivalent to to rouse, summon: to do something, εἰς μετάνοιαν, Luke 5:32, added in Rec. also in Matthew 9:13 and Mark 2:17.

2. to call i. e. to name, call by name;

a. to give a name to; with two accusatives, one of the object the other of the name as a predicate (to call one (by) a name: Matthew 10:25 Rec.; cf. Winers Grammar, § 32, 4 b.; Buttmann, 151 (132) note); passive with the nominative of the name, to receive the name of, receive as a name: Matthew 2:23; Matthew 27:8; Luke 1:32, 60, 62; Luke 2:4, etc.; καλούμενος, called, whose name or surname is, Luke 7:11; Luke 9:10; Luke 10:39; Acts 7:58; Acts 27:8, 16; καλούμενος (on its position cf. Buttmann, § 144, 19): Luke 6:15; Luke 8:2; (Luke 22:3 T Tr WH); ; Acts 1:23; Acts 10:1; Acts 13:1; (Acts 15:22 L T Tr WH); ; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 16:16; with ὀνόματι added, Luke 19:2; καλεῖσθαι ὀνόματι τίνι, to be called by a name, Luke 1:61; καλεῖν τινα ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματι τίνος, Luke 1:59 (see ἐπί, Buttmann, 2 a. ., p. 233{b}); after the Hebrew אֶת־שְׁמו קָרָא, καλεῖν τό ὄνομα τίνος, with the name in the accusative, to give some name to one, call his name: Matthew 1:21, 23, 25; Luke 1:13, 31; passive, Luke 2:21; Revelation 19:13; Genesis 17:19; 1 Samuel 1:20, etc. (similarly sometimes in Greek writings, cf. Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 45 (Buttmann, 151 (132))).

b. Passive καλοῦμαι with predicate nominative to be called i. e. to bear a name or title (among men) (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 65, 8): Luke 1:35; Luke 22:25; Acts 8:10 (Rec. omits καλοῦμαι); 1 Corinthians 15:9; to be said to be (equivalent to to be acknowledged, pass as, the nominative expressing the judgment passed on one): Matthew 5:9, 19; Luke 1:32, 35, 76; Luke 2:23; Luke 15:19; Romans 9:26; James 2:23; opposed to εἶναι, 1 John 3:1 L T Tr WH; Hebraistically (Genesis 21:12) ἐν Ἰσαάκ κληθήσεται σοι σπέρμα, through (better in, cf. ἐν, I. 6 c. and Meyer (edited by Weiss) ad Romans, the passage cited) Isaac shall a seed be called for thee, i. e. Isaac (not Ishmael) is the one whose posterity shall obtain the name and honor of thy descendants, Romans 9:7 and Hebrews 11:18.

c. καλῷ τινα, with an accusative of the predicate or a title of honor, to salute one by a name: Matthew 23:9; passive, Matthew 23:7f, 10; Revelation 19:11 (but Tr marginal reading WH brackets καλῷ); to give a name to one and mention him at the same time, Matthew 22:43, 45; Luke 20:44. (Compare: ἀντικαλέω, ἐνκαλέω, εἰσκαλέω (καλέομαι), ἐπικαλέω, μετακαλέω, παρακαλέω, συνπαρακαλέω, προκαλέω, προσκαλέω, συγκαλέω.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bid, call forth, name, invite

Akin to the base of keleuo; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise) -- bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).

see GREEK keleuo

Forms and Transliterations
εκάλει εκαλεσα εκάλεσα εκάλεσά ἐκάλεσα εκάλεσαν εκάλεσάν εκάλεσας εκαλέσατε εκάλεσε εκάλεσέ εκαλεσεν εκάλεσεν ἐκάλεσεν εκαλουν εκάλουν ἐκάλουν εκληθη εκλήθη ἐκλήθη εκληθης εκλήθης ἐκλήθης εκλήθησαν εκληθητε εκλήθητε ἐκλήθητε καλει καλεί καλεῖ κάλει καλειν καλείν καλεῖν καλεισθαι καλείσθαι καλεῖσθαι καλειται καλείται καλεῖται καλειτε καλείτέ καλεῖτε καλεσαι καλέσαι καλεσαντα καλέσαντα καλεσαντες καλέσαντες καλεσαντος καλέσαντος καλεσας καλέσας καλεσατε καλέσατε καλέσατέ καλεσάτω καλέσει καλεσεις καλέσεις καλέσετε καλέσετέ καλέση καλεσητε καλέσητε Καλεσον Κάλεσον καλέσουσι καλεσουσιν καλέσουσιν Καλεσω Καλέσω καλέσωμεν καλέσωσί καλέσωσιν καλουμενη καλουμένη καλουμένῃ καλουμενην καλουμένην καλουμενης καλουμένης καλουμενον καλούμενον καλουμενος καλούμενος καλουμενου καλουμένου καλουνται καλούνται καλοῦνται καλουντες καλοῦντες καλουντος καλούντος καλοῦντος καλουσα καλούσα καλοῦσα καλούσιν καλώ καλων καλών καλῶν κέκληκά κέκληκας κέκληκάς κέκληκε κέκληκέ κεκληκεν κέκληκεν κεκληκοτι κεκληκότι κεκληκως κεκληκώς κέκλημαι κεκλημενοι κεκλημένοι κεκλημενοις κεκλημένοις κεκλημενος κεκλημένος κεκλημενους κεκλημένους κεκλημενων κεκλημένων κεκλήσεται κεκλήσθω κεκληται κέκληται κέκληταί κληθεις κληθείς κληθεὶς κληθεν κληθέν κληθὲν κληθεντος κληθέντος κληθή κληθηναι κληθήναι κληθῆναι κληθης κληθής κληθῇς κληθήσεσθε κληθησεται κληθήσεται κληθήσεταί κληθηση κληθήση κληθήσῃ κληθησονται κληθήσονται κληθητε κληθήτε κληθῆτε κληθήτω κληθωμεν κληθώμεν κληθῶμεν ekalesa ekálesa ekalesen ekálesen ekaloun ekáloun eklethe eklēthē eklḗthe eklḗthē eklethes eklēthēs eklḗthes eklḗthēs eklethete eklēthēte eklḗthete eklḗthēte kalei kaleî kálei kalein kaleîn kaleisthai kaleîsthai kaleitai kaleîtai kaleite kaleîte kalesai kalésai kalesanta kalésanta kalesantes kalésantes kalesantos kalésantos kalesas kalésas kalesate kalésate kaleseis kaléseis kalesete kalesēte kalésete kalésēte Kaleso Kalesō Kaléso Kalésō Kaleson Káleson kalesousin kalésousin kalon kalôn kalōn kalō̂n kaloumene kaloumenē kalouméne kalouménē kalouménei kalouménēi kaloumenen kaloumenēn kalouménen kalouménēn kaloumenes kaloumenēs kalouménes kalouménēs kaloumenon kaloúmenon kaloumenos kaloúmenos kaloumenou kalouménou kalountai kaloûntai kalountes kaloûntes kalountos kaloûntos kalousa kaloûsa kekleken keklēken kékleken kéklēken keklekos keklekṓs keklēkōs keklēkṓs keklekoti keklekóti keklēkoti keklēkóti keklemenoi kekleménoi keklēmenoi keklēménoi keklemenois kekleménois keklēmenois keklēménois keklemenon kekleménon keklēmenōn keklēménōn keklemenos kekleménos keklēmenos keklēménos keklemenous kekleménous keklēmenous keklēménous kekletai keklētai kékletai kékletaí kéklētai kéklētaí kletheis kletheìs klethêis klētheis klētheìs klēthē̂is klethen klethèn klēthen klēthèn klethenai klethênai klēthēnai klēthē̂nai klethentos klethéntos klēthentos klēthéntos klethes klēthēs klethese klēthēsē klethḗsei klēthḗsēi klethesetai klethḗsetai klethḗsetaí klēthēsetai klēthḗsetai klēthḗsetaí klethesontai klethḗsontai klēthēsontai klēthḗsontai klethete klethête klēthēte klēthē̂te klethomen klethômen klēthōmen klēthō̂men
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 1:21 V-FIA-2S
GRK: υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα
NAS: a Son; and you shall call His name
KJV: a son, and thou shalt call his name
INT: a son and you will call the name

Matthew 1:23 V-FIA-3P
GRK: υἱόν καὶ καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα
NAS: A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME
KJV: a son, and they shall call his name
INT: a son and they will call the name

Matthew 1:25 V-AIA-3S
GRK: υἱόν καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα
NAS: to a Son; and he called His name
KJV: son: and he called his name
INT: a son and he called the name

Matthew 2:7 V-APA-NMS
GRK: Ἡρῴδης λάθρᾳ καλέσας τοὺς μάγους
NAS: secretly called the magi
KJV: when he had privily called the wise men,
INT: Herod secretly having called the magi

Matthew 2:15 V-AIA-1S
GRK: Ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν
NAS: OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.
KJV: Out of Egypt have I called my son.
INT: Out of Egypt have I called the Son

Matthew 2:23 V-FIP-3S
GRK: ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται
NAS: the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene.
KJV: He shall be called a Nazarene.
INT: that a Nazarene will he be called

Matthew 4:21 V-AIA-3S
GRK: αὐτῶν καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς
NAS: their nets; and He called them.
KJV: nets; and he called them.
INT: of them and he called them

Matthew 5:9 V-FIP-3P
GRK: υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται
NAS: are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons
KJV: they shall be called the children
INT: sons of God will be called

Matthew 5:19 V-FIP-3S
GRK: ἀνθρώπους ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ
NAS: [to do] the same, shall be called least
KJV: so, he shall be called the least
INT: others least he will be called in the

Matthew 5:19 V-FIP-3S
GRK: οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ
NAS: and teaches [them], he shall be called great
KJV: [them], the same shall be called great
INT: this [one] great will be called in the

Matthew 9:13 V-ANA
GRK: γὰρ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους ἀλλὰ
NAS: for I did not come to call the righteous,
KJV: not come to call the righteous, but
INT: for I came to call righteous [ones] but

Matthew 20:8 V-AMA-2S
GRK: ἐπιτρόπῳ αὐτοῦ Κάλεσον τοὺς ἐργάτας
NAS: to his foreman, 'Call the laborers
KJV: steward, Call the labourers,
INT: foreman of him Call the workmen

Matthew 21:13 V-FIP-3S
GRK: οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται ὑμεῖς δὲ
NAS: MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE
KJV: house shall be called the house
INT: a house of prayer will be called you however

Matthew 22:3 V-ANA
GRK: δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους
NAS: out his slaves to call those
KJV: servants to call them that were bidden
INT: servants of him to call those having been invited

Matthew 22:3 V-RPM/P-AMP
GRK: καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς
NAS: those who had been invited to the wedding feast,
KJV: to call them that were bidden to
INT: to call those having been invited to the

Matthew 22:4 V-RPM/P-DMP
GRK: Εἴπατε τοῖς κεκλημένοις Ἰδοὺ τὸ
NAS: those who have been invited, Behold,
KJV: Tell them which are bidden, Behold,
INT: Say to those having been invited Behold the

Matthew 22:8 V-RPM/P-NMP
GRK: οἱ δὲ κεκλημένοι οὐκ ἦσαν
NAS: but those who were invited were not worthy.
KJV: but they which were bidden were
INT: those moreover having been invited not were

Matthew 22:9 V-AMA-2P
GRK: ἐὰν εὕρητε καλέσατε εἰς τοὺς
NAS: as you find [there], invite to the wedding feast.'
KJV: ye shall find, bid to
INT: if you shall find invite to the

Matthew 22:43 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ἐν πνεύματι καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον
NAS: in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,'
KJV: in spirit call him Lord,
INT: in spirit does call him Lord

Matthew 22:45 V-PIA-3S
GRK: οὖν Δαυὶδ καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον
NAS: David then calls Him 'Lord,' how
KJV: David then call him Lord,
INT: therefore David calls him Lord

Matthew 23:7 V-PNM/P
GRK: ἀγοραῖς καὶ καλεῖσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν
NAS: in the market places, and being called Rabbi
KJV: the markets, and to be called of men,
INT: marketplaces and to be called by

Matthew 23:8 V-ASP-2P
GRK: δὲ μὴ κληθῆτε ῥαββί εἷς
NAS: But do not be called Rabbi; for One
KJV: not ye called Rabbi: for
INT: moreover not shall be called Rabbi one

Matthew 23:9 V-ASA-2P
GRK: πατέρα μὴ καλέσητε ὑμῶν ἐπὶ
NAS: Do not call [anyone] on earth
KJV: And call no [man] your
INT: father not call your [one] on

Matthew 23:10 V-ASP-2P
GRK: μηδὲ κληθῆτε καθηγηταί ὅτι
NAS: Do not be called leaders; for One
KJV: Neither be ye called masters: for
INT: Neither be called leaders as

Matthew 25:14 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ἄνθρωπος ἀποδημῶν ἐκάλεσεν τοὺς ἰδίους
NAS: [about] to go on a journey, who called his own
KJV: travelling into a far country, [who] called his own
INT: a man going on a journey called the own

Strong's Greek 2564
148 Occurrences


ἐκάλεσα — 1 Occ.
ἐκάλεσεν — 10 Occ.
ἐκάλουν — 2 Occ.
ἐκλήθη — 7 Occ.
ἐκλήθης — 2 Occ.
ἐκλήθητε — 7 Occ.
καλεῖ — 5 Occ.
καλεῖν — 1 Occ.
καλεῖσθαι — 3 Occ.
καλεῖται — 5 Occ.
καλεῖτε — 1 Occ.
καλέσαι — 4 Occ.
καλέσαντα — 1 Occ.
καλέσαντες — 1 Occ.
καλέσαντος — 4 Occ.
καλέσας — 6 Occ.
καλέσατε — 1 Occ.
καλέσητε — 1 Occ.
καλέσεις — 3 Occ.
Καλέσω — 1 Occ.
Κάλεσον — 1 Occ.
καλέσουσιν — 1 Occ.
καλῶν — 1 Occ.
καλουμένῃ — 6 Occ.
καλουμένην — 3 Occ.
καλουμένης — 1 Occ.
καλούμενον — 11 Occ.
καλούμενος — 7 Occ.
καλουμένου — 2 Occ.
καλοῦνται — 1 Occ.
καλοῦντες — 1 Occ.
καλοῦντος — 4 Occ.
καλοῦσα — 1 Occ.
κέκληκεν — 2 Occ.
κεκληκώς — 1 Occ.
κεκληκότι — 1 Occ.
κεκλημένων — 1 Occ.
κεκλημένοι — 3 Occ.
κεκλημένοις — 2 Occ.
κεκλημένος — 1 Occ.
κεκλημένους — 2 Occ.
κέκληταί — 2 Occ.
κληθῆναι — 3 Occ.
κληθῇς — 2 Occ.
κληθήσῃ — 2 Occ.
κληθήσεται — 11 Occ.
κληθήσονται — 2 Occ.
κληθῆτε — 2 Occ.
κληθεὶς — 2 Occ.
κληθὲν — 1 Occ.
κληθέντος — 1 Occ.
κληθῶμεν — 1 Occ.















2563
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