Lexical Summary kilayim: Mixtures, mixed kinds Original Word: כִּלְאַיִם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance divers seeds e kinds, mingled seed Dual of kele' in the original sense of separation; two heterogeneities -- divers seeds (-e kinds), mingled (seed). see HEBREW kele' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kala Definition two kinds NASB Translation two kinds (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs כִּלְאַיִם noun [masculine] dual two kinds (Arabic  ,  both; Ethiopic  two; perhaps also כלאי MI23 both, two, NöLCB 1889, 61, cf DrSm xcii; Sm u. SoMI, 1886 suggest reservoirs; see also כְּלִי) — בְּהֶמְתְּךָ לֹא ׳תַּרְבִּיעַ כ Leviticus 19:19 not cause thy cattle to breed (in) two kinds; ׳שָֽׂדְךָ לֹא תִּזְרַע כ Leviticus 19:19 (H); לֹא תִּזְרַע ׳כַּרְמְךָ כ Deuteronomy 22:9 (both כִּלְאָ֑יִם); ׳בֶּגֶד כ Leviticus 19:19 (H); — only in law of H and D against mixtures. Topical Lexicon Definition and Concept Kilʾayim denotes the prohibited mixture of distinct kinds—whether plants, animals, or textiles. The term gathers several specific bans into one larger principle: God’s covenant people were to respect the created distinctions He ordained. Canonical Usage 1. Mixed Breeding of Animals – “Do not mate two different kinds of animals” (Leviticus 19:19). Historical Background Ancient Near Eastern agronomy frequently mingled seed varieties to maximize harvests, and textile producers blended fibers for strength and comfort. Israel’s neighbors also practiced sympathetic magic that relied on symbolic mingling of life forces. By forbidding such mixtures, the Mosaic law set Israel apart culturally and spiritually, testifying that Israelite life was grounded not in pagan manipulation of nature but in obedience to the Creator. Theological Themes Holiness and Distinction: Kilʾayim laws dramatize divine holiness through visible, everyday choices. The separation of kinds mirrors the structured separations in Genesis 1, reaffirming that God authors order, not chaos. Covenant Identity: The statutes served as a daily reminder of Israel’s unique calling. The people could hardly sow, breed, or dress without encountering the question, “Am I honoring the God-given boundaries?” Respect for Creation: By guarding distinctions, Israel acknowledged that created kinds are not infinitely malleable for human exploitation but possess divinely set limits. Practical Applications for Believers While the ceremonial specifics no longer bind the church, the principle of honoring God-ordained distinctions abides. Modern disciples may apply kilʾayim by resisting ideological or ethical syncretism, maintaining doctrinal purity, and valuing the integrity of God’s design for family, gender, and worship. New Testament Perspective Paul evokes the imagery of unequal yoking in 2 Corinthians 6:14–18, calling believers to avoid spiritual mixture with unbelief. Although he does not cite kilʾayim explicitly, his appeal rests on the same creation-based logic: righteousness has no partnership with lawlessness. Ministry Significance Preaching: Kilʾayim laws supply vivid illustrations for sermons on holiness and cultural engagement. Counseling: They offer a framework for discussing boundaries in relationships and business partnerships. Ethics: They encourage stewardship that respects natural limits, supporting Christian reflection on biotechnology, agriculture, and sustainable fashion. Kilʾayim stands as a concrete, multisensory catechism in God’s order, urging every generation to honor the distinctions He declared “very good.” Forms and Transliterations כִּלְאַ֔יִם כִּלְאַ֙יִם֙ כִּלְאָ֑יִם כלאים kil’ayim kil’āyim kil·’a·yim kil·’ā·yim kilAyimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 19:19 HEB: לֹא־ תַרְבִּ֣יעַ כִּלְאַ֔יִם שָׂדְךָ֖ לֹא־ NAS: You shall not breed together two kinds KJV: gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow INT: nor breed two your field nor Leviticus 19:19 Leviticus 19:19 Deuteronomy 22:9 4 Occurrences |
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