Kelaiah
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Kelaiah in the Bible?
Kelaiah was a priest identified in biblical records as having married a foreign wife, a practice addressed during the post-exilic reforms. He is listed alongside other priests in parallel genealogical records and is noted for his role in assisting Ezra in the public reading and explanation of the Law, as well as in the signing of the covenant agreement.
SIGNIFICANCE
Kelaiah's presence in these records provides concrete evidence of the social and religious challenges regarding intermarriage faced by the returned exiles, illustrating the specific efforts made by the priestly class to enforce communal boundaries and religious fidelity under Ezra's leadership.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.