Greek · Strong's G2564
καλέω
kaléō (ka-LEH-oh)
verb
To call, invite, summon; to name or designate; to appoint or choose for a specific purpose.
The Greek verb kaléō has a wide semantic range, encompassing various shades of "calling." At its most basic, it refers to the act of calling out or summoning someone, whether vocally or by invitation. This can include inviting someone to a social event, such as a wedding feast (Matthew 22:3). In a more formal sense, kaléō can mean to name or designate someone or something, as seen in the naming of Jesus (Luke 2:21) or the place called Calvary (Luke 23:33). The passive voice often indicates being known or recognized by a certain name or title, such as being called a prophet (Luke 1:76) or children of God (Matthew 5:9; Romans 9:26).
Beyond these more literal uses, kaléō carries significant theological weight, particularly in the context of God's divine summons. This refers to God's initiative in selecting individuals for a particular purpose or relationship. Aaron, for instance, was "called of God" for the high priesthood (Hebrews 5:4). This divine calling is not merely an invitation but an effectual act by which God draws people into His redemptive plan and endows them with a new status or identity. Those who respond to this call are often designated as "the called" in other biblical texts, highlighting their unique position within God's covenant.
The concept of being "called" by God underscores the idea of divine election and purpose. It signifies that one's identity and destiny are rooted in God's sovereign choice rather than human merit or initiative. This sense of calling provides assurance and direction for believers, reminding them that their lives have a divine purpose and that they are part of a larger plan orchestrated by God. The use of kaléō in this theological context reveals a fundamental aspect of the biblical understanding of salvation and discipleship.
Kaleo meaning in the Bible — God's call
Kaleō (καλέω) is the New Testament's basic verb for “to call.” You see it on three levels. At the simplest, it names a person — “Joseph” (Matthew 1:21), “John” (Luke 1:13). Next, it invites someone to come — guests to a wedding, workers to a vineyard. At the deepest, it is the effective summons of God on the human soul: “those whom he called” (Romans 8:30). The kaleo meaning in the Bible always carries this potential for elevation; it is rarely a flat word.
Theologically the most concentrated use is in Paul. The “called” (klētoi) are believers (Romans 1:6); the “calling” (klēsis) is the believer's vocation, identity, and inheritance (Ephesians 4:1, 4:4). For Paul, God's call is not an offer that hangs in the air waiting for human consent — it is a creative word that produces what it names, just as God “calleth (kaleō) those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17).
That is why the kaleo meaning in the Bible has practical teeth. If God's call is creative, then identity precedes effort. You don't become a saint by hard work and earn the title; you are called a saint by God and live up to the title (1 Corinthians 1:2). Hebrews 11 retells Israel's history as the story of those who heard the call and obeyed — Abraham “when he was called” (Hebrews 11:8), and a whole company after him. The Christian life, in this vocabulary, begins with hearing your name.
Common English renderings
- call
- bid
- name
Key verses
"Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner."
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"And it shall be, thatin the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God."
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"And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron."
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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God."
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"And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb."
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"and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come."
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Related words
Common questions
- Kaleō (καλέω) is a Greek verb meaning 'to call,' 'to invite,' or 'to name.' It appears 148 times in the New Testament. It can describe naming a child, inviting a guest, summoning a person, or — most distinctively in Paul — God's effective call on a person to salvation and service.
Where this word study leads next