Kelaiah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Kelaiah was a Levite living in the time of Ezra, after the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. He is named among those who had married foreign wives, a practice that violated God’s covenant with Israel and threatened the community’s spiritual purity. The book of Ezra records that the people had intermarried with the surrounding nations, and Ezra called the nation to repentance and covenant renewal.
Kelaiah is listed in Ezra 10:23 among the Levites who were found guilty of this sin: “Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.” The text notes that Kelaiah was also known as Kelita, indicating he went by more than one name. As a Levite, he held a position of religious responsibility among the people, which made his disobedience especially serious.
When Ezra gathered the people and called them to confess their sin and separate themselves from foreign wives, Kelaiah was among those who were required to repent. The account in Ezra 10 describes how the men agreed to put away their foreign wives and offer a trespass offering for their guilt. Kelaiah’s inclusion in this list shows that even those who served in religious roles were not exempt from the call to holiness, and that repentance was required of all who had broken faith with God.
The Name
The name Kelaiah appears to be of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is not entirely certain. Some scholars suggest it may be related to a root meaning “voice of the Lord” or “assembly of the Lord,” though this is not firmly established. The text itself provides a variant name, Kelita, which may reflect a shortened or alternative form. Because the exact meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text or reliable lexical sources, it is best to acknowledge that the precise significance of the name remains uncertain rather than assign it a meaning that cannot be confirmed.
A Closing Thought
Kelaiah’s story is a quiet but important reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God’s call to repentance—and no one is too important to answer it. A Levite, set apart for service in God’s house, had fallen into disobedience, yet he is named among those who responded to Ezra’s summons. His life encourages us that when we fail, the path back to God is open through honest confession and humble obedience. Grace meets us even in our compromises and invites us to begin again.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Ezra 10:23 — Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.