{
  "id": "dict_003095",
  "term": "Kelita",
  "slug": "kelita",
  "letter": "K",
  "entry_type": "biblical_person",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Kelita is a biblical personal name, not a doctrine, referring to a Levite named in postexilic lists in Ezra and Nehemiah.",
  "simple_one_line": "A postexilic Levite named in Ezra-Nehemiah; Ezra 10:23 links the spelling with Kelaiah.",
  "tooltip_text": "A biblical personal name for a Levite mentioned in Ezra and Nehemiah, associated with the postexilic community.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Kelaiah",
    "Levites",
    "Ezra",
    "Nehemiah",
    "Return from Exile"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Ezra 10:23",
    "Nehemiah 8:7",
    "Nehemiah 10:10",
    "Kelaiah"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Kelita is a Hebrew personal name borne by a Levite mentioned in the postexilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A Levite in the restored community after the exile, named in Ezra-Nehemiah and associated with public reading and covenant renewal.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Postexilic Levite",
    "appears in Ezra and Nehemiah",
    "linked to covenant-renewal and Scripture-reading settings",
    "not a theological term",
    "Ezra 10:23 identifies a spelling relationship with Kelaiah."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Kelita is a biblical personal name found in Ezra-Nehemiah. It designates a Levite associated with the postexilic community and does not function as a doctrinal or theological term.",
  "description_academic_full": "Kelita is an Old Testament personal name associated with the return from exile and the restoration of Israel’s worship and community life. The name appears in Ezra and Nehemiah in contexts that involve Levites, the public reading of the law, and covenant renewal. In Ezra 10:23 the name is linked with the variant spelling Kelaiah, indicating a textual or transliteration relationship rather than a distinct theological concept. Kelita should therefore be treated as a historical biblical person entry, not as a doctrinal headword.",
  "background_biblical_context": "Ezra and Nehemiah record the reconstitution of Judah after the Babylonian exile. In that setting, Levites played important roles in teaching, reading the law, and helping the people understand God’s word. Kelita is named in that restored-community setting.",
  "background_historical_context": "The postexilic period was marked by return, rebuilding, reform, and renewed covenant identity under Persian rule. Lists of names in Ezra and Nehemiah reflect the public organization of priests, Levites, and lay leaders who helped stabilize the community.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "In Second Temple Judaism, Levites served alongside priests in worship, instruction, and administrative support. Names in Ezra-Nehemiah often identify those who took part in the community’s renewal and obedience to the law.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Ezra 10:23",
    "Nehemiah 8:7",
    "Nehemiah 10:10"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Ezra 10:18-23",
    "Nehemiah 8:1-8"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "A Hebrew personal name transliterated into English. Ezra 10:23 associates the spelling with Kelaiah, showing that the name may appear in closely related forms.",
  "theological_significance": "Kelita has no independent doctrinal meaning, but the name belongs to the narrative of postexilic restoration, when God preserved a remnant and reestablished faithful worship and instruction in the law.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "As a proper name, Kelita carries historical rather than conceptual content. Its value lies in the biblical record of real people serving within God’s covenant community.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not treat Kelita as a theological term. The main interpretive issue is the relationship between the spelling Kelita and the variant Kelaiah in Ezra 10:23.",
  "major_views_note": "There is little interpretive debate beyond whether the references reflect the same individual under closely related spellings.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry should not be used to build doctrine. It identifies a historical person in Scripture and should remain within that narrow scope.",
  "practical_significance": "Kelita reminds readers that God worked through named individuals in the restoration of his people. Even brief biblical references can highlight service, order, and faithfulness in ordinary ministry.",
  "meta_description": "Kelita is a biblical personal name, not a theological term, referring to a Levite named in Ezra-Nehemiah.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/kelita/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/kelita.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}