Cleave
King James Dictionary [1]
CLEAVE,
1. To stick to adhere to hold to.
My bones cleave to my skin. Psalms 102 .
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. Psalms 137 .
Cleave to that which is good. Romans 12 .
2. To unite aptly to fit to sit well on. 3. To unite or be united closely in interest or affection to adhere with strong attachment.
A man shall leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife. Genesis 2 . Math. 19.
Cleave to Jehovah your God. Joshua 23 .
CLEAVE,
1. To part or divide by force to split or rive to open or serve the cohering parts of a body, by cutting or by the application of force as, to cleave wood to cleave a rock to cleave the flood. Psalms 74 . 2. To part or open naturally.
Every beast that cleaveth the cleft into two claws. Deuteronomy 14 .
CLEAVE, To part to open to crack to separate, as parts of cohering bodies as, the ground cleaves by frost.
The mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof. Zechariah 14 .
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [2]
Psalm 22:15 (b) This is a description of the terrible results of the suffering of Christ on the Cross.
Psalm 44:25 (b) Here is a graphic story of the utter depression which comes upon those whom GOD forsakes.
Psalm 119:25 (b) In this way is described the feelings of the psalmist when sorrow had overwhelmed him.
Matthew 19:5 (b) It is a figure to show how closely related and attached a husband and wife are in the sight of the Lord.
Romans 12:9 (a) This is a strong expression to show how fully we should be given over to the good things of GOD.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): (v. i.) To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast; to cling.
(2): (v. i.) To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere with strong attachment.
(3): (v. i.) To fit; to be adapted; to assimilate.
(4): (v. i.) To part; to open; to crack; to separate; as parts of bodies; as, the ground cleaves by frost.
(5): (v. t.) To part or open naturally; to divide.
(6): (v. t.) To part or divide by force; to split or rive; to cut.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [4]
klēv : Is used in the Bible in two different senses:
(1) בּקע , bāḳa‛ "to split," or "to rend." We are told that Abraham "clave the wood for the burnt-offering" ( Genesis 22:3 ), and that "they clave the wood of the cart" ( 1 Samuel 6:14 ). The Psalmist speaks of Yahweh cleaving fountain and flood ( Psalm 74:15 ), and the plowman cleaving the earth ( Psalm 141:7 ). For other examples see Judges 15:19; Ecclesiastes 10:9; Psalm 78:15; Habakkuk 3:9 .
(2) דּבק , dābhaḳ ; κολλάω , kolláō , "to adhere to," or "to join one's self to." This meaning is the reverse of the preceding. The Psalmist speaks of his tongue cleaving to the roof of his mouth ( Psalm 137:6 ). We are told that a man should cleave unto his wife ( Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5 ). It is said that Ruth clave unto her mother-in-law (Rth 1:14), and that certain men clave unto Paul ( Acts 17:34; compare Acts 4:23; Acts 11:23 margin).
"Cleave" is also used in this sense to describe one's adherence to principles. Paul admonished the Romans to cleave to that which is good ( Romans 12:9 ).
