Bible Dictionary
CLEAVE
“Cleave” has opposite biblical senses: to split or cut apart, and to cling closely or join oneself to another. Scripture speaks both of cleaving wood and of cleaving to a spouse, fellow believer, or what is good.
Definition
Cleave has two opposite meanings: to split or cut apart, and to adhere closely or join oneself to another. The context determines which sense is intended.
Biblical Usage
Scripture speaks of cleaving wood, fountains, floods, and earth, but also of a man cleaving to his wife, Ruth cleaving to Naomi, people cleaving to Paul, and believers cleaving to what is good.
Historical Background
The two meanings represent different Hebrew and Greek roots: one means to split or rend, while the other means to adhere or join.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>klev: Is used in the Bible in two different senses:</p><p>(1) baqa` "to split," or "to rend." We are told that Abraham "clave the wood for the burnt-offering" (Ge 22:3), and that "they clave the wood of the cart" (1Sa 6:14). The Psalmist speaks of Yahweh cleaving fountain and flood (Ps 74:15), and the plowman cleaving the earth (Ps 141:7). For other examples see Jud 15:19; Ec 10:9; Ps 78:15; Hab 3:9.</p><p>(2) dabhaq; kollao, "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 (Ps 137:6). We are told that a man should cleave unto his wife (Ge 2:24; Mt 19:5). It is said that Ru clave unto her mother-in-law (Ru 1:14), and that certain men clave unto Paul (Ac 17:34; compare Ac 4:23; 11:23 margin).</p><p>"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 (Ro 12:9).</p><p>A. W. Fortune</p>