The Hebrew verb kala (כָּלָא) means to restrain, shut up, withhold, hinder, or keep back. It refers to withholding rain (Deuteronomy 11:17), restraining a person from action, or imprisoning someone — a deliberate, forceful prevention or containment.
God's restraining power is a significant theme in Scripture. He withholds rain as covenant judgment (Deuteronomy 11:17), restrains the wicked (Job 1:12), and the Holy Spirit restrains the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:6–7). God's sovereign restraint preserves the world and His redemptive plan, guiding His servants according to perfect purposes.