מַקְהֵל
𐤌𐤒𐤄𐤋
maqhêl
H4721 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Designates a gathering of people, specifically an assembly or congregation, often connoting a group called together for a specific purpose. Depending on context, this may refer broadly to a convocation of Israelites or, more rarely, to a musical or liturgical grouping (in the feminine form), but the general sense remains that of a collected body of individuals drawn together by summons or appointment.
Semantic Range
assembly, gathered body, congregation, convocation; company of descendants; musical or ceremonial group (especially with the feminine form)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root קהל, which means 'to gather, assemble, call together.' מַקְהֵל is a noun form indicating the result or act of assembling, i.e., the assembly itself. The feminine form, מַקְהֵלָה (maqhēlāh), is attested more frequently and is sometimes associated with musical or liturgical assemblies, but still ultimately denotes a group brought together.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַקְהֵל (maqhêl) and its feminine form מַקְהֵלָה (maqhēlāh) both have their foundation in communal gathering. The masculine form is comparatively rare in the Hebrew Bible, found, for example, in Genesis 28:3 and 48:4 where it refers to a collective body of descendants, often translated as 'assembly of peoples.' The feminine form appears more frequently, especially in Chronicles and Psalms, and sometimes has musical or ceremonial implications (i.e., an assembled choir or group of singers), distinguishing it from other general terms for assembly, such as עֵדָה ('community, congregation') or קָהָל ('assembly, convocation'), which usually lack explicit performative or liturgical overtones. In post-exilic literature, מַקְהֵלָה can denote organized religious gatherings, sometimes involving choral or instrumental performance, but in each case the primary focus remains the act of collective assembling. The English term 'congregation' has sometimes been used in translation, but this carries later ecclesiastical meanings not always present in the biblical text.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (feminine) מַקְהֵלָה; from קָהַל; an assembly; congregation.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קהל (q-h-l) — gather, assemble, call together
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4722 | מַקְהֵלֹת | in Assemblies |
| H6950 | קָהַל | in being assembled |
| H6951 | קָהָל | in the summoned assembly |
| H6952 | קְהִלָּה | summoned assembly |
| H6953 | קֹהֶלֶת | the assembler |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4721-02 |
בְּֽ֭/מַקְהֵלוֹת | bemaqehelot | HR/Ncbpa |
in assemblies | in assembled gatherings | in assemblies | 1 |
H4721-01 |
בְּ֝/מַקְהֵלִ֗ים | bemaqehelim | HR/Ncbpa |
in assemblies | in gathered assemblies | in assemblies | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4721-01 |
Psalms 26:12 | בְּ֝/מַקְהֵלִ֗ים | bemaqehelim | HR/Ncbpa |
in assemblies | in gathered assemblies | in assemblies |
H4721-02 |
Psalms 68:27 | בְּֽ֭/מַקְהֵלוֹת | bemaqehelot | HR/Ncbpa |
in assemblies | in assembled gatherings | in assemblies |