← H6949 H6951 →

קָהַל

𐤒𐤄𐤋

qâhal

H6950 verb

SILEX Entry

Root קהל to assemble, to gather, to convoke

Definition

To assemble or gather (of people), especially for a public, religious, or official purpose; to call or summon an assemblage. The verb denotes the act of bringing individuals together, often at the initiative of a leader, and may imply formality, solemnity, or a collective mission. Used both literally (to physically convene a group) and with emphasis on the event or meeting thus initiated.

Semantic Range

to call an assembly, to gather a group, to convoke people for public or religious purposes, to bring together for deliberation or crisis, to assemble for war, to gather the community for proclamation

Root / Etymology

The verb derives from the root קהל (q-h-l), whose core idea is gathering or assembling. The root is used both as a verb (to assemble) and as a noun (assembly or congregation). Both nominal and verbal forms reflect the idea of collective gathering for a purpose, whether cultic, civic, military, or communal.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, קָהַל is frequently used in the context of assembling the Israelite community for significant occasions such as covenant renewals, public addresses, worship, crisis response, or warfare. The verb often reflects a formal call to gather, usually by an authority such as Moses or a tribal leader. In pre-exilic texts, it can designate gathering of the entire Israelite body (e.g., at Sinai), or a tribal unit, or those eligible to participate in sacred festivals. In later (post-exilic) writings, the term remains functional for both community and religious assemblies. The related nouns (קָהָל, קְהִלָּה) share the same range but can acquire more institutional connotations (such as an established community or congregation). The Greek Septuagint often renders קָהַל and its forms as 'ekklēsia,' which later influenced English Bibles to translate as 'church'; however, the ancient usage referred broadly to assembly, and not to the later specialized concept. In early periods, the term did not carry the religious exclusivity or ecclesiastical organization that later became associated with 'congregation' or 'church.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to convoke; assemble (selves) (together), gather (selves) (together).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

קהל (q-h-l) — to assemble, to gather, to convoke

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4721 מַקְהֵל in gathered assemblies
H4722 מַקְהֵלֹת in Assemblies
H6951 קָהָל in the summoned assembly
H6952 קְהִלָּה summoned assembly
H6953 קֹהֶלֶת the assembler

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6950-13 וַ/יִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּ vayiqahalu HC/VNw3mp and they assembled and they assembled themselves 8
H6950-11 וַ/יַּקְהֵ֣ל vayaqehel HC/Vhw3ms and assembled and he convened 7
H6950-08 נִקְהֲל֨וּ niqehalu HVNp3cp assembled they assembled themselves 4
H6950-03 הַקְהֵ֑ל haqehel HVhv2ms Assemble Convene! 3
H6950-10 וַ/תִּקָּהֵל֙ vatiqahel HC/VNw3fs and the congregation assembled she assembled herself 2
H6950-14 וַ/יִּקָּהֵ֨ל vayiqahel HC/VNw3ms And gathered and he assembled himself 2
H6950-07 לְ/הִקָּהֵל֮ lehiqahel HR/VNc to assemble to assemble oneself to assemble oneself 1
H6950-16 וְ/הִ֨קְהַלְתָּ֔ vehiqehaleta HC/Vhq2ms you shall assemble and you shall convene 1
H6950-18 יַקְהֵ֣ל yaqehel HVhj3ms assembled let him convene 1
H6950-04 הַקְהִ֧ילוּ haqehilu HVhv2mp Assemble Convene! 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6950-14 Exodus 32:1 וַ/יִּקָּהֵ֨ל vayiqahel HC/VNw3ms gathered themselves together and he assembled himself
H6950-11 Exodus 35:1 וַ/יַּקְהֵ֣ל vayaqehel HC/Vhw3ms and assembled and he convened
H6950-03 Leviticus 8:3 הַקְהֵ֑ל haqehel HVhv2ms gather Convene!
H6950-10 Leviticus 8:4 וַ/תִּקָּהֵל֙ vatiqahel HC/VNw3fs and was gathered she assembled herself
H6950-06 Numbers 1:18 הִקְהִ֗ילוּ hiqehilu HVhp3cp they assembled they convened an assembly
H6950-16 Numbers 8:9 וְ/הִ֨קְהַלְתָּ֔ vehiqehaleta HC/Vhq2ms you shall assemble and you shall convene
H6950-09 Numbers 10:7 וּ/בְ/הַקְהִ֖יל uvehaqehil HC/R/Vhc when assembling and in convening
H6950-13 Numbers 16:3 וַ/יִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּ vayiqahalu HC/VNw3mp and they assembled and they assembled themselves
H6950-11 Numbers 16:19 וַ/יַּקְהֵ֨ל vayaqehel HC/Vhw3ms and gathered and he convened
H6950-01 Numbers 17:7 בְּ/הִקָּהֵ֤ל behiqahel HR/VNc when assembling in being assembled
← H6949 Hebrew Lexicon H6951 →