← H6952 H6954 →

קֹהֶלֶת

𐤒𐤄𐤋𐤕

qôheleth

H6953 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קהל to assemble, gather, convene

Definition

A title or designation meaning 'assembler,' 'convener,' or 'one who gathers (an assembly),' most often used as a personal designation in the superscription and body of the book of Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) referring to the central speaker. The term encompasses both the act of convening a group and possibly speaking to it, but is not restricted to 'preacher' in the modern or later ecclesiastical sense. Semantic range includes one who gathers a congregation or audience, convener of an assembly, or, abstractly, the office or function of such a person.

Semantic Range

assembler, convener, one who gathers an assembly, official who convenes a public gathering, (in context of the book) titular designation of the speaker, rarely—in abstract sense—act of assembling or convening, by tradition rendered 'Preacher'

Root / Etymology

From the root קהל (q-h-l) meaning 'to assemble' or 'convene.' The form קֹהֶלֶת appears to be a feminine singular active participle, but it is used here as a title or name rather than a straightforward participial noun. The feminine form may indicate a title or office, or could reflect a grammatical convention for functional titles in Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

קֹהֶלֶת occurs only in the book titled after it (Ecclesiastes), where it designates the speaker or author. In later Greek tradition (LXX), it was transliterated as Ecclesiastes—the assembler or convener. The role of קֹהֶלֶת in the book is debated: it may refer to a royal teacher, sage, or simply the person addressing the gathered Israelite assembly. The translation 'preacher' is conventional but does not capture the administrative or secular aspects of assembling a gathering, and does not necessarily imply religious preaching as understood in later Jewish or Christian contexts. The feminine grammatical form is sometimes explained as an abstract noun (e.g. one who holds the office of assembling), or as a construct convention for certain designated roles. There is no evidence for an actual personal name קֹהֶלֶת outside this biblical context. Use of the capitalized 'Preacher' as an English translation is a result of KJV tradition and does not reflect the breadth of the Hebrew term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of active participle from קָהַל; a (female) assembler (i.e. lecturer); abstractly, preaching (used as a 'nom de plume', Koheleth); preacher.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

קהל (q-h-l) — assemble, gather, convene

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4721 מַקְהֵל in gathered assemblies
H4722 מַקְהֵלֹת in Assemblies
H6950 קָהַל in being assembled
H6951 קָהָל in the summoned assembly
H6952 קְהִלָּה summoned assembly

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6953-02 קֹהֶ֣לֶת qohelet HNcmsa the Preacher assembly convener 6
H6953-01 הַ/קּוֹהֶ֖לֶת haqohelet HTd/Ncmsa the Preacher the assembler 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6953-02 Ecclesiastes 1:1 קֹהֶ֣לֶת qohelet HNcmsa assembly convener
H6953-02 Ecclesiastes 1:2 קֹהֶ֔לֶת qohelet HNcmsa assembly convener
H6953-02 Ecclesiastes 1:12 קֹהֶ֗לֶת qohelet HNcmsa assembly convener
H6953-02 Ecclesiastes 7:27 קֹהֶ֑לֶת qohelet HNcmsa assembly convener
H6953-01 Ecclesiastes 12:8 הַ/קּוֹהֶ֖לֶת haqohelet HTd/Ncmsa the Preacher the assembler
H6953-02 Ecclesiastes 12:9 קֹהֶ֖לֶת qohelet HNcmsa the Preacher assembly convener
H6953-02 Ecclesiastes 12:10 קֹהֶ֔לֶת qohelet HNcmsa the Preacher assembly convener
← H6952 Hebrew Lexicon H6954 →