What does קָהַל (qāhal) mean in the Bible?
קָהַל (qāhal): Assembly through summons: collective gathering prompted by authoritative call, often for covenant or worship purposes
Hebrew · H6950
קָהַל
To convoke
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קָהַלH6950
Pronunciationqāhal
What does קָהַל (qāhal) mean in the Bible?
קָהַל (qāhal): Assembly through summons: collective gathering prompted by authoritative call, often for covenant or worship purposes
Full entry for קָהַל (H6950) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6950?
The BSB source-word alignment has 38 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include assembled (10), gathered (5), and assemble (3), came together (3), Assemble (2).
Where does קָהַל (qāhal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 32:1. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (9), Esther (5), 2 Chronicles (4), 1 Chronicles (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itassembled10×Exodus 35:1, Joshua 18:1, Joshua 22:12, Judges 20:1
gathered5×Exodus 32:1, Leviticus 8:4, Numbers 16:42, Numbers 20:10
and assemble3×Leviticus 8:3, Numbers 8:9, Numbers 20:8
came together3×1 Kings 8:2, 2 Chronicles 5:3, Esther 9:15
Assemble2×Deuteronomy 31:12, Deuteronomy 31:28
he mobilized2×1 Kings 12:21, 2 Chronicles 11:1
they assembled2×Numbers 1:18, 2 Chronicles 20:26
also assembled1×Esther 9:16
Gather1×Deuteronomy 4:10
had assembled1×Esther 9:18
had gathered1×Numbers 16:19
Have you assembled1×Ezekiel 38:13
or convenes a court1×Job 11:10
so they gathered1×Numbers 20:2
summoned1×1 Chronicles 28:1
the right to assemble1×Esther 8:11
They came together1×Numbers 16:3
To convene1×Numbers 10:7
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 32:1וַיִּקָּהֵ֨לtogatheredConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 35:1וַיַּקְהֵ֣לtoassembledConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 8:3הַקְהֵ֑לtoand assembleVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularLeviticus 8:4וַתִּקָּהֵל֙togatheredConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 1:18הִקְהִ֗ילוּtothey assembledVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralNumbers 8:9וְהִ֨קְהַלְתָּ֔toand assembleConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularNumbers 10:7וּבְהַקְהִ֖ילtoTo conveneConjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructNumbers 16:3וַיִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּtoThey came togetherConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 16:19וַיַּקְהֵ֨לtohad gatheredConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 16:42בְּהִקָּהֵ֤לtogatheredPreposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 32:1
Aligned rows38
Books represented13
Exodus2Leviticus2Numbers9Deuteronomy3Joshua2Judges11 Kings31 Chronicles32 Chronicles4Esther5Job1Jeremiah1Ezekiel2
Source forms
וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּ3xway·yiq·qā·hă·lūJoshua 18:1, Joshua 22:12, 1 Kings 8:2
וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל2xway·yaq·hêlExodus 35:1, 1 Chronicles 28:1
וַיַּקְהֵל֩2xway·yaq·hêl1 Kings 12:21, 2 Chronicles 11:1
וַיִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּ2xway·yiq·qā·hă·lūNumbers 16:3, Esther 9:15
נִקְהֲלוּ֙2xniq·hă·lū2 Chronicles 20:26, Esther 9:18
בְּהִקָּהֵ֤ל1xbə·hiq·qā·hêlNumbers 16:42
הַנִּקְהָלִ֣ים1xhan·niq·hā·lîmEzekiel 38:7
הִקְהִ֗ילוּ1xhiq·hî·lūNumbers 1:18
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular7xExodus 35:1, Numbers 16:19, 1 Kings 12:21, 1 Chronicles 13:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural7xNumbers 16:3, Numbers 20:2, Joshua 18:1, Joshua 22:12
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural4x2 Chronicles 20:26, Esther 9:2, Esther 9:16, Esther 9:18
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular3xLeviticus 8:3, Deuteronomy 4:10, Deuteronomy 31:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular2xLeviticus 8:4, Judges 20:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xExodus 32:1, Jeremiah 26:9
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural1xEzekiel 38:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xJob 11:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Assembly through summons: collective gathering prompted by authoritative call, often for covenant or worship purposes
Source Gloss
to convoke
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Assembly through summons: collective gathering prompted by authoritative call, often for covenant or worship purposes
to convoke BDB: assemble as a Usage: assemble (selves) (together), gather (selves) (together).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms12
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action4×
Perfect2Chr 20:26 · Esth 9:2 · Esth 9:16 · Esth 9:184×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action8×
Sequential imperfectDeut 4:10 · Deut 31:12 · Lev 8:3 · Deut 31:284×
PerfectEzek 38:13 · Num 1:182×
Jussive1Kgs 8:11×
Imperfect2Chr 5:21×
Word Origins
קָהַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.