לַהֲקָה
an assembly
Definition
The Hebrew noun לַהֲקָה (lahăqâh) refers to a gathered assembly or company of people. It specifically denotes a group that has been convened or brought together, often with a sense of formal or purposeful gathering. In its sole biblical occurrence in 1 Samuel 19:20, it describes the group of prophets that Saul's messengers encountered, a company engaged in prophetic activity under Samuel's leadership. The term emphasizes the collective nature of the group, assembled for a common purpose.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel 19:20. It describes the 'company of the prophets' (לַהֲקַת הַנְּבִאִים) that Saul's messengers find at Ramah, where Samuel is presiding. The context is a prophetic assembly, indicating a formal or recognized group engaged in ecstatic prophetic activity. Its singular usage limits broader pattern analysis, but it clearly denotes an assembled group, not a random crowd.
Etymology
לַהֲקָה is likely derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to gather' or 'to collect.' It is a feminine noun formation. While its exact root is debated, its meaning is consistently tied to the concept of assembling. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the idea of gathering or collecting people into a group.
Semantic Range
While used only once, this word is theologically significant as it labels a key institution in Israel's prophetic history: the 'company of the prophets.' Understanding this term enriches the reading of 1 Samuel 19-20, highlighting that prophecy in Samuel's time could involve organized, communal groups under mentorship, not just solitary individuals. It points to a structured aspect of prophetic training and fellowship that was part of God's communication with His people.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, a 'company' (לַהֲקָה) like the one in 1 Samuel 19:20 likely functioned as a prophetic guild or school. These were groups of disciples gathered around a leading prophet (like Samuel or later, Elijah and Elisha) for instruction, worship, and communal living. This differs from a modern understanding of a casual gathering; it implies a formal, purposeful association with a religious and instructional aim.
עֵדָה (ʿēdâ, H5712) — a congregation or community, often used for Israel as a whole or a formal assembly. קָהָל (qāhāl, H6951) — an assembly, convocation, or crowd, frequently with a liturgical or judicial purpose. קִבּוּץ (qibbûṣ, H6908) — a gathering or collection, often of objects or people, but less formal than an assembly.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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