מִקְרָא
something called out, i.e. a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place); also a rehearsal
Definition
The noun מִקְרָא (miqrâʼ) fundamentally means 'a calling together' or 'a summoned assembly.' In its primary sense, it refers to a sacred convocation or public gathering called by God, especially for Israel's appointed feasts and Sabbaths (Leviticus 23:2-4). This includes the weekly Sabbath (Leviticus 23:3) and major festivals like Passover and the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:7, 24). A secondary, related meaning is 'a reading' or 'rehearsal,' as seen in Nehemiah 8:8, where it describes the public reading and explanation of the Law to the assembled people.
Biblical Usage
This word is used almost exclusively in the Pentateuch (Exodus and Leviticus) to designate the holy convocations associated with Israel's liturgical calendar. Its usage is formulaic, often appearing in the phrase 'holy convocation' (מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ) to declare days when no ordinary work is to be done (Exodus 12:16, Leviticus 23:21). The sole exception is Nehemiah 8:8, where it refers to the reading of scripture, expanding its meaning from the event of gathering to the activity performed during it.
Etymology
Derived from the root קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121), meaning 'to call, proclaim, or read aloud.' מִקְרָא is a noun form indicating the result or place of that calling—hence, 'a called assembly.' This root connects the word to the concepts of divine proclamation, invitation, and public declaration, foundational to Israel's covenantal identity.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it marks time as sacred, set apart by God's direct summons. These convocations were not optional social gatherings but mandatory appointments with Yahweh, defining Israel's rhythm of worship and remembrance. Understanding מִקְרָא enriches the reading of Leviticus 23, revealing that holy days were fundamentally about God calling His people into His presence, a concept that finds its fulfillment in the New Testament 'ekklēsia' (church), the people called out by God.
In ancient Israel, a 'holy convocation' suspended normal economic and agricultural life. It was a communal act of worship and rest decreed by God, distinct from spontaneous or secular gatherings. This practice shaped Israel's identity as a people collectively responding to God's call, a rhythm unfamiliar in modern individualistic societies.
עֵדָה (ʻēdâ, H5712) — a congregation or community, often a more general term for the assembled group. קָהָל (qāhāl, H6951) — an assembly, crowd, or congregation, sometimes used interchangeably but can imply a larger or more formal gathering.
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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