Bible Word Study
מַקְהֵלֹת
Maqhêlôth · Makheloth, a place in the Desert
מַקְהֵלֹת
Makheloth, a place in the Desert
Definition
Makheloth is a proper noun referring to a specific location in the wilderness where the Israelites camped during their exodus from Egypt. The name itself means 'assemblies' or 'gatherings,' derived from the Hebrew root for 'to assemble.' It is listed as one of the wilderness encampments in the itinerary recorded in Numbers 33:25-26. As a place name, it signifies a stopping point along the journey, with no other narrative events specifically attached to it in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in the Old Testament book of Numbers, specifically in the chapter that lists the stages of Israel's journey. It appears only in the itinerary of Numbers 33:25 and 33:26, where it functions solely as a geographical location name for one of the many wilderness campsites. There is no narrative action or dialogue associated with Makheloth; its usage is purely topographical and historical within the travel log.
Etymology
The name Makheloth (מַקְהֵלֹת) is the feminine plural form of the noun מַקְהֵל (maqhêl, H4721), meaning 'assembly' or 'congregation.' It is derived from the root verb קָהַל (qāhal, H6950), which means 'to assemble, to gather.' Thus, the place name literally translates as 'assemblies' or 'gathering places,' likely describing its function or nature as a site where the people congregated.
Semantic Range
As a wilderness campsite name, Makheloth reflects the Israelite practice of naming locations based on events, characteristics, or functions encountered during their travels. The name 'Assemblies' suggests it may have been a place where the community gathered for specific purposes, such as instruction, organization, or worship, during their desert sojourn. This fits the pattern of other named stops that memorialize aspects of their journey and God's provision. qāhāl (H6950) — A more common term for the assembled congregation or community of Israel. מַקְהֵל (maqhêl, H4721) — The singular form meaning 'assembly,' from which Makheloth is directly derived.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]