4721. maqhel or maqhelah

Lexical Summary

maqhel or maqhelah: Assembly, company, congregation

Original Word: מַקְהֵל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: maqhel
Pronunciation: mahk-HAYL or mahk-hay-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mak-hale')
KJV: congregation
NASB: congregations
Word Origin: [from H6950 (קָהַל - assembled)]

1. an assembly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

congregation

Or (feminine) maqhelah {mak-hay-law'}; from qahal; an assembly -- congregation.

see HEBREW qahal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as qahal
Definition
an assembly
NASB Translation
congregations (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[מַקְהֵל] noun [masculine] assembly, for worship, plural: possibly choirs, מַקְהֵלִים Psalm 26:12, מַקְהֵלוֺת Psalm 68:27.

Topical Lexicon

Concept Summary

מַקְהֵל (Strong’s Hebrew 4721) designates the gathered worshiping people of God, especially in settings of formal praise. Unlike terms that stress civic or military gatherings, this word is confined to the religious sphere, highlighting the covenant community assembled to bless the LORD.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Psalm 26:12 – “My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.”
2. Psalm 68:26 – “Bless God in the great congregation, bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.”

Both psalms are Davidic, set against the backdrop of organized, celebratory worship surrounding the sanctuary.

Portrait of the “Great Assembly”

• Liturgical Context: The psalms envision pilgrims or Levites leading processions, instruments sounding, and voices united in doxology (Psalm 68:24–27).
• Spatial Imagery: “Level ground” (Psalm 26:12) conveys stability and divine order, reinforcing that corporate praise rests on God’s righteous foundation.
• Covenant Identity: Psalm 68:26 links the congregation to “the fountain of Israel,” underscoring shared ancestry in the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Historical Significance

During David’s reign the Ark was brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). These psalms capture the heightened sense of national unity and divine presence that characterized those gatherings. The term later shaped temple liturgy, influencing the Chronicler’s repeated phrase “all the assembly” in describing Solomon’s dedication (2 Chronicles 5:6, 2 Chronicles 6:3).

Theological Themes

• Public Witness: Private devotion finds completion in public praise; individual integrity (Psalm 26) culminates in congregational blessing.
• Inclusivity within Covenant Boundaries: The word invites every tribe and clan, yet remains distinctly Israelite, preserving the uniqueness of Yahweh’s redeemed people.
• God at the Center: The assembly exists to “bless God,” not to showcase human achievement. Corporate worship is God-initiated and God-directed.

Ministry Implications

1. Value of Gathering: Hebrews 10:25 echoes the psalmic emphasis on assembled praise, urging New Covenant believers not to neglect meeting together.
2. Worship Planning: Music, procession, and responsive reading find Old Testament precedent, encouraging thoughtful, orderly services that honor God’s holiness.
3. Discipleship: Participation in corporate worship forms character; standing “on level ground” presupposes ethical integrity before communal praise (Psalm 26:1–12).

Christological and Eschatological Echoes

Jesus, the greater David, sings in the midst of His brethren (Hebrews 2:12 quoting Psalm 22:22). The earthly מַקְהֵל anticipates the innumerable multitude in Revelation 7:9–12, where redeemed humanity from every nation assembles before the throne.

Practical Application for Today

• Encourage regular, wholehearted participation in congregational worship as a testimony to God’s faithfulness.
• Foster gatherings that are Scripture-saturated, musically vibrant, and ethically consistent with the gospel.
• Remember that each local church, however small, mirrors the “great assembly” and points forward to the consummate gathering of all saints.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗ים בְּֽ֭מַקְהֵלוֹת במקהלות במקהלים bə·maq·hê·lîm bə·maq·hê·lō·wṯ bemakheLim Bemakhelot bəmaqhêlîm bəmaqhêlōwṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Psalm 26:12
HEB: עָֽמְדָ֣ה בְמִישׁ֑וֹר בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗ים אֲבָרֵ֥ךְ יְהוָֽה׃
NAS: on a level place; In the congregations I shall bless
KJV: in an even place: in the congregations will I bless
INT: stands A level the congregations shall bless the LORD

Psalm 68:26
HEB: בְּֽ֭מַקְהֵלוֹת בָּרְכ֣וּ אֱלֹהִ֑ים
NAS: God in the congregations, [Even] the LORD,
KJV: ye God in the congregations, [even] the Lord,
INT: the congregations Bless God

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4721
2 Occurrences

bə·maq·hê·lîm — 1 Occ.
bə·maq·hê·lō·wṯ — 1 Occ.