לַהֲקָה (la.ha.qah)
la.ha.qah
company
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun laḥaqah refers to a gathered group or band of people. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel 19:20. In this specific instance, Saul sends messengers to capture David, but they encounter a group of prophets led by Samuel. The text describes these messengers being overcome by the Spirit of God and joining the prophetic company.
This rare usage highlights a distinct dynamic within the word’s meaning. Rather than describing a military unit or a formal political assembly, laḥaqah here denotes a cohesive group bound by a shared spiritual experience or activity. The sudden transformation of Saul’s agents into part of this prophetic band underscores the power of divine inspiration to reshape social boundaries and individual intentions.
Because the term is so scarce in Scripture, its meaning is anchored entirely by this narrative context. It serves as a linguistic marker for groups formed around charismatic leadership or spiritual fervor, rather than institutional structure. The word reminds readers that in biblical times, community could be defined by sudden, overwhelming encounters with the divine just as much as by long-standing tradition.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word laḥaqah describes a gathered group, appearing only once in Scripture within the narrative of 1 Samuel 19:20. Here, Saul’s messengers arrive to arrest David but instead encounter a company of prophets led by Samuel. Overcome by the Spirit of God, these agents join the prophetic band, transforming from pursuers into participants in shared spiritual fervor.
This rare term highlights that biblical community is not always defined by formal structures or long-standing traditions. Instead, it can emerge through sudden, overwhelming encounters with the divine. When individuals are drawn together by a common experience of God’s presence, social boundaries shift, and new bonds form around charismatic leadership and spiritual unity.
For your faith, this reminds us that God can bring people together in unexpected ways. Whether in a small group or a large gathering, what matters is the shared focus on Him. May you find encouragement in knowing that true community often arises from our collective response to His Spirit.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] company of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַהֲקַ֤ת1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 19:20
Saul sent messengers to seize David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, God’s Spirit came on Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied.
This verse anchors the word’s meaning by showing how Saul’s messengers were transformed into part of a prophetic company through the direct action of God’s Spirit.