מִקְרָא (miq.ra)
miq.ra
assembly
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 22 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun miqra denotes a public gathering called together by an official summons. Derived from the verb for "calling," it refers to the act of convoking, the assembled people themselves, or even the place where they meet. In the Torah, particularly in Leviticus and Numbers, it appears frequently as part of the phrase "sacred assembly," marking specific days set apart for rest and worship rather than ordinary labor.
While often translated as "convocation" or "assembly," the word also carries a distinct meaning related to vocalization. In Nehemiah 8:8, it describes the public reading of the Torah during the post-exilic restoration. Here, miqra refers to the recitation itself, highlighting that these gatherings were not just physical meetings but occasions for hearing God’s words proclaimed aloud.
This dual sense of gathering and proclaiming connects the ritual calendar with the life of the community. Whether referring to the solemn feasts in Isaiah 1:13 or the communal study in Nehemiah, miqra emphasizes that holiness is enacted through collective attention and the spoken word.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word miqra describes more than just people gathering in one place; it signifies a community called together by an official summons to hear and respond to God. In the Hebrew Scriptures, this term often marks the sacred feasts where Israel rested from ordinary labor to focus entirely on worship. These assemblies were not casual meetups but intentional pauses in time designed to realign the people with their Creator.
Later, in Nehemiah, we see miqra used in the context of reading the Torah aloud. This highlights that true gathering involves listening to God’s voice proclaimed clearly. Holiness is enacted when the community pays attention together, letting the spoken word shape their lives. It reminds us that our faith is lived out not in isolation but in shared attention to Scripture.
When you join a worship service or study group, you are participating in this ancient rhythm of calling and responding. God invites us into these spaces to hear His truth and find rest in His presence. May your own gatherings be moments where you encounter His peace and clarity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 22 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a convocation of16×
- convocations of3×
- for/ [the] convocation of1×
- convocations/ its1×
- convocation[s]1×
- <in> the/ reading1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִקְרָא\־10×
- מִֽקְרָא\־6×
- מִקְרָאֵ֣י2×
- מִקְרָאֶ֗/הָ1×
- מִקְרָאֵ֖י1×
- מִקְרָ֔א1×
- לְ/מִקְרָ֣א1×
- בַּ/מִּקְרָֽא\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 23:3
“‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to Yahweh in all your dwellings.
This verse establishes the Sabbath as a holy convocation, showing that miqra marks times set apart for rest and worship rather than work.
-
Nehemiah 8:8
They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
Here miqra refers to the distinct public reading of the Law, emphasizing that the assembly’s purpose includes hearing God’s word proclaimed clearly.
-
Isaiah 1:13
Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations— I can’t stand evil assemblies.
God rejects empty rituals in these assemblies, showing that a holy convocation requires sincere hearts rather than just physical presence.