Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Rev. Bryant J. Williams III" <bjwvmw AT com-pair.net>]



Mike,

 

There are two Hebrew words that normally translated "congregation." QAHAL and `EDAH." What is interesting is that the two words are translated in the LXX by several different words, of which, two are primary.

 

1.    QAHAL (assembly) is normally translated in the LXX by EKKLHSIA (assembly; Church [unfortunately, this latter word has lead to horrible theology: there was NO CHURCH in the OT. Don't go there.] ) in the majority of instances, but also by OCHLOS (crowd) and PHLTHOS (multitude). What is striking is that in Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers and Ezekiel 32:23 QAHAL is translated by SYNAGOGH.

 

2.    `EDAH is normally translated by SYNAGOGH (congregation; transliterated into English as Synagoge). Of the 225 times in the LXX SYNAGOGH is word used, but there are 34 times that has no Hebrew equivalent.

 

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III