### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼăçuppâh**, represented by `{{H627}}`, refers to a collection of learned men, or an **assembly**. It appears only **1 time** in the Bible, in a single verse, making its context particularly important. The term is the feminine form of אָסֻף, and it signifies a gathered body of people, specifically for the purpose of scholarly or wise discourse.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H627}}` is in [[Ecclesiastes 12:11]], where it is stated, "The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of **assemblies**." In this passage, the wisdom shared within these groups is portrayed as something that is both guiding, like a goad, and securely fixed, like a fastened nail. The phrase "masters of **assemblies**" suggests that these were recognized gatherings of teachers or sages whose collective words carried significant weight and were intended to be permanent and reliable.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H627}}` is illuminated by the words surrounding it in its only biblical context:
* `{{H1167}}` **baʻal** (master): This word denotes a master or owner. In the phrase "masters of assemblies," it identifies the leaders or authoritative figures within these learned groups [[Ecclesiastes 12:11]]. It is also used more broadly to mean "husband" [[Proverbs 12:4]] or "owners" [[Ecclesiastes 5:13]].
* `{{H2450}}` **châkâm** (wise): This term describes those whose words are like goads. True wisdom is a central theme, and those who walk with the **wise** are expected to become wise themselves [[Proverbs 13:20]].
* `{{H1697}}` **dâbâr** (word): The "words" of the wise are the central subject. This term refers not just to speech but also to a matter or thing, highlighting the substance and reality of the teaching. God's **word** is presented as a source of joy and life [[Jeremiah 15:16]].
* `{{H7462}}` **râʻâh** (shepherd): The verse concludes that the words from the assemblies are given from "one **shepherd**," identifying a single, ultimate source for all true wisdom. The Lord is famously identified as a **shepherd** in scripture [[Psalms 23:1]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H627}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful usage.
* **Divine Source of Wisdom:** The verse explicitly states that the wisdom from the **assemblies** is "given from one shepherd" [[Ecclesiastes 12:11]]. This establishes that while wisdom may be collected and taught by groups of people, its ultimate origin is singular and divine.
* **Authority of Collected Teaching:** The "masters of **assemblies**" points to a recognized structure for preserving and communicating wisdom. Their teachings are not fleeting opinions but are likened to "fastened nails," signifying their stability, reliability, and binding authority.
* **Unity of Truth:** The idea that multiple **assemblies** and their masters derive their teachings from a single shepherd `{{H259}}` implies a unified and coherent body of truth. It suggests that all genuine wisdom, regardless of the human vessel, harmonizes because it flows from the same divine source.
### Summary
In summary, while **ʼăçuppâh** `{{H627}}` is one of the rarest words in the biblical text, its role is pivotal. It defines a formal gathering of the wise whose purpose is to convey authoritative teaching. Its context in [[Ecclesiastes 12:11]] powerfully illustrates that human wisdom, even when collected and debated in an **assembly**, finds its source, coherence, and ultimate authority in the "one shepherd" who stands behind it all.
TRV