### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun H6899 (qibbûwts), transliterated as *qibbûwts*, is derived from the verb קָבַץ (qâbats, `{{H6908}}`), meaning "to gather," "to collect," or "to assemble." As a noun, *qibbûwts* denotes the *result* or *state* of this gathering. Its core meaning encompasses "a gathering," "an assembly," "a collection," "a throng," or "a company." It inherently implies a multitude or a significant number of individuals or items brought together into a unified body or proximity. The term emphasizes the collective nature of the assembled entity, highlighting its unity despite comprising many parts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The noun H6899 (qibbûwts) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, making its sole contextual usage particularly significant for understanding its specific nuance.
* [[Nehemiah 7:66]]: "The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty."
In this verse, *qibbûwts* refers to the entire collective body of the exiles who returned from Babylonian captivity to Judah. The context is a detailed census of the returnees, meticulously listing various groups and their numbers. The phrase "the whole assembly together" (כָּל־הַקָּהָל כְּאֶחָד, *kol-haqqāhāl kᵉʾeḥād*) is immediately followed by *qibbûwts*, which serves to summarize and emphasize the sheer magnitude of the combined population. It signifies the *totality* of the gathered community, underscoring their collective identity and substantial number. This single occurrence highlights *qibbûwts* as a term for a large, unified body of people, specifically those divinely reassembled after a period of dispersion.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word to H6899 (qibbûwts) is its verbal root:
* **קָבַץ (qâbats, `{{H6908}}`):** This verb is central to the meaning of *qibbûwts*. It describes the *action* of gathering, which *qibbûwts* describes as the *result* or *state* of being gathered. The verb qâbats is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe God's sovereign act of gathering His people Israel, particularly from dispersion (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 30:3]], [[Isaiah 43:5]], [[Jeremiah 29:14]]). This theological usage of the root informs the understanding of the noun.
Other related Hebrew terms that convey the concept of an assembly or congregation include:
* **עֵדָה (edah, `{{H5712}}`):** Often translated as "congregation" or "assembly," particularly referring to the religious or legal assembly of Israel.
* **קָהָל (qahal, `{{H6951}}`):** Also meaning "assembly" or "congregation," often denoting a formally summoned assembly, such as the "assembly of the Lord." Notably, qahal appears in [[Nehemiah 7:66]] alongside *qibbûwts*, signifying the combined "whole assembly."
* **מִסְפָּר (mispar, `{{H4557}}`):** "Number" or "count." This term is contextually relevant in [[Nehemiah 7:66]], as *qibbûwts* is immediately followed by a numerical tally, emphasizing the countable nature of the gathered multitude.
Thematic links include the broader biblical concept of divine gathering, whether for judgment, worship, or restoration.
### Theological Significance
Though appearing only once, the theological significance of H6899 (qibbûwts) is profound, especially when understood in light of its root and the context of Nehemiah.
1. **Divine Sovereignty in Gathering:** The single occurrence in [[Nehemiah 7:66]] speaks to the theme of restoration after exile. The "assembly" or "throng" described by *qibbûwts* is not merely a random collection of individuals but the result of God's providential work in bringing His people back to their land. The root qâbats is frequently used with God as the subject, emphasizing His active role in gathering Israel from dispersion, fulfilling His covenant promises (e.g., [[Ezekiel 36:24]]). Thus, *qibbûwts* implicitly highlights God's faithfulness in re-establishing His community.
2. **Restoration and Community:** The return from exile was a pivotal moment in Israelite history, signifying the reconstitution of the nation and the rebuilding of its spiritual and physical infrastructure. The use of *qibbûwts* emphasizes the collective nature of this restoration. It is not just individuals returning, but a unified "company" or "assembly" that forms the nucleus of the post-exilic community. This underscores the importance of corporate identity and communal life in God's redemptive plan.
3. **Identity in Unity:** The large number associated with the *qibbûwts* in Nehemiah attests to the strength and viability of this restored community. It signifies a people bound together by a shared experience of exile and return, and a common purpose of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple. Their numerical strength, highlighted by *qibbûwts* and the subsequent count, is a testament to God's preserving power and His intention to maintain a distinct people for Himself.
### Summary
H6899 (qibbûwts) is a rare but potent Hebrew noun derived from the verb קָבָץ (qâbats, `{{H6908}}`), meaning "to gather." It denotes "a gathering," "an assembly," "a throng," or "a company," emphasizing the collective and unified nature of a multitude. Its sole biblical occurrence in [[Nehemiah 7:66]] refers to the entire body of exiles who returned from Babylonian captivity to Judah, highlighting their significant number and their identity as a reconstituted community. Theologically, *qibbûwts* underscores God's sovereign act of gathering His people, signifying divine faithfulness in the restoration of Israel after exile, and emphasizing the importance of corporate identity and unity within the covenant community.
TRV