In Biblical times קהל

meant congregation. Today it also means audience, as in קהל יעד –

target audience.

What about a captive audience? That’s קהל שבוי

, as in:

עם כל האהדה שהמרצה זוכה לה, יש לה קהל שבוי.

With all the popularity the lecturer receives (merits), she has a captive audience.

שבוי

is a passive version of the simple verb לשבות

– to capture, of the root ש.ב.י

. Does לשבות

here have to do with שבת

– the Sabbath? Watch today’s video to find out.