A holder for a medical instrument having a quick coupling for receiving a connection end of the instrument's shaft. The quick coupling has a first coupling element having a first axial through-hole for the connection end and a second coupling element having a second axial through-hole for the connection end. The second coupling element is movable relative to the first coupling element in a direction crosswise to the axial direction of the through-holes from a locked position, in which the through-holes are offset so that an edge of the second through-hole engages behind an undercut on the shaft's connection end in a locking manner, to a release position, in which the through-holes lie in alignment and the connection end is freely guidable through both through-holes. A spring bridge connects the first and second coupling elements together and preloads the first and second coupling elements into the locked position.