ἱερόν
hierón
G2411 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sacred place, particularly the entire precinct and complex of a temple, not limited to the central sanctuary (ναός) but encompassing its courts, buildings, and surrounding areas. Refers especially to the physical and functional domain set apart for religious rites and activities, often in urban civic spaces. In Hellenistic and Roman contexts, also denotes the broader temple area including auxiliary structures and open courts, contrasted with the inner sanctum.
Semantic Range
sacred place, temple precinct, temple complex, sanctuary grounds, holy grounds, area set apart for religious rites
Root / Etymology
From the adjective ἱερός ('sacred, holy'), itself of uncertain Indo-European origin, used broadly in ancient Greek for anything set apart for a deity or religious use. ἱερόν is the neuter substantive form, signifying 'sacred place.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἱερόν refers generally to any sacred area or temple precinct, not just the central structure. In Hellenistic Greek and the Septuagint, it commonly translates Hebrew מִקְדָּשׁ (miqdash, 'sanctuary') or בֵּית־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (Beit HaMikdash, 'House of the Sanctuary'). In the New Testament, ἱερόν refers specifically to the Jerusalem temple's entire complex, including its courts and enclosed areas, distinct from ναός, which signifies the central sanctuary or inner shrine. This distinction is not always recognized in English translations, where both terms are often rendered 'temple.' While Greco-Roman temples similarly employed ἱερόν for the full sacred enclosure, the use in Judean contexts underscores the boundaries of ritual access and activities. In contrast, ναός in Hellenistic and biblical sources emphasizes the innermost, most restricted space. ἱερόν was also used for major sacred complexes outside Jerusalem, such as at pagan shrines. Later Greek sources sometimes conflate the terms, but in earlier Koine the distinction remains significant.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
neuter of ἱερός; a sacred place, i.e. the entire precincts (whereas ναός denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the Temple (at Jerusalem or elsewhere):--temple.
Root Family
ἱερόν (hieron) — sacred place, temple precinct, holy grounds, area set apart for a deity
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2411-01 |
ἱερῷ | iero | N DAT N SG |
temple | to the sacred precinct | 32 |
G2411-02 |
ἱερόν | ieron | N ACC N SG |
temple | the sacred precinct | 20 |
G2411-03 |
ἱεροῦ | ierou | N GEN N SG |
temple | of the temple precinct | 19 |
Occurrences in Scripture
71 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2411-03 |
Matthew 4:5 | ἱεροῦ | ierou | N GEN N SG |
of the temple precinct | |
G2411-01 |
Matthew 12:5 | ἱερῷ | iero | N DAT N SG |
to the sacred precinct | |
G2411-03 |
Matthew 12:6 | ἱεροῦ | ierou | N GEN N SG |
of the temple precinct | |
G2411-02 |
Matthew 21:12 | ἱερόν | ieron | N ACC N SG |
the sacred precinct | |
G2411-01 |
Matthew 21:12 | ἱερῷ | iero | N DAT N SG |
to the sacred precinct | |
G2411-01 |
Matthew 21:14 | ἱερῷ | iero | N DAT N SG |
to the sacred precinct | |
G2411-01 |
Matthew 21:15 | ἱερῷ | iero | N DAT N SG |
to the sacred precinct | |
G2411-02 |
Matthew 21:23 | ἱερὸν | ieron | N ACC N SG |
the sacred precinct | |
G2411-03 |
Matthew 24:1 | ἱεροῦ | ierou | N GEN N SG |
of the temple precinct | |
G2411-03 |
Matthew 24:1 | ἱεροῦ | ierou-2 | N GEN N SG |
of the temple precinct |