בִּיתָן
𐤁𐤉𐤕𐤍
bîythân
H1055 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A large building or complex serving as a royal or official residence; palace, hall, or court complex. In its biblical context, most often denotes the main residence or citadel of a ruler or governors, occasionally extending to refer to monumental administrative buildings or fortified compounds.
Semantic Range
palace, royal residence, main court, large hall, official residence, ceremonial or administrative complex
Root / Etymology
From the root בָּיִת (bayit), meaning 'house, dwelling.' The suffix -ָן (-ān) is augmentative or designative, indicating a distinguished or specialized type of house. Thus, בִּיתָן (bîythân) signifies a prominent or official house, i.e., a 'palace' or 'hall.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
בִּיתָן occurs in the Hebrew Bible primarily in post-exilic texts, especially in the book of Esther (e.g., Esther 1:5, 7; 2:5), where it describes the 'court' or 'palace' of Ahasuerus at Susa. It specifically denotes prominent architectural complexes associated with royal administration or ceremonial functions, distinguishable from the more common word 'הֵיכָל' (heikhal, temple or palace). Its Persian context in Esther reflects the influence of Achaemenid royal architecture; the term may reflect an adaptation of architectural terms in the ruling empire. Unlike generic uses of house (בַּיִת), בִּיתָן refers to an official or stately edifice. English versions often translate too narrowly as 'palace,' missing the nuance of court or ceremonial complex. In later Hebrew, derivatives appear with similar meanings in reference to large or public structures.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from בַּיִת; a palace (i.e. large house); palace.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בית (b-y-t) — house, dwelling, household, building
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1055-02 |
הַ/בִּיתָ֑ן | habitan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the palace | the royal house | 2 |
H1055-01 |
בִּיתַ֖ן | bitan | HNcmsc |
of the palace | palace of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1055-01 |
Esther 1:5 | בִּיתַ֖ן | bitan | HNcmsc |
of the palace | palace of |
H1055-02 |
Esther 7:7 | הַ/בִּיתָ֑ן | habitan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the palace | the royal house |
H1055-02 |
Esther 7:8 | הַ/בִּיתָ֜ן | habitan | HTd/Ncmsa |
the-palace | the royal house |