בָּנָה (H1129) — Hebrew Lexicon

בָּנָה

𐤁𐤍𐤄

bânâh

H1129 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To build, to construct, especially in relation to physical structures or settlements; by extension, to establish or found (such as a house, dynasty, city, or altar). Figuratively, to establish or produce offspring, particularly sons (with emphasis on founding a family line or household). The word can also denote repairing or restoring what has been broken or ruined, as well as setting up, making ready, or preparing something for use. The notion of building is often employed idiomatically in relational or social contexts, such as 'building a house' referring to establishing a household or lineage.

Semantic Range

to build physical structures (houses, cities, altars), to establish or found a household or dynasty, to repair or restore, to produce or obtain children (especially sons), to prepare or set up, to increase or make prosperous (figurative), idiomatically to establish lineage

Root / Etymology

Root בנה, meaning 'to build.' The verb בָּנָה derives directly from this root, embodying the core concept of constructing or erecting something material or institutional. The root is productive in forming related nouns (בֵּן 'son', בַּיִת 'house', בִּנְיָן 'structure').

Historical & Contextual Notes

Across the Hebrew Bible, בָּנָה is most commonly used for the literal construction of dwellings, cities, altars, and fortifications (e.g., Genesis 4:17, Exodus 1:11, 1 Kings 6:1). It is also frequently employed in the figurative sense of founding a house or lineage, particularly in patriarchal and monarchic contexts where 'building a house' is a metonym for establishing a family, a royal dynasty, or perpetuating one's line (e.g., Ruth 4:11; 2 Samuel 7:27). In poetic and prophetic literature, the verb extends to meanings like repairing Jerusalem or establishing the nation of Israel anew after disaster (e.g., Isaiah 58:12, Jeremiah 24:6). Later, post-exilic literature broadens 'building' to the restoration of the community and temple (e.g., Ezra, Nehemiah). Distinct from related roots such as עשׂה ('to make, do'), בנה emphasizes the process of assembling or raising up, especially with respect to permanence and institutional establishment. English translations often render בָּנָה as 'build' or 'repair', but sometimes obscure its extended sense as 'establishing a family' or 'producing children.' The idiom 'to build the house of someone' specifically refers to ensuring or increasing the posterity of a family line, especially in the context of the Israelite system of inheritance and kinship. In earlier translations, 'build' could be rendered figuratively as 'obtain children.'

Translation Consistency

primary "build" 50 occurrences

Most common and natural rendering across contexts (173 occurrences as "built" and 127 as "build" in the corpus). Accurately covers the primary sense of constructing physical structures (houses, cities, altars), founding or establishing households/dynasties, and repairing/restoring (rebuild). It also works idiomatically for establishing a lineage or household ('build a house/lineage') and can be inflected for all needed forms consistently and naturally.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely.

Bantu Hebrew

Language	Bantu Word	Meaning
Bemba	panga	to make, to construct, to build
Chokwe	bonga	to arrange, to put in order
Kikongo	bonga	to make ready, put in order, repair
Kikuyu	kũbonga	to set in order, to put right
Kimbundu	bonga	to correct, to put right, to mend

See all 12 languages →

Root Family

בנה (Bayit) — to build, construct, establish

Root בנה to build, to construct, to establish

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1004	בַּיִת	in the houses
H1005	בַּיִת	the built-house
H1121	בֵּן	sons
H1122	בֵּן	son
H1123	בֵּן	sons of
H1124	בְּנָא	the ones building
H1131	בִּנּוּי	Built-Up One
H1137	בָּנִי	Built-one
H1138	בֻּנִּי	Built One
H1140	בִּנְיָה	and the built-structure
H1141	בְּנָיָה	Yahweh has built
H1146	בִּנְיָן	constructed structure
H1147	בִּנְיָן	the built structure
H1323	בַּת	daughters
H2995	יַבְנְאֵל	and God-Builds
H2996	יַבְנֶה	Yabneh, Building-place
H2997	יִבְנְיָה	Yah Has Built
H2998	יִבְנִיָּה	Yah Builds
H4011	מִבְנֶה	like the built-structure of
H4012	מְבֻנַּי	Built-Up One
H68	אֶבֶן	your building-stones
H8401	תֶּבֶן	the straw residue
H8403	תַּבְנִית	in building-pattern of

Word Forms

86 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H1129-60`	וַ/יִּ֤בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built	59
`H1129-30`	לִ/בְנ֥וֹת	livenot	`HR/Vqc`	to build	to build	to build	49
`H1129-01`	בָּנָ֥ה	banah	`HVqp3ms`	he built	he built	he built	39
`H1129-63`	וַ/יִּבְנ֨וּ	vayivenu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they built	and they built	and they built	15
`H1129-82`	יִֽבְנֶה	yiveneh	`HVqi3ms`	shall build	he will build	he will build	15
`H1129-05`	בָּנִֽיתִי	baniti	`HVqp1cs`	I have built	I built	I built	13
`H1129-38`	תִּבְנֶה	tiveneh	`HVqi2ms`	you shall build	you will build	you will build	12
`H1129-44`	וּ/בָנ֞וּ	uvanu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they will build	and we built	and they will build	10
`H1129-07`	בָּנ֣וּ	banu	`HVqp3cp`	built	they built	they built	9
`H1129-33`	נִבְנֶ֣ה	niveneh	`HVqi1cp`	we will build	let us build	let us build	7
`H1129-18`	בֹּ֣נֶה	boneh	`HVqrmsa`	builds	the one who builds	the one who builds	6
`H1129-40`	וּ/בָנָ֥ה	uvanah	`HC/Vqp3ms`	and he built	and he built	and he built	6
`H1129-42`	וּ/בָנִ֨יתָ֙	uvanita	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and build	and you built	and you shall build	6
`H1129-26`	הַ/בֹּנִ֖ים	habonim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the builders	the builders	the builders	5
`H1129-36`	תִבָּנֶ֖ה	tibaneh	`HVNi3fs`	be built	may she be built	may she be built	5
`H1129-79`	בֹנֶ֗ה	voneh	`HVqrmsa`	am building	one who builds	am building	5
`H1129-81`	יִבָּנֶֽה	yibaneh	`HVNi3ms`	is built	he will be built	it will be built	5
`H1129-43`	וּ/בָנִ֨יתִי	uvaniti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and I will build	and I built	and I will build	4
`H1129-10`	בְּֽנֵה	beneh	`HVqv2ms`	Build	Build!	Build	3
`H1129-12`	בְּנ֧וֹת	benot	`HVqc`	build	daughters of	build	3
`H1129-13`	בְּנ֥וּ	benu	`HVqv2mp`	build	Build!	Build	3
`H1129-21`	אֶבְנֶה	eveneh	`HVqi1cs`	I will build	I will build	I will build	3
`H1129-61`	וַ/יִּבְנֶ֧ה	vayiveneh	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he built	and he built	and he built	3
`H1129-68`	וְ/לַ/בֹּנִ֔ים	velabonim	`HC/Rd/Vqrmpa`	and to the builders	and to the builders	and to the builders	3
`H1129-70`	בְנִיתֶ֥ם	venitem	`HVqp2mp`	have you built	you (masculine plural) built	and you (masculine plural) built	3
`H1129-72`	וְ/נִבְנְתָה֙	venivenetah	`HC/VNq3fs`	and-it-will-be-built	and she was built	and it will be built	3
`H1129-02`	בָּנְתָ֣ה	banetah	`HVqp3fs`	has built	you built	builds	2
`H1129-09`	בְּ/הִבָּ֣נֹת֔/וֹ	behibanoto	`HR/VNc/Sp3ms`	in-its-being-built	in his being built	in its being built	2
`H1129-16`	בִּ/בְנֽוֹתְ/כֶ֤ם	bivenotekhem	`HR/Vqc/Sp2mp`	in-building-of-you	in your building	in your building	2
`H1129-20`	בּוֹנִ֣ים	bonim	`HVqrmpa`	are building	the ones who build	the ones who build	2
`H1129-29`	לְ/הִבָּנֽוֹת	lehibanot	`HR/VNc`	to be built	to be built	to be built	2
`H1129-31`	מִ/בְּנ֖וֹת	mibenot	`HR/Vqc`	from building	from built-up daughters of	from building	2
`H1129-32`	נִבְנָ֥ה	nivenah	`HVNp3ms`	had been built	was built	was built	2
`H1129-34`	נִבְנְתָה֙	nivenetah	`HVNp3fs`	had been built	was built	was built	2
`H1129-37`	תִּבָּנֶֽינָה	tibaneynah	`HVNi3fp`	shall be built	they (fem.) will be built	they (fem.) will be built	2
`H1129-39`	תִּבְנוּ	tivenu	`HVqi2mp`	shall you build	you will build	you will build	2
`H1129-41`	וּ/בָנִ֔ינוּ	uvaninu	`HC/Vqq1cp`	and build	and we built	and let us build	2
`H1129-46`	וּ/בְנִיתִי/ם֙	uvenitim	`HC/Vqq1cs/Sp3mp`	and-I-will-build-them	and I built them	and I will build them	2
`H1129-47`	וּ/בְנוּ֙	uvenu	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and build	and build	and build	2
`H1129-51`	וָ/אֶבְנֶ֣ה	vaeveneh	`HC/Vqw1cs`	and I have built	and I built	and I built	2
`H1129-52`	בָנָ֔ה	vanah	`HVqp3ms`	built	he built	built	2
`H1129-54`	בָנִ֛יתִי	vaniti	`HVqp1cs`	I had built	I built	I built	2
`H1129-56`	בָנ֣וּ	vanu	`HVqp3cp`	built	we built	built	2
`H1129-58`	וַ/תִּ֧בֶן	vativen	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and built	and she built	and she built	2
`H1129-69`	וְ/לִ/בְנ֖וֹת	velivenot	`HC/R/Vqc`	and-to-build	and to build	and to build	2
`H1129-71`	וְ/נִבְנֶ֣ה	veniveneh	`HC/Vqi1cp`	and-we-will-build	and we will build	and we will build	2
`H1129-74`	וְ/נִבְנ֖וּ	venivenu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and-they-will-be-built	and they were built	and they shall be built	2
`H1129-85`	יִבְנֶ֔/נּוּ	yivenenu	`HVqi3ms/Sp3ms`	rebuilt it	he will build it	he rebuilt it	2
`H1129-86`	יִבְנוּ֙	yivenu	`HVqi3mp`	they-will-build	they build	they will build	2
`H1129-03`	בָּנִית֙	banit	`HVqp2fs`	you built	you built	you built	1
`H1129-04`	בָּנִ֔תָה	banitah	`HVqp2ms`	you have built	you built	you have built	1
`H1129-06`	בָּנֹ֥ה	banoh	`HVqa`	surely built	building	surely building	1
`H1129-08`	בָּנ֖וּי	banuy	`HVqsmsa`	built	built-up	built-up	1
`H1129-11`	בְּנִיתֶ֖ם	benitem	`HVqp2mp`	you have built	you built	you built	1
`H1129-14`	בְּנוּיִֽם	benuyim	`HVqsmpa`	built	built ones	built	1
`H1129-15`	בִּ/בְנוֹתַ֤יִ/ךְ	bivenotayikhe	`HR/Vqc/Sp2fs`	in your brothels	in your building	in your brothels	1
`H1129-17`	בֹּנַ֕יִ/ךְ	bonayikhe	`HVqrmpc/Sp2fs`	your builders	your builders	your builders	1
`H1129-19`	בֹּנֵ֧י	boney	`HVqrmpc`	builders	builders of	builders of	1
`H1129-22`	אֶבְנֵ/ךְ֙	evenekhe	`HVqi1cs/Sp2fs`	I will build you	I will build you	I will build you	1
`H1129-23`	הַ/בָּנֽוּי	habanuy	`HTd/Vqsmsa`	that was built	the built-up one	the built-up one	1
`H1129-24`	הַ/בְּנוּיָ֑ה	habenuyah	`HTd/Vqsfsa`	that is built	the built-up one	the built-up one	1
`H1129-25`	הַ/בּוֹנֶ֤ה	haboneh	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	the-(one)-building	the builder	the builder	1
`H1129-27`	הַ/נִּבְנֶ֥ה	haniveneh	`HTd/VNsmsa`	that is to be built	the being-built one	that is being built	1
`H1129-28`	אִבָּנֶ֖ה	ibaneh	`HVNi1cs`	I will be built/obtain children	I will be built up	I will be built up	1
`H1129-35`	נִבְנוּ֙	nivenu	`HVNp3cp`	are built up	they were built	they were built	1
`H1129-45`	וּ/בְנִיתִ֖י/הָ	uvenitiha	`HC/Vqp1cs/Sp3fs`	and I will rebuild it	and I built her	and I will rebuild her	1
`H1129-48`	וּ/בִ/בְנ֣וֹת	uvivenot	`HC/R/Vqc`	and building	and in building	and in building	1
`H1129-49`	וּ/בֹנֵ֥י	uvoney	`HC/Vqrmpc`	and builders	and builders of	and builders of	1
`H1129-50`	וּ/בוֹנִ֑ים	uvonim	`HC/Vqrmpa`	and-building	and building-ones	and building	1
`H1129-53`	בָנִֽיתָ	vanita	`HVqp2ms`	you built	you built	you built	1
`H1129-55`	וַ/נִּבְנֶה֙	vaniveneh	`HC/Vqw1cp`	and-we-built	and we built	and we built	1
`H1129-57`	בָנ֔וּ/הוּ	vanuhu	`HVqp3cp/Sp3ms`	built it	they built it	built it	1
`H1129-59`	וַ/תִּבְנִי	vativeni	`HC/Vqw2fs`	that you built	and you built	and you built	1
`H1129-62`	וַ/יִּבְנֵ֖/הוּ	vayivenehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	so he built it	and he built him	and he built it	1
`H1129-64`	וְ/אֶבְנֶה	veeveneh	`HC/Vqh1cs`	that I may build	and let me build	and let me build	1
`H1129-65`	וְ/אֶבְנֶֽ/נָּה	veevenenah	`HC/Vqi1cs/Sp3fs`	that I may build it	and I will build her	and I will build her	1
`H1129-66`	וְ/הַ֨/בּוֹנִ֔ים	vehabonim	`HC/Td/Vqrmpa`	and-the-builders	and the builders	and the builders	1
`H1129-67`	וְ/אִבָּנֶ֥ה	veibaneh	`HC/VNi1cs`	that I may be built up	and I will be built	and I will be built	1
`H1129-73`	וְֽ/נִבְנֵ֔ית	veniveneyt	`HC/VNq2fs`	and you will be built	and you will be built	and you will be built	1
`H1129-75`	וְ/יִ֗בֶן	veyiven	`HC/Vqj3ms`	and let him build	and may he build	and let him build	1
`H1129-76`	וְ֭/יִבְנֶה	veyiveneh	`HC/Vqi3ms`	and will build	and he will build	and he will build	1
`H1129-77`	בנית	vnyt	`HVqp2ms`	I have built	you built	I have built	1
`H1129-78`	בוֹנָ֣י/ו	vonayv	`HVqrmpc/Sp3ms`	its-builders	his builders	its builders	1
`H1129-80`	בוֹנִים֙	vonim	`HVqrmpa`	were building	builders	are building	1
`H1129-83`	יִבֶנֵֽ/הוּ	yivenehu	`HVqi3ms/Sp3ms`	he will build it	he will build him	he will build it	1
`H1129-84`	יִבְנֵֽ/ם	yivenem	`HVqi3ms/Sp3mp`	he will build them	he will build them	he will build them	1

Occurrences in Scripture

377 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H1129-60`	Genesis 2:22	וַ/יִּבֶן֩	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-18`	Genesis 4:17	בֹּ֣נֶה	boneh	`HVqrmsa`	building	the one who builds	the one who builds
`H1129-60`	Genesis 8:20	וַ/יִּ֥בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-60`	Genesis 10:11	וַ/יִּ֨בֶן֙	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-33`	Genesis 11:4	נִבְנֶה	niveneh	`HVqh1cp`	let us build	let us build	let us build
`H1129-07`	Genesis 11:5	בָּנ֖וּ	banu	`HVqp3cp`	they had built	they built	they built
`H1129-30`	Genesis 11:8	לִ/בְנֹ֥ת	livenot	`HR/Vqc`	building	to build	to build
`H1129-60`	Genesis 12:7	וַ/יִּ֤בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-60`	Genesis 12:8	וַ/יִּֽבֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	he built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-60`	Genesis 13:18	וַ/יִּֽבֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-28`	Genesis 16:2	אִבָּנֶ֖ה	ibaneh	`HVNi1cs`	I will be built/obtain children	I will be built up	I will be built up
`H1129-60`	Genesis 22:9	וַ/יִּ֨בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	he built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-60`	Genesis 26:25	וַ/יִּ֧בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-67`	Genesis 30:3	וְ/אִבָּנֶ֥ה	veibaneh	`HC/VNi1cs`	that I may be built up	and I will be built	and I will be built
`H1129-60`	Genesis 33:17	וַ/יִּ֥בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-60`	Genesis 35:7	וַ/יִּ֤בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-60`	Exodus 1:11	וַ/יִּ֜בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	And they built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-60`	Exodus 17:15	וַ/יִּ֥בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-38`	Exodus 20:25	תִבְנֶ֥ה	tiveneh	`HVqi2ms`	you build	you will build	you will build
`H1129-60`	Exodus 24:4	וַ/יִּ֥בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-60`	Exodus 32:5	וַ/יִּ֥בֶן	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-34`	Numbers 13:22	נִבְנְתָ֔ה	nivenetah	`HVNp3fs`	had been built	was built	was built
`H1129-36`	Numbers 21:27	תִּבָּנֶ֥ה	tibaneh	`HVNj3fs`	let it be built	may she be built	may she be built
`H1129-10`	Numbers 23:1	בְּנֵה	beneh	`HVqv2ms`	Build	Build!	Build
`H1129-60`	Numbers 23:14	וַ/יִּ֨בֶן֙	vayiven	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-10`	Numbers 23:29	בְּנֵה	beneh	`HVqv2ms`	Build	Build!	Build
`H1129-33`	Numbers 32:16	נִבְנֶ֥ה	niveneh	`HVqi1cp`	we will build	let us build	let us build
`H1129-13`	Numbers 32:24	בְּנֽוּ	benu	`HVqv2mp`	build	Build!	Build
`H1129-63`	Numbers 32:34	וַ/יִּבְנ֣וּ	vayivenu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they built	and they built	and they built
`H1129-07`	Numbers 32:37	בָּנ֔וּ	banu	`HVqp3cp`	built	they built	they built
`H1129-07`	Numbers 32:38	בָּנֽוּ	banu	`HVqp3cp`	they built	they built	they built
`H1129-53`	Deuteronomy 6:10	בָנִֽיתָ	vanita	`HVqp2ms`	you built	you built	you built
`H1129-38`	Deuteronomy 8:12	תִּבְנֶ֖ה	tiveneh	`HVqi2ms`	you build	you will build	you will build
`H1129-36`	Deuteronomy 13:17	תִבָּנֶ֖ה	tibaneh	`HVNi3fs`	it-shall-be-built	may she be built	it will be built
`H1129-01`	Deuteronomy 20:5	בָּנָ֤ה	banah	`HVqp3ms`	has built	he built	he built
`H1129-42`	Deuteronomy 20:20	וּ/בָנִ֣יתָ	uvanita	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and you shall build	and you built	and you build
`H1129-38`	Deuteronomy 22:8	תִבְנֶה֙	tiveneh	`HVqi2ms`	you build	you will build	you will build
`H1129-82`	Deuteronomy 25:9	יִבְנֶ֖ה	yiveneh	`HVqi3ms`	builds	he will build	he will build
`H1129-42`	Deuteronomy 27:5	וּ/בָנִ֤יתָ	uvanita	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and you shall build	and you built	and you shall build
`H1129-38`	Deuteronomy 27:6	תִּבְנֶ֔ה	tiveneh	`HVqi2ms`	you shall build	you will build	you will build
`H1129-38`	Deuteronomy 28:30	תִּבְנֶ֖ה	tiveneh	`HVqi2ms`	you will build	you will build	you will build
`H1129-40`	Joshua 6:26	וּ/בָנָ֞ה	uvanah	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and builds	and he built	and builds
`H1129-82`	Joshua 8:30	יִבְנֶ֤ה	yiveneh	`HVqi3ms`	built	he will build	he built
`H1129-61`	Joshua 19:50	וַ/יִּבְנֶ֥ה	vayiveneh	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he built	and he built	and he built
`H1129-63`	Joshua 22:10	וַ/יִּבְנ֣וּ	vayivenu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they built	and they built	and they built
`H1129-56`	Joshua 22:11	בָנ֣וּ	vanu	`HVqp3cp`	they have built	we built	they have built
`H1129-16`	Joshua 22:16	בִּ/בְנֽוֹתְ/כֶ֤ם	bivenotekhem	`HR/Vqc/Sp2mp`	in building you(pl)	in your building	in your building
`H1129-16`	Joshua 22:19	בִּ/בְנֹֽתְ/כֶ֤ם	bivenotekhem	`HR/Vqc/Sp2mp`	in-building-of-you	in your building	in your building
`H1129-30`	Joshua 22:23	לִ/בְנ֥וֹת	livenot	`HR/Vqc`	to build	to build	to build
`H1129-30`	Joshua 22:26	לִ/בְנ֖וֹת	livenot	`HR/Vqc`	to build	to build	to build

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