בִּנְיָן
𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤍
binyân
H1147 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A constructed structure or edifice; refers to a building, often in a physical and architectural sense. Used to denote any object built, such as a house, temple, or other physical construction.
Semantic Range
building, edifice, structure (physical); temple (by context), palace; object or place that is built
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root בנה (b-n-h), which means 'to build' or 'to construct'. The nominal form binyân is formed from this root, indicating 'that which is built.' Though a Hebrew noun, the term also appears in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, maintaining a related meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בִּנְיָן appears primarily in Aramaic passages within the Hebrew Bible, most notably in the books of Daniel and Ezra, which include extensive Aramaic sections. In these contexts, the word can refer to significant buildings—often temples or palatial structures—rather than minor constructions. The focus is typically architectural or monumental, in contrast to more general words for 'house' (בַּיִת) or 'structure.' Later, the word enters widespread use in Rabbinic Hebrew and post-biblical literature with a broader sense of 'building' and sometimes metaphorical extensions (e.g., 'structure' in the sense of organization or composition), but such metaphorical usage is not reflected in the biblical corpus. Standard English translations ('building,' 'edifice') adequately capture the primary meaning in the relevant biblical contexts, though the monumental nuance is often more pronounced in the Aramaic instances.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to בִּנְיָן; {an edifice}; building.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בנה (b-n-h) — to build, construct, establish
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1004 | בַּיִת | in the houses |
| H1005 | בַּיִת | the built-house |
| H1006 | בַּיִת | the house |
| H1007 | בֵּית אָוֶן | house-of |
| H1008 | בֵּית־אֵל | in house of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1147-01 |
בִנְיָנָ֖/א | vineyana | ANcmsd/Td |
building | the built structure | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1147-01 |
Ezra 5:4 | בִנְיָנָ֖/א | vineyana | ANcmsd/Td |
building | the built structure |