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הֵיכָל

𐤄𐤉𐤊𐤋

hêykâl

H1964 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A large, impressive structure serving as a palace or a temple; specifically, the central building complex of a ruler's residence or the sanctuary building where deity was worshipped. In biblical usage, most commonly refers to the Israelite temple in Jerusalem, but the term also denotes royal palaces or grand halls in other Near Eastern contexts. The word conveys the sense of grandeur, monumentality, and importance as a locus of political or religious authority.

Semantic Range

sanctuary building, the main temple building (especially in Jerusalem), palace, royal residence, grand hall, shrine, monumental public edifice

Root / Etymology

Root: יכל (y-k-l), meaning 'to be able, capable,' though this connection is debated; morphologically, hêykâl appears to be a loanword from Akkadian 'ēkallu' (palace, temple), itself derived from Sumerian 'E.GAL' (great house). The shift in meaning from 'capable' (the root) to 'palatial building' (the noun) is not clearly attested in Hebrew word formation, suggesting external origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, הֵיכָל predominantly designates the sanctuary building of the Jerusalem temple complex, especially in prophetic and poetic texts (e.g., Isaiah 6:1; Psalm 11:4). Outside of temple contexts, it can refer to royal palaces (cf. 1 Kings 21:1; Daniel 1:4, where it describes Babylonian structures). The term occurs primarily in exilic and post-exilic Hebrew, reflecting contact with Mesopotamian terminology and architectural forms. Earlier Israelite texts tend to use בַּיִת (bayit) for 'house'/'temple' or הֵיכָל for palaces of foreign kings. In later periods (Second Temple era), הֵיכָל became the standard term for the main sanctuary structure within the Jerusalem temple precincts. English translations often render הֵיכָל as 'temple' or 'palace', but 'temple building' more accurately conveys its specific reference to the sanctuary proper — distinct from the broader temple courts (חָצֵר, ʦêr). The association of הֵיכָל with the Jerusalem temple persists in post-biblical Hebrew and Jewish tradition; however, in pre-exilic and non-Israelite contexts, its meaning is broader and not limited to Israelite/Judahite religious identity. The English term 'temple' can be anachronistic for pre-monarchic references or foreign palatial contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "temple" 19 occurrences

Hêykâl most often refers to the central sanctuary/temple (especially the Israelite temple in Jerusalem); it also can mean palace or grand hall, but 'temple' is the dominant, natural English rendering for the typical biblical usage and will provide the most consistent, recognizable translation.

Alternatives (11 occurrences):
"grand palace of" (2x) "grand sanctuary" (2x) "palace" (2x) "grand sanctuary-hall" (2x) "palace-temple" (1x) "ivory" (1x) "grand halls of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from יָכֹל (in the sense of capacity); a large public building, such as a palace or temple; palace, temple.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

יכל (Yehukhal) — to be able, to have capacity, to have capability

Root יכל to be able, to have capacity, to have capability
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1965 הֵיכַל in the grand palace-temple
H3081 יְהוּכַל YHWH is able
H3203 יְכׇלְיָה Yahweh is able
H4323 מִיכָל Mikhal

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1964-06 הֵיכַ֣ל heykhal HNcmsc temple grand sanctuary-palace of temple of 24
H1964-05 הַ/הֵיכָ֥ל haheykhal HTd/Ncmsa the temple the grand sanctuary the temple 15
H1964-02 בְּ/הֵיכַ֣ל beheykhal HR/Ncmsc in the temple in the grand palace of in the temple of 12
H1964-11 לַֽ/הֵיכָ֖ל laheykhal HRd/Ncmsa to the temple to the grand sanctuary to the grand temple 4
H1964-08 הֵיכָלֽ/וֹ heykhalo HNcmsc/Sp3ms for His temple his grand sanctuary his temple 3
H1964-13 מֵ/הֵיכַ֣ל meheykhal HR/Ncmsc from the temple from a grand sanctuary from the temple 3
H1964-01 בַּֽ/הֵיכָ֔ל baheykhal HRd/Ncmsa in the temple in the grand sanctuary-hall in the grand sanctuary-hall 2
H1964-03 בְּ/הֵיכָל֖/וֹ beheykhalo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his temple in his grand sanctuary in his temple 2
H1964-04 בְּ/הֵ֣יכְלֵי beheykheley HR/Ncmpc in-palaces-of in the grand halls of in the grand halls of 2
H1964-07 הֵיכָלֶֽ/ךָ heykhalekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your temple your grand sanctuary your grand sanctuary 2

Occurrences in Scripture

80 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1964-08 Malachi 3:1 הֵיכָל֜/וֹ heykhalo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his temple his grand sanctuary his temple
H1964-06 Psalms 5:8 הֵֽיכַל heykhal HNcmsc your temple grand sanctuary-palace of temple of
H1964-02 Psalms 11:4 בְּֽ/הֵ֘יכַ֤ל beheykhal HR/Ncmsc in-his-temple in the grand palace of in his temple
H1964-15 Psalms 18:7 מֵ/הֵיכָל֣/וֹ meheykhalo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms from his temple from his grand sanctuary from his temple
H1964-03 Psalms 27:4 בְּ/הֵיכָלֽ/וֹ beheykhalo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his temple in his grand sanctuary in his temple
H1964-16 Psalms 29:9 וּ/בְ/הֵיכָל֑/וֹ uveheykhalo HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-in-his-temple and in his palace-temple and in his palace-temple
H1964-10 Psalms 45:9 הֵ֥יכְלֵי heykheley HNcmpc palaces-of grand palace-complexes of ivory
H1964-02 Psalms 45:16 בְּ/הֵ֣יכַל beheykhal HR/Ncmsc into-palace in the grand palace of in the grand palace of
H1964-07 Psalms 48:10 הֵיכָלֶֽ/ךָ heykhalekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms Your temple your grand sanctuary your grand sanctuary
H1964-07 Psalms 65:5 הֵיכָלֶֽ/ךָ heykhalekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your temple your grand sanctuary your grand sanctuary
H1964-14 Psalms 68:30 מֵֽ֭/הֵיכָלֶ/ךָ meheykhalekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms From Your temple from your grand sanctuary from your temple
H1964-06 Psalms 79:1 הֵיכַ֣ל heykhal HNcmsc temple grand sanctuary-palace of temple of
H1964-06 Psalms 138:2 הֵיכַ֪ל heykhal HNcmsc Your temple grand sanctuary-palace of temple of
H1964-06 Psalms 144:12 הֵיכָֽל heykhal HNcmsa of a palace grand sanctuary-palace of of a palace
H1964-04 Proverbs 30:28 בְּ/הֵ֣יכְלֵי beheykheley HR/Ncmpc in the palaces of in the grand halls of in the grand halls of
H1964-02 Daniel 1:4 בְּ/הֵיכַ֣ל beheykhal HR/Ncmsc in the palace in the grand palace of in the palace
H1964-18 Ezra 3:6 וְ/הֵיכַ֥ל veheykhal HC/Ncmsc and temple and monumental hall and temple
H1964-06 Ezra 3:10 הֵיכַ֣ל heykhal HNcmsc temple grand sanctuary-palace of temple of
H1964-06 Ezra 4:1 הֵיכָ֔ל heykhal HNcmsa a temple grand sanctuary-palace of temple of
H1964-05 Nehemiah 6:10 הַֽ/הֵיכָ֗ל haheykhal HTd/Ncmsa of the temple the grand sanctuary the temple
H1964-05 Nehemiah 6:10 הַ/הֵיכָ֔ל haheykhal-2 HTd/Ncmsa of the temple the grand sanctuary the temple
H1964-05 Nehemiah 6:11 הַ/הֵיכָ֖ל haheykhal HTd/Ncmsa the temple the grand sanctuary the temple
H1964-05 2 Chronicles 3:17 הַ/הֵיכָ֔ל haheykhal HTd/Ncmsa the temple the grand sanctuary the temple
H1964-01 2 Chronicles 4:7 בַּֽ/הֵיכָ֔ל baheykhal HRd/Ncmsa in the temple in the grand sanctuary-hall in the grand sanctuary-hall
H1964-01 2 Chronicles 4:8 בַּֽ/הֵיכָ֔ל baheykhal HRd/Ncmsa in the temple in the grand sanctuary-hall in the grand sanctuary-hall
H1964-11 2 Chronicles 4:22 לַ/הֵיכָ֖ל laheykhal HRd/Ncmsa to the temple to the grand sanctuary to the grand temple
H1964-06 2 Chronicles 26:16 הֵיכַ֣ל heykhal HNcmsc the temple grand sanctuary-palace of the temple of
H1964-06 2 Chronicles 27:2 הֵיכַ֣ל heykhal HNcmsc the temple grand sanctuary-palace of temple of
H1964-02 2 Chronicles 29:16 בְּ/הֵיכַ֣ל beheykhal HR/Ncmsc in the temple in the grand palace of in the grand palace of
H1964-03 2 Chronicles 36:7 בְּ/הֵיכָל֖/וֹ beheykhalo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his temple in his grand sanctuary in his temple
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