אֵילָם
𐤀𐤉𐤋𐤌
ʼêylâm
H361 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A large entrance hall, vestibule, or porch—typically a grand architectural feature, often roofed and with columns, forming an antechamber or entryway to a palace or temple, especially prominent in descriptions of Solomon's Temple and royal buildings. Also attested in the sense of a portico. The term refers to an architectural structure used as a transition space between outer courts and interior sanctuaries or halls.
Semantic Range
vestibule, entrance hall, colonnade, portico, porch, antechamber, monumental entryway
Root / Etymology
From the root אַיִל (א-י-ל), meaning 'ram,' and by extension, 'pillar' or 'strong support.' The word אֵילָם appears to derive from the idea of strength or structural support, referencing the pillars that often accompanied such halls.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Primarily used to describe monumental architectural spaces in royal or temple complexes during the monarchic period, especially in accounts of Solomon's Temple (e.g., 1 Kings 6–7; Ezekiel's Temple vision in Ezekiel 40–41). Often translated as 'porch,' 'vestibule,' or 'portico,' modern readers may miss the formality and scale implied—a monumental, often columned, entrance space rather than a simple covered entryway. In post-exilic texts, the term continues to refer to prominent temple architecture, maintaining its sense of imposing grandeur. The word is distinct from חָצֵר (courtyard) or הֵיכָל (main hall, palace, or sanctuary), and denotes specifically the architectural transition space at entrances. Later Greek translations (LXX) sometimes render אֵילָם as πρόναος (forecourt or portico). In modern English Bibles, the translation 'porch' may understate the architectural significance inherent in the ancient term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (shortened) אֵלָם ; or (feminine) אֵלַמָּה ; probably from אַיִל; a pillar-space (or colonnade), i.e. a pale (or portico); arch.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
איל (ʾ-y-l) — strength, structural support, pillar-like firmness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H353 | אֱיָל | strength |
| H354 | אַיָּל | stag |
| H355 | אַיָּלָה | doe |
| H356 | אֵילוֹן | oak of |
| H357 | אַיָּלוֹן | Deer-Place (Ayalon) |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H361-09 |
ו/אלמ/ו | vlmv | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-its-porch | and its pillared vestibule | 7 |
H361-05 |
וְ/אֵֽלַמָּי/ו֙ | veelamayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-its-porches | and his vestibules | 7 |
H361-02 |
וּ/לְ/אֵלַמָּ֖י/ו | uleelamayv | HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-to-its-porches | and to his entrance halls | 2 |
H361-08 |
ו/ל/אלמ/ו | vllmv | HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and to its arch | and to its pillared vestibule | 2 |
H361-07 |
וְ/אֵֽילַמָּ֖י/ו | veeylamayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-arches-of.it | and its entrance-halls | 2 |
H361-11 |
ו/אילמ/ו | vylmv | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-arch-of.it | and its columned vestibule | 2 |
H361-10 |
ו/ל/אילמ/ו | vlylmv | HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-to-portico-its | and to its vestibule | 1 |
H361-04 |
וְ/אֵלַמָּ֗/ו | veelamav | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-its-arches | and his entrance halls | 1 |
H361-06 |
וְ/אֵֽלַמּ֖וֹת | veelamot | HC/Ncmpa |
and porticos | and entrance halls | 1 |
H361-01 |
לָ/אֵֽלַמּ֑וֹת | laelamot | HRd/Ncmpa |
to-the-arches | to the entrance halls | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
27 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H361-01 |
Ezekiel 40:16 | לָ/אֵֽלַמּ֑וֹת | laelamot | HRd/Ncmpa |
to-the-arches | to the entrance halls |
H361-09 |
Ezekiel 40:21 | ו/אלמ/ו | vlmv | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-its-porch | and its pillared vestibule |
H361-05 |
Ezekiel 40:21 | וְ/אֵֽלַמָּי/ו֙ | veelamayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-its-porches | and his vestibules |
H361-09 |
Ezekiel 40:22 | ו/אלמ/ו | vlmv | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-its-arch | and its pillared vestibule |
H361-05 |
Ezekiel 40:22 | וְ/אֵֽלַמָּי/ו֙ | veelamayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-its-arches | and his vestibules |
H361-11 |
Ezekiel 40:22 | ו/אילמ/ו | vylmv | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-arch-of.it | and its columned vestibule |
H361-07 |
Ezekiel 40:22 | וְ/אֵֽילַמָּ֖י/ו | veeylamayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-arches-of.it | and its entrance-halls |
H361-11 |
Ezekiel 40:24 | ו/אילמ/ו | vylmv | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and its porch | and its columned vestibule |
H361-07 |
Ezekiel 40:24 | וְ/אֵ֣ילַמָּ֔י/ו | veeylamayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and its porches | and its entrance-halls |
H361-10 |
Ezekiel 40:25 | ו/ל/אילמ/ו | vlylmv | HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-to-portico-its | and to its vestibule |