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עֲזָרָה

𐤏𐤆𐤓𐤄

ʻăzârâh

H5835 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עזר to surround, enclose

Definition

An enclosed space, specifically the courtyard or precinct surrounding a temple or sanctuary; the open area that provides access to the sanctuary proper. In biblical texts, the term generally refers to the outer court of the Israelite temple complex, but can also indicate an enclosure or fenced-off area attached to sacred or significant sites.

Semantic Range

enclosure, temple court, sacred precinct, outer court of the sanctuary, fenced area

Root / Etymology

From the root עזר, whose basic meaning is 'to surround, enclose.' The noun עֲזָרָה is derived from this root and designates that which encloses or surrounds with a sense of protection or demarcation. Not to be confused with the more commonly known verbal meaning of 'to help' associated with עזר as a homograph; here the concept is spatial rather than aid.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the context of the First Temple (Solomonic Temple), עֲזָרָה refers to the temple courts—the spaces surrounding the temple building itself—where lay Israelites could congregate and worship, distinct from the inner sanctum accessible only to priests or select individuals. In later periods, including the Second Temple era, the term could encompass various divisions of the sanctuary's open precincts. English translations frequently render עֲזָרָה as 'court' or 'courtyard,' but this can obscure the specialized religious and architectural significance of the term in ancient Israelite ritual practice. Unlike חָצֵר (ḥāṣēr), which often denotes general enclosures or courtyards (including domestic or communal areas), עֲזָרָה refers to the sanctified area specifically related to a temple or sanctuary. Post-biblical Hebrew maintained the term for temple precincts, and in later sources, its meaning might broaden, but biblical usage is specific to sacred enclosures.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָזַר in its original meaning of surrounding; an inclosure; also a border; court, settle.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עזר (ʿ-z-r) — surrounding, enclosing, encircling

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3134 יוֹעֶזֶר and YHWH-is-help
H3270 יַעֲזֵיר in He-helps
H373 אִיעֶזְרִי the Iezerite clansman
H461 אֱלִיעֶזֶר God is help
H5809 עַזּוּר Azzur

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5835-01 הָ/עֲזָרָ֤ה haazarah HTd/Ncfsa of the ledge the enclosed court 5
H5835-04 וְ/הָ/עֲזָרָ֞ה vehaazarah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the court and the enclosed-precinct 2
H5835-02 לָ/עֲזָרָ֛ה laazarah HRd/Ncfsa for the court to the enclosed-precinct 1
H5835-03 וּ/מֵ/הֳ/עֲזָרָ֨ה umehoazarah HC/R/Td/Ncfsa and from the ledge and from the enclosed precinct 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5835-01 Ezekiel 43:14 הָ/עֲזָרָ֤ה haazarah HTd/Ncfsa the lower ledge the enclosed court
H5835-03 Ezekiel 43:14 וּ/מֵ/הֳ/עֲזָרָ֨ה umehoazarah HC/R/Td/Ncfsa and from the ledge and from the enclosed precinct
H5835-01 Ezekiel 43:14 הָ/עֲזָרָ֤ה haazarah-2 HTd/Ncfsa the ledge the enclosed court
H5835-04 Ezekiel 43:17 וְ/הָ/עֲזָרָ֞ה vehaazarah HC/Td/Ncfsa and-the-ledge and the enclosed-precinct
H5835-01 Ezekiel 43:20 הָ/עֲזָרָ֔ה haazarah HTd/Ncfsa of the ledge the enclosed court
H5835-01 Ezekiel 45:19 הָ/עֲזָרָ֖ה haazarah HTd/Ncfsa of the ledge the enclosed court
H5835-04 2 Chronicles 4:9 וְ/הָ/עֲזָרָ֖ה vehaazarah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the court and the enclosed-precinct
H5835-02 2 Chronicles 4:9 לָ/עֲזָרָ֛ה laazarah HRd/Ncfsa for the court to the enclosed-precinct
H5835-01 2 Chronicles 6:13 הָ/עֲזָרָה֒ haazarah HTd/Ncfsa the court the enclosed court
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