אַפֶּדֶן
𐤀𐤐𐤃𐤍
ʼappeden
H643 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sumptuous tent or portable pavilion, especially a regal or ceremonial structure used for official or royal purposes. Sometimes, by extension, denotes a palace-tent or a splendid dwelling place, typically associated with honor or dignity, rather than a permanent architectural palace.
Semantic Range
royal tent, pavilion, portable palace, luxurious encampment, ceremonial tent, field headquarters
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain; widely regarded as a word of foreign (loanword) origin, possibly with connections to Akkadian or other Northwest Semitic languages. Not securely derived from a Hebrew root; its form and usage suggest adoption into Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אַפֶּדֶן appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Daniel 11:45), and its referent is contextually associated with military or royal encampment, likely describing an imperial pavilion or a luxurious, temporary royal tent rather than a fixed-built palace. Its use during exilic/post-exilic periods reflects the influence of Aramaic and Persian court vocabulary. Translations as 'palace' may obscure the nuance of a distinguished, movable tent or portable regal dwelling. Unlike בַּיִת (bayit, 'house') or הֵיכָל (heikhāl, typically 'temple' or 'palace'), אַפֶּדֶן emphasizes the temporary, ceremonial, or mobile nature of the structure. Later translation traditions—such as the Vulgate and Septuagint—sometimes rendered it as 'palace,' but the architectural connotations of a permanent royal residence reflect an interpretive rather than strictly lexical choice.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently of foreign derivation; a pavilion or palace-tent; palace.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אפן (uncertain, loanword) (ʾ-p-d-n (uncertain)) — royal dwelling, pavilion, sumptuous tent
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H643-01 |
אַפַּדְנ֔/וֹ | apadeno | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his palace | his royal pavilion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H643-01 |
Daniel 11:45 | אַפַּדְנ֔/וֹ | apadeno | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his palace | his royal pavilion |