1002. birah

Lexicon

birah: Citadel, fortress, palace

Original Word: בִּירָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: biyrah
Pronunciation: bee-raw'
Phonetic Spelling: (bee-raw')
Definition: Citadel, fortress, palace
Meaning: a castle, palace

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

palace

Of foreign origin; a castle or palace -- palace.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a castle, palace
NASB Translation
capitol (1), citadel (11), fortress (2), temple (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בִּירָה noun feminine castle, palace (late & probably loan-word; compare As bîrtu, fortress Dl^{HA 22}; Persian bâru = Sanskrit bura, bari, see Ry Nehemiah 2:8) —

1 of temple at Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 29:1,19 הַבִּירָה; of for-tress near temple Nehemiah 2:8; Nehemiah 7:2 (compare βᾶρις ᵐ5^L Nehemiah 1:1; Nehemiah 2:8; Nehemiah 7:2 — B ἁβιρά, βειρά — and later βᾶρις Jos^Ant.xiv.11,4).

2 בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה Nehemiah 1:1; Esther 1:2,5; Esther 2:3,5,8; Esther 3:15; Esther 8:14; Esther 9:6,11,12; Daniel 8:2; in these passages it apparently means a fortress in the city bearing the same name (compare especially Esther 3:15; Esther 8:14,15; Esther 9:6,12,15,18).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be lofty.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G3390 (Μακεδών • Makedon): While not directly related in meaning, this entry refers to a Macedonian, highlighting a geographical and cultural context.
• G3619 (οἰκοδομή • oikodomē): Meaning "building" or "edifice," this term relates to the concept of construction and structure, akin to the idea of a palace or fortress.
• G3624 (οἶκος • oikos): Translated as "house" or "household," this term can encompass the idea of a dwelling place, including palatial or significant structures.
• G4172 (πόλις • polis): Meaning "city," this term can relate to the broader concept of a fortified city or stronghold, similar to the function of a בִּירָה (bîrâh) as a central and secure location.

These Greek terms, while not direct translations, provide a broader understanding of the concepts related to structures of significance, authority, and habitation in biblical texts.

Usage: The term בִּירָה (bîrâh) is used in the Hebrew Bible to denote a significant and fortified structure, often associated with royal or governmental functions. It conveys the idea of a place of strength and security, typically a residence for royalty or a stronghold.

Context: The Hebrew word בִּירָה (bîrâh) appears in several contexts within the Old Testament, primarily to describe a fortified palace or castle. It is often associated with the grandeur and authority of a king's residence or a governmental stronghold. The term is used in the following passages:

• 1 Chronicles 29:1, 19: In these verses, בִּירָה (bîrâh) refers to the temple that Solomon was to build, described as a "palace" for God. The use of the term underscores the temple's significance as a divine dwelling place and a center of worship and governance.

• Nehemiah 1:1: Here, בִּירָה (bîrâh) is used to describe the citadel in Susa, where Nehemiah was serving. This highlights the strategic and administrative importance of the location as a seat of power within the Persian Empire.

• Esther 1:2, 5; 2:3, 5, 8; 3:15; 8:14; 9:6, 11, 12: In the book of Esther, בִּירָה (bîrâh) is frequently used to describe the royal palace in Susa, emphasizing its role as the center of Persian royal authority and the setting for the events of the narrative.

The use of בִּירָה (bîrâh) in these contexts reflects the cultural and historical significance of such structures in ancient Near Eastern societies, where they served not only as residences but also as symbols of power and governance.

Forms and Transliterations

הַבִּירָ֑ה הַבִּירָ֔ה הַבִּירָ֖ה הַבִּירָ֗ה הַבִּירָ֜ה הַבִּירָ֡ה הַבִּירָ֤ה הַבִּירָ֥ה הַבִּירָֽה׃ הַבִּירָה֙ הבירה הבירה׃ hab·bî·rāh habbiRah habbîrāh

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 29:1
HEB: לֹ֤א לְאָדָם֙ הַבִּירָ֔ה כִּ֖י לַיהוָ֥ה
NAS: is great; for the temple is not for man,
KJV: [is] great: for the palace [is] not for man,
INT: for man the temple for the LORD

1 Chronicles 29:19
HEB: הַכֹּ֔ל וְלִבְנ֖וֹת הַבִּירָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־ הֲכִינֽוֹתִי׃
NAS: and to build the temple, for which
KJV: all [these things], and to build the palace, [for] the which I have made provision.
INT: all build the temple which have made

Nehemiah 1:1
HEB: הָיִ֖יתִי בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃
NAS: year, while I was in Susa the capitol,
KJV: year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
INT: happened Susa the capitol

Nehemiah 2:8
HEB: אֶת־ שַׁעֲרֵ֨י הַבִּירָ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־ לַבַּ֙יִת֙
NAS: for the gates of the fortress which
KJV: for the gates of the palace which [appertained] to the house,
INT: to make the gates of the fortress which the temple

Nehemiah 7:2
HEB: חֲנַנְיָ֛ה שַׂ֥ר הַבִּירָ֖ה עַל־ יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
NAS: the commander of the fortress, in charge
KJV: the ruler of the palace, charge
INT: and Hananiah the commander of the fortress charge of Jerusalem

Esther 1:2
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃
NAS: which [was] at the citadel in Susa,
KJV: which [was] in Shushan the palace,
INT: which Susa the citadel

Esther 1:5
HEB: הַנִּמְצְאִים֩ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ן הַבִּירָ֜ה לְמִגָּ֧דוֹל וְעַד־
NAS: who were present at the citadel in Susa,
KJV: in Shushan the palace, both unto great
INT: were present Susa the citadel the greatest against

Esther 2:3
HEB: אֶל־ שׁוּשַׁ֤ן הַבִּירָה֙ אֶל־ בֵּ֣ית
NAS: virgin to the citadel of Susa,
KJV: unto Shushan the palace, to the house
INT: of Susa to the citadel to the house

Esther 2:5
HEB: הָיָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מָרְדֳּכַ֗י
NAS: [Now] there was at the citadel in Susa
KJV: [Now] in Shushan the palace there was a certain
INT: become Susa the citadel name was Mordecai

Esther 2:8
HEB: אֶל־ שׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָ֖ה אֶל־ יַ֣ד
NAS: were gathered to the citadel of Susa
KJV: unto Shushan the palace, to the custody
INT: of Susa to the citadel into the custody

Esther 3:15
HEB: נִתְּנָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה וְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהָמָן֙
NAS: was issued at the citadel in Susa;
KJV: in Shushan the palace. And the king
INT: was issued Susa the citadel the king and Haman

Esther 8:14
HEB: נִתְּנָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃ פ
NAS: was given out at the citadel in Susa.
KJV: was given at Shushan the palace.
INT: was given Susa the citadel

Esther 9:6
HEB: וּבְשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֗ה הָרְג֤וּ הַיְּהוּדִים֙
NAS: At the citadel in Susa the Jews
KJV: And in Shushan the palace the Jews
INT: Susa the citadel killed the Jews

Esther 9:11
HEB: הַֽהֲרוּגִ֛ים בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
NAS: of those who were killed at the citadel in Susa
KJV: in Shushan the palace was brought
INT: were killed Susa the citadel before to the king

Esther 9:12
HEB: הַמַּלְכָּ֗ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֡ה הָרְגוּ֩ הַיְּהוּדִ֨ים
NAS: of Haman at the citadel in Susa.
KJV: in Shushan the palace, and the ten
INT: to Queen Susa the citadel have killed the Jews

Daniel 8:2
HEB: וַאֲנִי֙ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵילָ֣ם
NAS: and while I was looking I was in the citadel of Susa,
KJV: that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province
INT: myself of Susa the citadel which of Elam

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1002
16 Occurrences

hab·bî·rāh — 16 Occ.