1147. binyan

Lexical Summary

binyan: building

Original Word: בִּנְיָן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: binyan
Pronunciation: bin-YAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (bin-yawn')
NASB: building
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H1146 (בִּניָן - building)]

1. building

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

building

(Aramaic) corresponding to binyan -- building.

see HEBREW binyan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to binyan
Definition
a building
NASB Translation
building (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[בִּנְיָן] noun [masculine] a building (so ᵑ7 Syriac); — emphatic בִּנְיָנָא Ezra 5:4.

Topical Lexicon

Term Overview

בִּנְיָן designates a building, structure, or the act of construction. Though it appears only once in the Hebrew canon, the term stands at the crossroads of several major biblical themes: the restoration of the temple, the continuity of covenant worship, and the divine priority of rebuilding both physical and spiritual houses.

Historical Background

Ezra records the return of Judean exiles under Persian sanction (Ezra 1–6). The imperial edict of Cyrus authorized the reconstruction of the temple, but local opposition repeatedly stalled the work. During the reign of Darius I, Persian officials investigated the project, prompting the Judeans to defend their right to rebuild (Ezra 5). In that imperial correspondence the single canonical occurrence of בִּנְיָן appears.

Textual Context: Ezra 5: 4

“And they also asked them, ‘What are the names of the men who are reconstructing this building?’” (Ezra 5:4).

Here “building” identifies the second temple then rising on Mount Zion. The term highlights:
• A tangible expression of Yahweh’s covenant presence.
• A work whose legitimacy rested on divine decree transmitted through Cyrus (Ezra 1:2–4).
• A project viewed with suspicion by surrounding peoples, yet protected by the providence of God (Ezra 5:5).

The Symbolism of Building in Scripture

1. Physical Sanctuaries: From the tabernacle (Exodus 25–40) to Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6), the Lord consistently marks out sacred space by commissioning a “house.” Ezra’s בִּנְיָן continues this trajectory.
2. National Restoration: Prophets connect rebuilding with covenant renewal (Isaiah 58:12; Amos 9:11).
3. Personal and Corporate Formation: Wisdom literature employs “building” for shaping lives (Proverbs 24:3–4), while prophets foresee a rebuilt people (Jeremiah 24:6).
4. Eschatological Vision: Zechariah pictures a future temple filled with glory (Zechariah 6:12–15).

Connections to the Temple Motif

The second temple represented:
• Forgiveness through sacrifice (Ezra 6:17).
• Fulfillment of prophetic promise (Jeremiah 29:10).
• Foreshadowing of a greater dwelling, culminating in the incarnate Christ (John 2:19–21) and the eschatological temple where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22).

Usage in Post-Exilic Judaism

The term marks a pivot in Israel’s story: exile’s shame gives way to restored worship. The community’s identity, economy, and liturgy centered on that בִּנְיָן. Its completion (Ezra 6: 15–18) became a yearly memory of covenant faithfulness.

Theological Significance

• God is the ultimate Builder (Hebrews 3:4).
• Human labor in sacred construction is a cooperative act of obedience (Haggai 1:8).
• Oppression cannot thwart divine plans; even imperial authorities serve the purpose (Ezra 6:6–12).
• Physical structures are temporary signposts to everlasting realities (2 Corinthians 5:1).

New Testament Echoes

• Jesus, the “chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20), fulfills and surpasses temple symbolism.
• The church is “being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).
• Believers individually are “God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9) and must build with materials that withstand divine testing (1 Corinthians 3:12–15).
• The resurrection hope is framed as receiving “a building from God, an eternal house in heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Ministry Implications

1. Prioritize Worship: The community in Ezra halted daily life to advance the בִּנְיָן; modern congregations likewise center ministry on God’s presence.
2. Persevere Amid Opposition: Bureaucratic delays and hostile neighbors did not cancel the project; faithful service today should mirror that resilience.
3. Align with Divine Commission: Builders in Ezra acted under a written decree; contemporary ministry rests on the written Word.
4. Build People, Not Monuments: While facilities aid ministry, the enduring בִּנְיָן is the body of Christ (1 Peter 2:5).

Related Themes and Vocabulary

• House (בַּיִת) – often paired with “building” for temple contexts (Ezra 5:2).
• Stone and Cornerstone terminology underline stability and Christological fulfillment (Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16).
• Rebuild/Raise Up (קוּם, בָּנָה) enrich the vocabulary of restoration spread across prophetic literature.

In sum, בִּנְיָן in Ezra 5:4 captures a pivotal moment in Israel’s renewal, anticipates the messianic temple theme, and guides the church’s ongoing task of building lives and communities on the unshakable foundation of the Lord.

Forms and Transliterations

בִנְיָנָ֖א בנינא ḇin·yā·nā ḇinyānā vinyaNa

Englishman's Concordance

Ezra 5:4
HEB: דִּֽי־ דְנָ֥ה בִנְיָנָ֖א בָּנַֽיִן׃
NAS: were reconstructing this building.
KJV: that make this building?
INT: were who this building were reconstructing

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1147
1 Occurrence

ḇin·yā·nā — 1 Occ.