197. ulam
Lexical Summary
ulam: Porch, Vestibule, Hall

Original Word: אוּלָם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: uwlam
Pronunciation: oo-lahm'
Phonetic Spelling: (oo-lawm')
KJV: porch
NASB: porch, hall, porches
Word Origin: [from H481 (אָלַם - mute) (in the sense of tying)]

1. a vestibule (as bound to the building)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
porch

Or (shortened),ulam {oo-lawm'}; from 'alam (in the sense of tying); a vestibule (as bound to the building) -- porch.

see HEBREW 'alam

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as ul
Definition
a porch
NASB Translation
hall (5), porch (28), porches (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. אוּלָם noun masculine1Kings 7:8 porch (compare אֵילָם) — ׳א absolute 1 Kings 6:3 +; אֻלָם Ezekiel 40:48,49; construct אוּלָם 1 Kings 7:6 +; אֻלָם Ezekiel 40:7 + (margin אֻלָּם 1 Kings 7:7,12,21); plural construct אֻלַמֵּי Ezekiel 41:15 (Co singular with suffix; in Ezekiel Co reads everywhere אילם see אֵילָם below) — porch (only Kings Chronicles Ezekiel & Joel).

1 in Soloman's temple 1 Kings 7:19; 2Chronicles 29:7, יהוה ׳א 2 Chronicles 29:17; 2Chronicles 8:12 (altar in front of); יהוה ׳א2Chronicles 15:8 (id.), compare בֵּין הָאוּלָם וּבֵין הַמִּזְבֵּחַ Ezekiel 8:16 & Joel 2:17; הַהֵיכָל ׳א 1 Kings 7:21; הַבַּיִת ׳א 1 Kings 7:12; ׳תַּבְנִית הָא 1 Chronicles 28:11.

2 in Solomon's palace 1 Kings 7:8 (twice in verse); הָעַמּוּדִים ׳א 1 Kings 7:6 compare 1 Kings 7:6; הַכִּסֵּא ׳א 1 Kings 7:7 = הַמִּשְׁמָּט ׳א 1 Kings 7:7.

3 in temple of Ezekiel's vision, particularly הַשַּׁעַר ׳א Ezekiel 40:7,8 (strike out Co see ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9):9.9.15.39.40; Ezekiel 44:3; Ezekiel 46:2,8; הַבַּיִת ׳א Ezekiel 40:48 compare Ezekiel 40:48; Ezekiel 40:49; Ezekiel 41:25,26; אֻלַמֵּי הֶחָצֵר Ezekiel 41:25 Co singular ואילמו החיצון see אֵילָם. — (III. אוּלָם, adverb.)

I. & II. אוּלָם noun masculine &

proper name, masculine see below II. אול.

Topical Lexicon
Overview and Distribution

The Hebrew noun אוּלָם (’ûlām) designates the projecting porch or vestibule that fronts a larger structure, especially the Temple. Of its roughly thirty-four uses, the majority appear in the historical narratives describing Solomon’s building works (1 Kings, 2 Chronicles) and in Ezekiel’s visionary Temple (Ezekiel 40–41). A few additional references occur in the accounts of Judah’s reforms under Hezekiah and Josiah. The term never occurs outside architectural contexts, underscoring its technical nature.

Architectural Significance in Solomon’s Temple

1 Kings 6:3 gives the first description: “The portico in front of the main hall of the temple was twenty cubits long, across the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house”. The אוּלָם functioned as a transitional space between the outer court and the Hekal (holy place), providing shelter for priests and worshippers and visual grandeur for approaching pilgrims. Solomon added two specialized porches beside the Temple’s primary אוּלָם: the “Porch of Pillars” and the “Porch of the Throne” where the king sat in judgment (1 Kings 7:6-7). These ancillary halls reveal that royal administration and liturgical life were architecturally integrated, reflecting Israel’s ideal of covenantal kingship under Yahweh.

Cultic and Liturgical Use

2 Chronicles 29:7 records that apostate priests “shut the doors of the portico, put out the lamps, and did not burn incense” during Ahaz’s reign, indicating that closure of the אוּלָם effectively suspended Temple worship. When Hezekiah reopened the אוּלָם (2 Chronicles 29:17), Levitical cleansing began there and moved inward, mirroring the spiritual principle that repentance starts at the threshold of God’s house before progressing toward deeper communion. Josiah likewise stationed the priests “in the LORD’s Temple” and had them stand “in their offices within the portico” (2 Chronicles 34:9-10), reaffirming its role as the first station of sacred duty.

Ezekiel’s Visionary Temple

Ezekiel 40–41 employs אוּלָם fourteen times, presenting three-fold “porches” on each of the outer, inner, and sanctuary gateways. Each porch measures six cubits deep and six wide (Ezekiel 40:8-9). The repetitive design envisions a perfectly ordered approach to divine presence, every threshold guarded by symmetry and holiness. Ezekiel 44:3 further elevates the אוּלָם when the prince is granted the right to eat bread “in the portico of the gate before the LORD,” portraying restored fellowship that anticipates Messianic fulfillment.

Symbolic Theology: Threshold of Access

Because the אוּלָם bridges common ground and consecrated space, it becomes a living metaphor for mediated access to God. The breadth and height (often twenty cubits, 2 Chronicles 3:4) testify to divine largess, while its gilded surfaces proclaim God’s glory. Priests performing sacrifices could look through the אוּלָם into the sanctuary, a visual sermon that atonement leads to worship. In Solomon’s dedication, the cloud of glory filled the “house of the LORD” (1 Kings 8:10), and the porch served as the vantage from which Israel beheld that manifestation.

Royal and Judicial Functions

The אוּלָם was also a place of public audience. 1 Kings 7:7 notes that Solomon’s judgment hall contained a special אוּלָם, signifying that justice proceeded under the covering of God’s house. By situating civil authority in a porch attached to the Temple complex, Scripture affirms that righteous rulership derives legitimacy from covenant faithfulness.

Echoes in Second Temple Judaism and the New Testament

The rebuilt complex under Zerubbabel retained a porch (Ezra 3:1-3 implies its framework). In Herod’s enlargement, “Solomon’s Colonnade” functioned similarly (John 10:23; Acts 3:11; Acts 5:12). Though the Greek term differs, the concept of a sheltered threshold for teaching, healing, and proclamation stands in continuity with אוּלָם. The early church gathered in that space, underscoring that public ministry flows naturally from the house of God into the world.

Practical Ministry Lessons

1. Accessibility and Reverence: The אוּלָם reminds churches to create welcoming yet holy entry points where seekers can move toward deeper truth.
2. Cleansing Begins at the Door: Revival starts when spiritual leaders “open the doors of the porch” (2 Chronicles 29:3), confessing sin and restoring neglected disciplines.
3. Integration of Worship and Justice: Solomon’s judicial porch signals that truth and mercy must shade every societal decision.
4. Anticipation of Christ: Ezekiel’s measured porches prefigure the ordered access provided by the Messiah, “the new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20), whose sacrifice removes the final barrier between humanity and God.

Forms and Transliterations
אֻלָ֔ם אֻלָ֣ם אֻלָ֤ם אֻלָ֥ם אוּלָ֤ם אוּלָ֥ם אוּלָ֨ם אולם אלם בָּֽאוּלָ֑ם באולם הָֽאוּלָ֑ם הָֽאוּלָם֙ הָאֻלָ֞ם הָאוּלָ֖ם הָאוּלָ֗ם הָאוּלָֽם׃ הָאוּלָם֙ הָאוּלָם֩ האולם האולם׃ האלם וְאֻֽלַמֵּ֖י וְאֻלָ֥ם וְאוּלָ֤ם וְאוּלָם֙ וְהָאוּלָ֗ם וְהָאוּלָ֡ם וּבְאֻלָ֣ם וּלְאֻלָ֥ם ואולם ואלם ואלמי ובאלם והאולם ולאלם כָּאוּלָ֖ם כאולם לְאֻלָ֖ם לְאֻלָ֣ם לְאוּלָ֣ם לָֽאוּלָ֔ם לאולם לאלם ’u·lām ’ū·lām ’ulām ’ūlām bā’ūlām bā·’ū·lām bauLam hā’ulām hā’ūlām hā·’u·lām hā·’ū·lām hauLam kā’ūlām kā·’ū·lām kauLam lā’ūlām lā·’ū·lām lauLam lə’ulām lə’ūlām lə·’u·lām lə·’ū·lām leuLam ū·ḇə·’u·lām ū·lə·’u·lām ūḇə’ulām uLam ūlə’ulām uleuLam uveuLam vehauLam veuLam veulamMei wə’ulām wə’ūlām wə’ulammê wə·’u·lām wə·’ū·lām wə·’u·lam·mê wə·hā·’ū·lām wəhā’ūlām
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Kings 6:3
HEB: וְהָאוּלָ֗ם עַל־ פְּנֵי֙
NAS: The porch in front of the nave
KJV: And the porch before the temple
INT: the porch along front

1 Kings 7:6
HEB: וְאֵ֨ת אוּלָ֤ם הָֽעַמּוּדִים֙ עָשָׂ֔ה
NAS: Then he made the hall of pillars;
KJV: And he made a porch of pillars;
INT: porch and pillars made

1 Kings 7:6
HEB: אַמָּ֖ה רָחְבּ֑וֹ וְאוּלָם֙ עַל־ פְּנֵיהֶ֔ם
NAS: cubits, and a porch [was] in front
KJV: cubits: and the porch [was] before
INT: cubits and the breadth porch in front

1 Kings 7:7
HEB: וְאוּלָ֤ם הַכִּסֵּא֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר
NAS: He made the hall of the throne where
KJV: Then he made a porch for the throne
INT: the hall of the throne he

1 Kings 7:7
HEB: יִשְׁפָּט־ שָׁ֔ם אֻלָ֥ם הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט עָשָׂ֑ה
NAS: he was to judge, the hall of judgment,
KJV: where he might judge, [even] the porch of judgment:
INT: to judge in it the hall of judgment made

1 Kings 7:8
HEB: הָאַחֶ֗רֶת מִבֵּית֙ לָֽאוּלָ֔ם כַּמַּֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה
NAS: inward from the hall, was of the same
KJV: within the porch, [which] was of the like work.
INT: the other A house the hall workmanship the same

1 Kings 7:8
HEB: לָקַ֣ח שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה כָּאוּלָ֖ם הַזֶּֽה׃
NAS: like this hall for Pharaoh's
KJV: whom he had taken [to wife], like unto this porch.
INT: had married Solomon hall this

1 Kings 7:12
HEB: יְהוָ֛ה הַפְּנִימִ֖ית וּלְאֻלָ֥ם הַבָּֽיִת׃ פ
NAS: of the LORD, and the porch of the house.
KJV: of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.
INT: of the LORD as the inner and the porch of the house

1 Kings 7:19
HEB: מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה שׁוּשַׁ֣ן בָּֽאוּלָ֑ם אַרְבַּ֖ע אַמּֽוֹת׃
NAS: of the pillars in the porch were of lily
KJV: work in the porch, four
INT: design lily the porch four cubits

1 Kings 7:21
HEB: אֶת־ הָֽעַמֻּדִ֔ים לְאֻלָ֖ם הַֽהֵיכָ֑ל וַיָּ֜קֶם
NAS: up the pillars at the porch of the nave;
KJV: the pillars in the porch of the temple:
INT: set the pillars the porch of the nave set

1 Chronicles 28:11
HEB: אֶת־ תַּבְנִ֣ית הָאוּלָם֩ וְֽאֶת־ בָּ֨תָּ֜יו
NAS: the plan of the porch [of the temple], its buildings,
KJV: the pattern of the porch, and of the houses
INT: to his son the plan of the porch buildings storehouses

2 Chronicles 3:4
HEB: וְהָאוּלָ֡ם אֲשֶׁר֩ עַל־
NAS: The porch which was in front
KJV: And the porch that [was] in the front
INT: and the porch after that

2 Chronicles 8:12
HEB: בָּנָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הָאוּלָֽם׃
NAS: he had built before the porch;
KJV: which he had built before the porch,
INT: had built before the porch

2 Chronicles 15:8
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֕ר לִפְנֵ֖י אוּלָ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃
NAS: was in front of the porch of the LORD.
KJV: that [was] before the porch of the LORD.
INT: which front of the porch of the LORD

2 Chronicles 29:7
HEB: סָֽגְר֞וּ דַּלְת֣וֹת הָאוּלָ֗ם וַיְכַבּוּ֙ אֶת־
NAS: the doors of the porch and put
KJV: the doors of the porch, and put out
INT: shut the doors of the porch and put the lamps

2 Chronicles 29:17
HEB: לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ בָּ֚אוּ לְאוּלָ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה וַיְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ
NAS: they entered the porch of the LORD.
KJV: came they to the porch of the LORD:
INT: of the month entered the porch of the LORD consecrated

Ezekiel 8:16
HEB: יְהוָ֗ה בֵּ֤ין הָֽאוּלָם֙ וּבֵ֣ין הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ
NAS: between the porch and the altar,
KJV: of the LORD, between the porch and the altar,
INT: of the LORD between the porch between and the altar

Ezekiel 40:7
HEB: הַ֠שַּׁעַר מֵאֵ֨צֶל אוּלָ֥ם הַשַּׁ֛עַר מֵֽהַבַּ֖יִת
NAS: of the gate by the porch of the gate
KJV: by the porch of the gate
INT: of the gate by the porch of the gate inward

Ezekiel 40:8
HEB: וַיָּ֜מָד אֶת־ אֻלָ֥ם הַשַּׁ֛עַר מֵהַבַּ֖יִת
NAS: Then he measured the porch of the gate
KJV: He measured also the porch of the gate
INT: measured the porch of the gate inward

Ezekiel 40:9
HEB: וַיָּ֜מָד אֶת־ אֻלָ֤ם הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ שְׁמֹנֶ֣ה
NAS: He measured the porch of the gate,
KJV: Then measured he the porch of the gate,
INT: measured the porch of the gate eight

Ezekiel 40:9
HEB: שְׁתַּ֣יִם אַמּ֑וֹת וְאֻלָ֥ם הַשַּׁ֖עַר מֵהַבָּֽיִת׃
NAS: cubits. And the porch of the gate
KJV: cubits; and the porch of the gate
INT: two cubits and the porch of the gate was faced

Ezekiel 40:15
HEB: עַל־ לִפְנֵ֕י אֻלָ֥ם הַשַּׁ֖עַר הַפְּנִימִ֑י
NAS: of the inner porch of the gate
KJV: unto the face of the porch of the inner
INT: unto the front porch of the gate of the inner

Ezekiel 40:39
HEB: וּבְאֻלָ֣ם הַשַּׁ֗עַר שְׁנַ֤יִם
NAS: In the porch of the gate [were] two
KJV: And in the porch of the gate
INT: the porch of the gate two

Ezekiel 40:40
HEB: הָאַחֶ֗רֶת אֲשֶׁר֙ לְאֻלָ֣ם הַשַּׁ֔עַר שְׁנַ֖יִם
NAS: side of the porch of the gate
KJV: side, which [was] at the porch of the gate,
INT: the other after porch of the gate two

Ezekiel 40:48
HEB: וַיְבִאֵנִי֮ אֶל־ אֻלָ֣ם הַבַּיִת֒ וַיָּ֙מָד֙
NAS: Then he brought me to the porch of the temple
KJV: And he brought me to the porch of the house,
INT: brought to the porch of the temple and measured

34 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 197
34 Occurrences


bā·’ū·lām — 1 Occ.
hā·’ū·lām — 8 Occ.
kā·’ū·lām — 1 Occ.
lā·’ū·lām — 1 Occ.
lə·’u·lām — 3 Occ.
’ū·lām — 12 Occ.
ū·lə·’u·lām — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·’u·lām — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·’ū·lām — 2 Occ.
wə·’ū·lām — 3 Occ.
wə·’u·lam·mê — 1 Occ.

196
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