6442. penimi
Lexical Summary
penimi: Inner, inward, interior

Original Word: פְנִימִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: pniymiy
Pronunciation: peh-nee-MEE
Phonetic Spelling: (pen-ee-mee')
KJV: (with-)in(-ner, -ward)
NASB: inner, inside
Word Origin: [from H6440 (פָּנִים - before)]

1. interior

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
inner,

From paniym; interior -- (with-)in(-ner, - ward).

see HEBREW paniym

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from panah
Definition
inner
NASB Translation
inner (31), inside (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מְּנִימִי32 adjective inner; — ׳פ 1 Kings 6:27 +; feminine מְּנִימִית 1 Kings 6:36 +; masculine plural מְּנִימִים 1 Chronicles 28:11; feminine plural מְּנִימִיּוֺת2Chronicles 4:22; — always with article, and always of parts of building, usually temple : 1 Kings 6:27; 1 Kings 7:12 +; especially Ezekiel 8:3,16; Ezekiel 10:3 21t. 40-46; as substantive בַּמְּנִימִי Ezekiel 41:17 on the inside (but dubious, see Co and others); אֶלהַֿמְּנִימִית Ezekiel 42:4 toward the inside (strike out ᵐ5. ᵑ6 Co Toy and others).

Topical Lexicon
Canonical Distribution

The adjective appears about thirty-two times, clustered in descriptions of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6–8; 2 Chronicles 4–5) and Ezekiel’s visionary temple (Ezekiel 40–44), with additional uses in historical narrative (2 Kings; Esther), wisdom literature (Psalms; Proverbs), and prophecy (Jeremiah).

Architectural Use: Inner Sanctuary and Courts

• Solomon’s craftsmen speak of the Most Holy Place—“the inner sanctuary of the temple” (1 Kings 8:6).
• Cherubim (1 Kings 6:27), gold hinges (1 Kings 7:50), and costly stonework (1 Kings 7:9, 12) surround this secluded area.
• David’s blueprint includes “the plans for the inner chambers of the house of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 28:11).
• Ezekiel’s vision: “Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple” (Ezekiel 43:5). Exact measurements (Ezekiel 40–42) underscore order and holiness that flow from the center.

Royal Contexts: Inner Chambers of Kings

• Elisha’s messenger isolates Jehu “in an inner room” for a secret anointing (2 Kings 9:2).
• Isaiah is turned back while still in “the middle court” to deliver God’s word to Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:4).
• Esther risks her life by standing “in the inner court of the palace” (Esther 5:1; cf. 4:11). The inner court marks both privilege and peril.

Personal and Spiritual Interior

• David: “Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place” (Psalm 51:6).
• Proverbs: “The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching out his inmost being” (Proverbs 20:27).
• New-covenant promise: “I will put My law within them and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). The Most Holy Place shifts from gold-lined chambers to regenerated hearts.

Prophetic Warning and Judgment

• Desecration: “They will desecrate My treasured place” (Ezekiel 7:22).
• Secret idolatry: Elders practice sin “in the dark, in the chambers of his own imagery” (Ezekiel 8:12). Violated interiors expose Israel to judgment.

Worship and Ministry Implications

1. Centrality of Holiness—Movement from outer court to inner sanctuary models the believer’s approach to God (cf. Hebrews 10:19-22).
2. Integrity of the Heart—Discipleship stresses inward truth over outward show (Psalm 51:6).
3. Guarding the Inner Chamber—Leaders steward confidential counsel and devotion, meeting God before public ministry (2 Kings 9:2).
4. Restoration Hope—Ezekiel’s inner court foreshadows the Spirit-filled church (Ephesians 2:22) and the final city where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22).

Christological Reflections

Jesus is the true temple (John 2:19-21). His death tore the veil, opening the innermost presence of God (Matthew 27:51). United to Christ, believers become living sanctuaries, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, with God’s word treasured “in the inmost being.”

Summary

From Solomon’s gilded sanctuary to Jeremiah’s promise of an internal law, the term binds together sacred architecture, royal secrecy, and the hidden depths of the human heart. It culminates in the believer’s Spirit-filled life—an inner chamber where the glory of God now dwells.

Forms and Transliterations
בַּפְּנִימִ֥י בפנימי הַפְּנִימִ֑י הַפְּנִימִ֔י הַפְּנִימִ֔ית הַפְּנִימִ֖י הַפְּנִימִ֖ים הַפְּנִימִ֖ית הַפְּנִימִ֗י הַפְּנִימִ֛י הַפְּנִימִ֜י הַפְּנִימִ֜ית הַפְּנִימִ֨י הַפְּנִימִֽית׃ הַפְּנִימִי֙ הַפְּנִימִיּ֜וֹת הַפְּנִימִית֒ הַפְּנִימִית֙ הפנימי הפנימיות הפנימים הפנימית הפנימית׃ bap·pə·nî·mî bappeniMi bappənîmî hap·pə·nî·mî hap·pə·nî·mî·yō·wṯ hap·pə·nî·mîm hap·pə·nî·mîṯ happeniMi happənîmî happeniMim happənîmîm happeniMit happənîmîṯ happenimiYot happənîmîyōwṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Kings 6:27
HEB: בְּת֣וֹךְ ׀ הַבַּ֣יִת הַפְּנִימִ֗י וַֽיִּפְרְשׂוּ֮ אֶת־
NAS: in the midst of the inner house,
KJV: within the inner house:
INT: the midst house of the inner were spread and the wings

1 Kings 6:36
HEB: אֶת־ הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔ית שְׁלֹשָׁ֖ה טוּרֵ֣י
NAS: He built the inner court with three
KJV: And he built the inner court
INT: built court the inner three rows

1 Kings 7:12
HEB: בֵּית־ יְהוָ֛ה הַפְּנִימִ֖ית וּלְאֻלָ֥ם הַבָּֽיִת׃
NAS: beams even as the inner court
KJV: beams, both for the inner court
INT: of the house of the LORD as the inner and the porch of the house

1 Kings 7:50
HEB: לְדַלְתוֹת֩ הַבַּ֨יִת הַפְּנִימִ֜י לְקֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
NAS: both for the doors of the inner house,
KJV: [both] for the doors of the inner house,
INT: the doors house of the inner the most holy

1 Chronicles 28:11
HEB: וַעֲלִיֹּתָ֛יו וַחֲדָרָ֥יו הַפְּנִימִ֖ים וּבֵ֥ית הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃
NAS: its upper rooms, its inner rooms
KJV: thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours
INT: upper rooms inner and the room the mercy

2 Chronicles 4:22
HEB: הַ֠בַּיִת דַּלְתוֹתָ֨יו הַפְּנִימִיּ֜וֹת לְקֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
NAS: of the house, its inner doors
KJV: of the house, the inner doors
INT: of the house doors inner the holy of holies

Esther 4:11
HEB: אֶל־ הֶחָצֵ֨ר הַפְּנִימִ֜ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־
NAS: to the king to the inner court
KJV: unto the king into the inner court,
INT: about court to the inner who is not

Esther 5:1
HEB: בֵּית־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַפְּנִימִ֔ית נֹ֖כַח בֵּ֣ית
NAS: and stood in the inner court
KJV: [apparel], and stood in the inner court
INT: palace of the king's the inner front rooms

Ezekiel 8:3
HEB: פֶּ֜תַח שַׁ֤עַר הַפְּנִימִית֙ הַפּוֹנֶ֣ה צָפ֔וֹנָה
NAS: gate of the inner [court], where
KJV: to the door of the inner gate
INT: the entrance gate of the inner looketh of the north

Ezekiel 8:16
HEB: בֵּית־ יְהוָה֮ הַפְּנִימִית֒ וְהִנֵּה־ פֶ֜תַח
NAS: Then He brought me into the inner court
KJV: And he brought me into the inner court
INT: house of the LORD'S the inner and behold the entrance

Ezekiel 10:3
HEB: אֶת־ הֶחָצֵ֖ר הַפְּנִימִֽית׃
NAS: and the cloud filled the inner court.
KJV: and the cloud filled the inner court.
INT: filled court the inner

Ezekiel 40:15
HEB: אֻלָ֥ם הַשַּׁ֖עַר הַפְּנִימִ֑י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים אַמָּֽה׃
NAS: to the front of the inner porch
KJV: of the porch of the inner gate
INT: porch of the gate of the inner fifty cubits

Ezekiel 40:19
HEB: לִפְנֵ֨י הֶחָצֵ֧ר הַפְּנִימִ֛י מִח֖וּץ מֵאָ֣ה
NAS: of the exterior of the inner court,
KJV: unto the forefront of the inner court
INT: to the front court of the inner of the exterior A hundred

Ezekiel 40:23
HEB: וְשַׁ֙עַר֙ לֶחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔י נֶ֣גֶד הַשַּׁ֔עַר
NAS: The inner court had a gate
KJV: And the gate of the inner court
INT: gate court the inner opposite the gate

Ezekiel 40:27
HEB: וְשַׁ֛עַר לֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖י דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַדָּר֑וֹם
NAS: The inner court had a gate
KJV: And [there was] a gate in the inner court
INT: gate court the inner toward the south

Ezekiel 40:28
HEB: אֶל־ חָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖י בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַדָּר֑וֹם
NAS: Then he brought me to the inner court
KJV: And he brought me to the inner court
INT: about court to the inner gate the south

Ezekiel 40:32
HEB: אֶל־ הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖י דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַקָּדִ֑ים
NAS: He brought me into the inner court
KJV: And he brought me into the inner court
INT: about court the inner toward the east

Ezekiel 40:44
HEB: וּמִחוּצָה֩ לַשַּׁ֨עַר הַפְּנִימִ֜י לִֽשְׁכ֣וֹת שָׁרִ֗ים
NAS: From the outside to the inner gate
KJV: And without the inner gate
INT: the outside gate to the inner were chambers the singers

Ezekiel 40:44
HEB: שָׁרִ֗ים בֶּחָצֵ֤ר הַפְּנִימִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֗ר אֶל־
NAS: for the singers in the inner court,
KJV: of the singers in the inner court,
INT: the singers court the inner which was at

Ezekiel 41:15
HEB: אַמָּ֑ה וְהַֽהֵיכָל֙ הַפְּנִימִ֔י וְאֻֽלַמֵּ֖י הֶחָצֵֽר׃
NAS: cubits; [he] also [measured] the inner nave
KJV: cubits, with the inner temple,
INT: cubits nave also the inner and the porches of the court

Ezekiel 41:17
HEB: וְעַד־ הַבַּיִת֩ הַפְּנִימִ֨י וְלַח֜וּץ וְאֶל־
NAS: the entrance, and to the inner house,
KJV: To that above the door, even unto the inner house,
INT: against house the inner the outside and on

Ezekiel 41:17
HEB: סָבִ֧יב ׀ סָבִ֛יב בַּפְּנִימִ֥י וּבַחִיצ֖וֹן מִדּֽוֹת׃
NAS: around inside and outside,
KJV: round about within and without,
INT: all around inside and outside measurement

Ezekiel 42:3
HEB: אֲשֶׁר֙ לֶחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔י וְנֶ֣גֶד רִֽצְפָ֔ה
NAS: [cubits] which belonged to the inner court,
KJV: Over against the twenty [cubits] which [were] for the inner court,
INT: which court to the inner and opposite the pavement

Ezekiel 42:4
HEB: רֹ֙חַב֙ אֶל־ הַפְּנִימִ֔ית דֶּ֖רֶךְ אַמָּ֣ה
NAS: the chambers [was] an inner walk
KJV: cubits breadth inward, a way of one
INT: wide an inner A way cubits

Ezekiel 42:15
HEB: מִדּוֹת֙ הַבַּ֣יִת הַפְּנִימִ֔י וְהוֹצִיאַ֙נִי֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ
NAS: measuring the inner house,
KJV: of measuring the inner house,
INT: measuring house the inner brought the way

32 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6442
32 Occurrences


bap·pə·nî·mî — 1 Occ.
hap·pə·nî·mî — 15 Occ.
hap·pə·nî·mîm — 1 Occ.
hap·pə·nî·mîṯ — 14 Occ.
hap·pə·nî·mî·yō·wṯ — 1 Occ.

6441
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