בִּירָא
𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤀
bîyrâʼ
H1001 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A large and imposing building, typically serving as an administrative, royal, or governmental center; in Aramaic biblical texts, this term most often refers to a palace, fortress, or citadel, especially one associated with rulers or officials. Depending on the context, it can denote a royal residence, a seat of governance, or a fortified stronghold within a city.
Semantic Range
palace, royal residence, citadel, fortress, governmental center, administrative building
Root / Etymology
From the root בִּיר (in Hebrew, possibly borrowed from Old Persian or Akkadian origins) denoting a fortified place or sizable public building. The term is found primarily in Aramaic sections of the Tanakh and is closely related to the Hebrew בִּירָה (birah, 'palace, citadel'), possibly adapted from Persian 'bîra', which itself derives from older Mesopotamian languages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel, בִּירָא is used to refer specifically to prominent official or royal structures, such as the "palace" at Shushan (Susa) or fortified compounds central to imperial administration. Unlike the Hebrew הֵיכָל (heikhal, generally 'temple' or 'palace') or אַרְמוֹן (armon, 'palace, citadel'), בִּירָא is distinctive for its associations with imperial Persian contexts and external administrative centers, reflecting the historical realities of the post-exilic Persian period. English translations typically render it as 'palace,' 'citadel,' or 'fortress,' but the term can encompass broader administrative or military complexes. Over time, the word's meaning remained closely tied to prominent buildings of authority, whether royal, civic, or military.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to בִּירָה; a palace; palace.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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ביר (b-y-r) — fortified building, palace, stronghold
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1001-01 |
בְּ/בִֽירְתָ֛/א | bevireta | AR/Ncfsd/Td |
in-(the)-fortress | in the citadel | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1001-01 |
Ezra 6:2 | בְּ/בִֽירְתָ֛/א | bevireta | AR/Ncfsd/Td |
in-(the)-fortress | in the citadel |