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הֵיכָל

𐤄𐤉𐤊𐤋

hêykâl

H1964 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יכל to be able, to have capacity, to have capability

Definition

A large, impressive structure serving as a palace or a temple; specifically, the central building complex of a ruler's residence or the sanctuary building where deity was worshipped. In biblical usage, most commonly refers to the Israelite temple in Jerusalem, but the term also denotes royal palaces or grand halls in other Near Eastern contexts. The word conveys the sense of grandeur, monumentality, and importance as a locus of political or religious authority.

Semantic Range

sanctuary building, the main temple building (especially in Jerusalem), palace, royal residence, grand hall, shrine, monumental public edifice

Root / Etymology

Root: יכל (y-k-l), meaning 'to be able, capable,' though this connection is debated; morphologically, hêykâl appears to be a loanword from Akkadian 'ēkallu' (palace, temple), itself derived from Sumerian 'E.GAL' (great house). The shift in meaning from 'capable' (the root) to 'palatial building' (the noun) is not clearly attested in Hebrew word formation, suggesting external origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, הֵיכָל predominantly designates the sanctuary building of the Jerusalem temple complex, especially in prophetic and poetic texts (e.g., Isaiah 6:1; Psalm 11:4). Outside of temple contexts, it can refer to royal palaces (cf. 1 Kings 21:1; Daniel 1:4, where it describes Babylonian structures). The term occurs primarily in exilic and post-exilic Hebrew, reflecting contact with Mesopotamian terminology and architectural forms. Earlier Israelite texts tend to use בַּיִת (bayit) for 'house'/'temple' or הֵיכָל for palaces of foreign kings. In later periods (Second Temple era), הֵיכָל became the standard term for the main sanctuary structure within the Jerusalem temple precincts. English translations often render הֵיכָל as 'temple' or 'palace', but 'temple building' more accurately conveys its specific reference to the sanctuary proper — distinct from the broader temple courts (חָצֵר, ʦêr). The association of הֵיכָל with the Jerusalem temple persists in post-biblical Hebrew and Jewish tradition; however, in pre-exilic and non-Israelite contexts, its meaning is broader and not limited to Israelite/Judahite religious identity. The English term 'temple' can be anachronistic for pre-monarchic references or foreign palatial contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from יָכֹל (in the sense of capacity); a large public building, such as a palace or temple; palace, temple.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יכל (y-k-l) — to be able, to have capacity, to have capability

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1965 הֵיכַל in the grand palace-temple
H3081 יְהוּכַל YHWH is able
H3116 יוּכַל and Yukal
H3201 יָכֹל shall I be able
H3202 יְכֵל he was able

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1964-06 הֵיכַ֥ל heykhal HNcmsc temple grand sanctuary-palace of 24
H1964-05 הַ/הֵיכָ֥ל haheykhal HTd/Ncmsa the temple the grand sanctuary 15
H1964-02 בְּ/הֵיכַ֣ל beheykhal HR/Ncmsc in the temple in the grand palace of 12
H1964-11 לַֽ/הֵיכָ֖ל laheykhal HRd/Ncmsa to the temple to the grand sanctuary 4
H1964-08 הֵיכָלֽ/וֹ heykhalo HNcmsc/Sp3ms for His temple his grand sanctuary 3
H1964-13 מֵ/הֵיכַ֣ל meheykhal HR/Ncmsc from the temple from a grand sanctuary 3
H1964-17 וְ/הַֽ/הֵיכָל֙ vehaheykhal HC/Td/Ncmsa and the palace and the grand palace 2
H1964-07 הֵיכָלֶֽ/ךָ heykhalekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your temple your grand sanctuary 2
H1964-01 בַּֽ/הֵיכָ֔ל baheykhal HRd/Ncmsa in the temple in the grand sanctuary-hall 2
H1964-03 בְּ/הֵיכָלֽ/וֹ beheykhalo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his temple in his grand sanctuary 2

Occurrences in Scripture

80 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1964-06 1 Samuel 1:9 הֵיכַ֥ל heykhal HNcmsc of the temple grand sanctuary-palace of
H1964-02 1 Samuel 3:3 בְּ/הֵיכַ֣ל beheykhal HR/Ncmsc in the temple in the grand palace of
H1964-15 2 Samuel 22:7 מֵ/הֵֽיכָל/וֹ֙ meheykhalo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms from his temple from his grand sanctuary
H1964-06 1 Kings 6:3 הֵיכַ֣ל heykhal HNcmsc the-temple grand sanctuary-palace of
H1964-11 1 Kings 6:5 לַֽ/הֵיכָ֖ל laheykhal HRd/Ncmsa the nave to the grand sanctuary
H1964-05 1 Kings 6:17 הַ/הֵיכָ֥ל haheykhal HTd/Ncmsa the-temple the grand sanctuary
H1964-05 1 Kings 6:33 הַֽ/הֵיכָ֖ל haheykhal HTd/Ncmsa of the temple the grand sanctuary
H1964-05 1 Kings 7:21 הַֽ/הֵיכָ֑ל haheykhal HTd/Ncmsa of the temple the grand sanctuary
H1964-11 1 Kings 7:50 לַ/הֵיכָ֖ל laheykhal HRd/Ncmsa to the temple to the grand sanctuary
H1964-06 1 Kings 21:1 הֵיכַ֣ל heykhal HNcmsc the palace grand sanctuary-palace of
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