← H1964 H1966 →

הֵיכַל

𐤄𐤉𐤊𐤋

hêykal

H1965 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יכל to contain, to be able, to enable

Definition

A grand or significant building, especially one serving as the residence of a sovereign (palace) or a site for the worship of a deity (temple). Used primarily for royal palaces or state temples in the Hebrew Bible and related literature. The word encompasses both secular and sacred monumental architecture, and context determines the specific referent.

Semantic Range

palace, royal residence, temple, main sanctuary, grand public building; contextually, any monumental building associated with authority—either royal or divine

Root / Etymology

From the root יכל (y-k-l), meaning 'to contain' or 'be able,' though association with containing or granting access to the divine has also been suggested. The structure הֵיכַל derives from this root, originally indicating a capacious structure, either palace (for kings) or temple (for deities).

Historical & Contextual Notes

הֵיכַל appears primarily in later biblical Hebrew and in Aramaic sections of the Tanakh (e.g., Daniel, Ezra). In pre-exilic texts, the more common term for temple is בֵּית ('house'), as in בֵּית יְהוָה ('House of YHWH'), while הֵיכַל is associated with monumental or imperial styles, influenced by Assyrian, Babylonian, and later Persian terminology (cf. Akkadian ekallu, meaning 'palace' or 'temple'). In exilic and post-exilic periods, especially with increased contact with Mesopotamian and Persian administrative practices, הֵיכַל is more commonly used for both palaces and sanctuaries. English translations sometimes render it as 'temple' when referring to the Jerusalem Temple, or 'palace' in royal contexts, but these may obscure the shared monumental character of the term. The overlap in usage—between temple and palace—reflects the ancient Near Eastern concept of the king's house and the god's house as parallel, both being central monumental spaces of power or sanctity. Later Jewish and Christian traditions often restrict the term to mean 'temple,' especially the Jerusalem Temple, but this reflect later religious developments rather than the full biblical lexical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to הֵיכָל; {a large public building, such as a palace or temple}; palace, temple.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

יכל (y-k-l) — to contain, to be able, to enable

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1964 הֵיכָל in the grand sanctuary-hall
H3081 יְהוּכַל YHWH is able
H3116 יוּכַל and Yukal
H3201 יָכֹל shall I be able
H3202 יְכֵל he was able

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1965-04 הֵיכְלָ֖/א heykhela ANcmsd/Td temple the grand-structure 7
H1965-05 לְ/הֵיכְלָ֖/א leheykhela AR/Ncmsd/Td to the temple to the grand palace-temple 2
H1965-02 בְּ/הֵיכְלִֽ/י beheykheli AR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my palace in my grand palace 1
H1965-01 בְּ/הֵיכְלָ֖/א beheykhela AR/Ncmsd/Td in the temple in the grand palace-temple 1
H1965-03 הֵיכַ֧ל heykhal ANcmsc the palace grand palace of 1
H1965-06 לְ/הֵֽיכְלֵ/הּ֙ leheykheleh AR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to-his-palace to his grand-house 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1965-02 Daniel 4:1 בְּ/הֵיכְלִֽ/י beheykheli AR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my palace in my grand palace
H1965-03 Daniel 4:26 הֵיכַ֧ל heykhal ANcmsc the palace grand palace of
H1965-04 Daniel 5:2 הֵיכְלָ֖/א heykhela ANcmsd/Td the-temple the grand-structure
H1965-04 Daniel 5:3 הֵֽיכְלָ֛/א heykhela ANcmsd/Td the temple the grand-structure
H1965-04 Daniel 5:5 הֵיכְלָ֖/א heykhela ANcmsd/Td palace the grand-structure
H1965-06 Daniel 6:19 לְ/הֵֽיכְלֵ/הּ֙ leheykheleh AR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to-his-palace to his grand-house
H1965-04 Ezra 4:14 הֵֽיכְלָ/א֙ heykhela ANcmsd/Td of-the-palace the grand-structure
H1965-04 Ezra 5:14 הֵֽיכְלָ/א֙ heykhela ANcmsd/Td temple the grand-structure
H1965-05 Ezra 5:14 לְ/הֵיכְלָ֖/א leheykhela AR/Ncmsd/Td to the temple to the grand palace-temple
H1965-04 Ezra 5:14 הֵֽיכְלָ/א֙ heykhela-2 ANcmsd/Td temple the grand-structure
← H1964 Hebrew Lexicon H1966 →