בֵּית (bet)
bet
place; house: home; Beth-(ashbea); Beth (Haggan); Beth-(togarmah); House (of the Forest)
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1,450 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word bayit primarily means a physical structure used as a home or shelter, but its scope extends far beyond mere bricks and mortar. In the Old Testament, it frequently denotes the household itself—the family unit, descendants, and even the social standing of a lineage. This dual sense is evident in passages where "house" refers to both a dwelling place and the people who inhabit it, such as when genealogies trace the "house of David" or when laws address the conduct of an entire family under one roof.
Lexical sources highlight its flexibility in describing various types of enclosures. It can refer to human dwellings, animal shelters, or even metaphorical spaces like the depths of Sheol or the inner parts of the body. Notably, it is also used for significant religious structures, including the temple, as seen in references to the "house of the Lord." The word appears over 1,400 times, particularly in historical books like Kings and Chronicles, where it anchors narratives about royal dynasties and national identity.
A distinctive feature of bayit is its use in compound place names, such as Beth-shemesh ("House of the Sun") or Beth-el ("House of God"). These proper nouns preserve the word’s core meaning while elevating it to denote a sacred or specific location. Translators typically render it simply as "house," though context often clarifies whether the focus is on the building, the family, or the institution it represents.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word bayit points to more than just a building of wood or stone. It describes the entire household—the family members, their servants, and their shared life under one roof. In ancient times, your home was your primary community, the place where identity, safety, and faith were passed down through generations.
When Scripture speaks of God’s promise to Abraham regarding his "father’s house," it highlights how deeply our origins shape our journey. Yet, this word also carries a sense of divine protection. Just as Noah found safety in the ark described as a structured home, believers find their true security not in physical walls, but in the steadfast presence of God who guards His people.
This concept invites us to consider what we build and who we include in our lives. It reminds us that faith is often lived out in the daily rhythms of family and community, where love and justice are practiced together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1,450 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] house of568×
- the/ house171×
- in/ [the] house of68×
- to/ [the] house of61×
- house/ his60×
- from/ [the] house of43×
- a house41×
- in the/ house36×
- household/ his30×
- of/ [the] house of25×
- and/ [the] house of25×
- [the] household of25×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֵּ֣ית246×
- בֵּ֥ית154×
- בֵּית\־103×
- לְ/בֵ֣ית58×
- בְּ/בֵ֣ית47×
- בֵית\־42×
- מִ/בֵּ֣ית33×
- הַ/בַּ֖יִת30×
- לְ/בֵ֥ית29×
- לְ/בֵית\־28×
- הַ/בַּ֔יִת26×
- בְּ/בֵ֥ית25×
Key Verses
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Genesis 12:1
Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.
This verse marks a pivotal moment where Abram is called to leave his ancestral home, showing that faith often requires stepping away from familiar structures of security.
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Genesis 6:14
Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.
Here the word describes the ark as a constructed shelter, illustrating how God provides specific means of preservation for those who obey Him.
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Genesis 18:19
For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”
Abraham is chosen so he may instruct his household, emphasizing that faith involves teaching the next generation to walk in righteousness and justice.
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Genesis 19:2
and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.”
Lot’s invitation for strangers to enter his house reflects the ancient cultural value of hospitality as a sacred duty within one's own home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word bayit mean?
How is bayit used in the Old Testament?
Why is "house" used in names like Bethel?
Every Occurrence (1,450 verses across 36 books)
Genesis 93 verses
Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.
Genesis 7:1Yahweh said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in…
Genesis 12:1Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I…
Genesis 12:15The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
Genesis 12:17Yahweh afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
Genesis 14:14When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his three hundred eighteen trained men, born in his…
Genesis 15:2Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of…
Genesis 15:3Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”
Genesis 17:12He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the…
Genesis 17:13He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your…
Genesis 17:23Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among…
Genesis 17:27All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with…
Genesis 18:19For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the…
Genesis 19:2and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can…
Genesis 19:3He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked…
Genesis 19:4But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the…
Genesis 19:10But the men reached out their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door.
Genesis 19:11They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied…
Genesis 20:13When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me.…
Genesis 20:18For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Genesis 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my…
Genesis 24:7Yahweh, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who…
Genesis 24:23and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”
Genesis 24:27He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth…
Genesis 24:28The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words.
Genesis 24:31He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the…
Genesis 24:32The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his…
Genesis 24:38but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’
Genesis 24:40He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife…
Genesis 27:15Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her…
Genesis 28:2Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of…
Genesis 28:17He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of…
Genesis 28:21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God,
Genesis 28:22then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give…
Genesis 29:13When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and…
Genesis 30:30For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I…
Genesis 31:14Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
Genesis 31:30Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”
Genesis 31:37Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my…
Genesis 31:41These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for…
Genesis 33:17Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place…
Genesis 34:19The young man didn’t wait to do this thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter, and he was honored above all…
Genesis 34:26They killed Hamor and Shechem, his son, with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went…
Genesis 34:29and all their wealth. They took captive all their little ones and their wives, and took as plunder everything that was…
Genesis 34:30Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the…
Genesis 35:2Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify…
Genesis 36:6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his…
Genesis 38:11Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown…
Genesis 39:2Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:4Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he…
Genesis 39:5From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for…
Genesis 39:8But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has…
Genesis 39:9No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.…
Genesis 39:11About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.
Genesis 39:14she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He…
Genesis 39:16She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
Genesis 39:20Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was…
Genesis 39:21But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Genesis 39:22The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there,…
Genesis 39:23The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that…
Genesis 40:3He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
Genesis 40:5They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the…
Genesis 40:7He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
Genesis 40:14But remember me when it is well with you. Please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me…
Genesis 41:10Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, with the chief…
Genesis 41:40You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater…
Genesis 41:51Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For”, he said, “God has made me forget all my toil, and all my…
Genesis 42:19If you are honest men, then let one of your brothers be bound in your prison; but you go, carry grain for the famine of…
Genesis 42:33The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers…
Genesis 43:16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an…
Genesis 43:17The man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men to Joseph’s house.
Genesis 43:18The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was…
Genesis 43:19They came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house,
Genesis 43:24The man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys…
Genesis 43:26When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down…
Genesis 44:1He commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each…
Genesis 44:4When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men.…
Genesis 44:8Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan. How then…
Genesis 44:14Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there. They fell on the ground before him.
Genesis 45:2He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Genesis 45:8So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and…
Genesis 45:11There I will provide for you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your…
Genesis 45:16The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his…
Genesis 45:18Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will…
Genesis 46:27The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into…
Genesis 46:31Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father’s house, “I will go up, and speak with Pharaoh, and will tell him, ‘My…
Genesis 47:12Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all of his father’s household with bread, according to the sizes of their…
Genesis 47:14Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which…
Genesis 47:24It will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of…
Genesis 50:4When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh’s staff, saying, “If now I have found favor in your…
Genesis 50:7Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the…
Genesis 50:8all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds,…
Genesis 50:22Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years.