בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit)
ba.yit
house
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 35 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun bayith primarily denotes a physical house or building, but its usage extends to encompass the family unit and household members as well. In the books of Ezra and Daniel, where this word appears most frequently, it often refers specifically to the Temple in Jerusalem. This reflects the central importance of the sacred structure not just as a place of worship, but as the spiritual center of the community.
While the basic meaning is straightforward, the term carries significant weight in these post-exilic texts. The rebuilding of the house becomes a symbol of restored identity and divine favor for the returned exiles. Translators typically render it simply as "house," yet the context often implies the broader institution or lineage associated with that dwelling place.
The word’s prominence in Ezra and Daniel highlights how physical structures served as tangible markers of God’s presence among His people. The repeated references to constructing or restoring the house underscore the community’s commitment to reestablishing their religious life after the Babylonian exile.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bayith points to more than just walls and a roof. In the post-exilic books of Ezra and Daniel, it stands for the Temple, the physical center where God’s people gathered to worship. For those returning from exile, rebuilding this structure was an act of restoring their identity and trusting in God’s presence among them.
Yet the term also embraces the family unit and household members. It reminds us that faith is lived out in daily life, not just within sacred buildings. Whether referring to a physical dwelling or a lineage, bayith highlights how God’s presence anchors both our personal homes and our communal worship.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 35 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] house of20×
- house/ the5×
- to/ [the] house of2×
- in/ [the] house of2×
- house/ his2×
- for/ [the] house of2×
- and/ house/ his2×
- to/ house/ his1×
- in/ [the] house1×
- and/ houses/ your1×
- and/ house/ the1×
- and/ [the] house of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֵּית\־10×
- בֵּ֥ית3×
- לְ/בֵ֥ית2×
- בַּיְתָ֤/א2×
- בֵּ֣ית2×
- בֵּ֖ית2×
- בֵית\־2×
- בֵ֥ית2×
- לְ/בַיְתֵ֣/הּ1×
- לְ/בֵית֙1×
- לְ/בֵ֖ית1×
- וּ/בָתֵּי/כ֖וֹן1×
Key Verses
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Ezra 5:2
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
This verse marks the resumption of building God’s house after a long pause, showing how the community’s commitment to restoring their place of worship was supported by prophets.
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Ezra 6:15
This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
The completion of the house in the sixth year of Darius serves as a tangible marker of God’s faithfulness and the successful restoration of religious life for the exiles.
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Ezra 7:17
Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
Here, resources are explicitly directed toward the house of God in Jerusalem, linking financial provision with the act of worship and altar offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word bayith mean?
Why is bayith important in the book of Ezra?
Does bayith only mean a physical building?
Every Occurrence (35 verses across 2 books)
Ezra 29 verses
Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of…
Ezra 5:2Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at…
Ezra 5:3At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and…
Ezra 5:8Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built…
Ezra 5:9Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
Ezra 5:11Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house…
Ezra 5:12But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of…
Ezra 5:13But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
Ezra 5:14The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and…
Ezra 5:15He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in…
Ezra 5:16Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even…
Ezra 5:17Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at…
Ezra 6:1Then Darius the king made a decree, and the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, was…
Ezra 6:3In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house…
Ezra 6:4with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
Ezra 6:5Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem…
Ezra 6:7Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of…
Ezra 6:8Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of…
Ezra 6:11I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be…
Ezra 6:12May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter…
Ezra 6:15This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
Ezra 6:16The children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of…
Ezra 6:17They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a…
Ezra 7:16and all the silver and gold that you will find in all the province of Babylon, with the free will offering of the…
Ezra 7:17Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their…
Ezra 7:19The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:20Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s…
Ezra 7:23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should…
Ezra 7:24Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, Levites,…