הֵיכָל (he.khal)
he.khal
temple
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 56 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun hekhel refers to a large, impressive building, most commonly translated as "temple" or "palace." Its root likely relates to capacity or spaciousness, suggesting a structure designed to hold much. In the Hebrew Bible, it describes both royal residences and the sacred sanctuary of Jerusalem, treating God’s dwelling with the same grandeur reserved for earthly kings.
While often used interchangeably with other words for "house of God," hekhel frequently highlights the majesty of the space. It appears in Psalms to describe God’s heavenly throne room (Psalm 11:4) and in historical books to detail the architecture of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:5). This usage reinforces the idea that the temple is not just a building but the palace of the divine King.
Translators sometimes render hekhel as "nave" or "hall" when referring to specific sections of the temple complex, such as the main hall before the Holy of Holies (1 Kings 6:17). This precision reflects how ancient Israelites viewed the sanctuary as a multi-layered space, where the outer halls served as the accessible grand entrance to the presence of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hekhel describes a grand structure, often translated as temple or palace. In ancient Israel, this term highlighted the majesty of God’s dwelling place. It was not merely a building but a space designed to hold the presence of the King. When you read about Solomon’s temple, you see details of gold and olive wood that reflect this awe. The text treats the sanctuary with the same reverence reserved for earthly royalty.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God is worthy of our highest honor. He does not dwell in small or hidden places but invites us into His grand house. Whether you are reading about the ark’s resting place or the pillars Jachin and Boaz, the focus remains on God’s glory. This perspective helps you see worship as entering a royal court where the Creator meets His people.
Even when the temple was destroyed or rebuilt, the concept remained central. The foundation laid by Ezra’s generation showed that hope rests in this sacred space. You can find comfort in knowing that the same God who filled Solomon’s hekhel is present with you today. Your prayers rise from your heart to His throne, bridging the gap between earth and heaven.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 56 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] temple of14×
- the/ temple8×
- in/ [the] temple of4×
- temple/ his3×
- in/ [the] palace of3×
- of the/ temple2×
- in the/ temple2×
- from/ [the] temple of2×
- [is] in/ [the] temple of2×
- palaces1×
- in/ temple/ his1×
- in/ palace/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הֵיכַ֣ל8×
- בְּ/הֵיכַ֣ל6×
- הֵיכַ֥ל3×
- הֵיכַ֤ל3×
- לַ/הֵיכָ֖ל2×
- הַ/הֵיכָ֖ל2×
- הַ/הֵיכָ֔ל2×
- הֵיכָלֽ/וֹ\׃2×
- בַּֽ/הֵיכָ֔ל2×
- בְּ/הֵיכַ֥ל2×
- בְּ/הֵיכַ֖ל2×
- בְּ/הֵ֣יכְלֵי2×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 1:9
So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple.
This verse places Hannah in the temple court, showing it as a place of personal petition where Eli sits by the doorpost of Yahweh’s hekhel.
-
I Kings 6:5
Against the wall of the house, he built floors all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the inner sanctuary; and he made side rooms all around.
Here the text details the side rooms built against the walls of the hekhel, emphasizing the architectural grandeur and capacity of God’s house.
-
II Samuel 22:7
In my distress, I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears.
David declares that his cry entered God’s ears from within the temple, illustrating the hekhel as the source of divine hearing and response.
-
Ezra 3:10
When the builders laid the foundation of Yahweh’s temple, they set the priests in their vestments with trumpets, with the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
This passage marks the laying of the foundation for Yahweh’s temple, highlighting the communal joy and praise associated with rebuilding the sacred space.