הֵיכַל (he.khal)
he.khal
temple
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The noun heikhal refers to a grand structure, specifically a palace or a temple. In the Hebrew Bible, it denotes the main hall or sanctuary of a royal residence or a religious shrine. The term appears in seven verses, with a notable concentration in the books of Ezra and Daniel.
Its usage highlights the shared architectural language between earthly kings and the divine King. In Ezra and Daniel, heikhal often describes the temple in Jerusalem or pagan shrines, emphasizing that these buildings are places of royal authority and presence. The word does not refer to the entire complex but specifically to the central, honored space within it.
Translators typically render heikhal as "temple" or "palace," depending on context. In Daniel 4:9, for instance, it describes Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, while in Ezra 6:5, it refers to the house of God. This dual application underscores the ancient Near Eastern view that temples were the houses of kings, bridging the gap between political power and sacred space.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word heikhal points to a central, honored space where authority is present. In the ancient world, this term described the main hall of a king’s palace or the sanctuary of a temple. It was not just a building, but a place where the ruler’s presence was felt by those who entered. When we read about these spaces in Scripture, we see how deeply people connected physical structures with divine or royal power.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God cares about the places where His people gather and worship. The restoration of the temple in Ezra shows that rebuilding sacred space was an act of obedience and hope. Even when empires rose and fell, the focus remained on honoring God in His house. This invites us to value community and reverence in our own lives.
Whether we think of Jerusalem’s temple or the palace of a foreign king, the underlying idea is consistent: these are places set apart for significant purposes. We can find comfort in knowing that God meets His people in specific, tangible ways. Let this encourage you to cherish the spaces and moments where you encounter grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- temple/ the5×
- to/ temple/ the2×
- palace/ the2×
- in/ temple/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הֵֽיכְלָ/א֙3×
- הֵיכְלָ֖/א2×
- לְ/הֵיכְלָ֤/א1×
- לְ/הֵיכְלָ֖/א1×
- הֵיכְלָ֥/א1×
- הֵֽיכְלָ֛/א1×
- בְּ/הֵיכְלָ֖/א1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 6:5
Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in God’s house.
This verse highlights the command to restore the vessels to the temple, emphasizing the importance of returning sacred items to their proper place for worship.
-
Daniel 5:3
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of God’s house which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.
Here the word describes the temple from which vessels were taken, showing how even pagan kings recognized the significance of these holy objects.
-
Daniel 5:5
In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
The term refers to the king’s palace wall where the mysterious writing appeared, linking royal authority with divine judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does heikhal mean in the Bible?
Is heikhal different from other words for temple?
Why is heikhal important in Ezra and Daniel?
Every Occurrence (7 verses across 2 books)
Ezra 4 verses
Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we…
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 6:5Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem…