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פְּנִימִי (pe.ni.mi)

pe.ni.mi

inner

H6442 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 8 verses

H:A

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
8 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:A

Definition

Definition

inner

Brown-Driver-Briggs

פְּנִימִי 32 adj. inner

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

inner

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word פְּנִימִי points to what lies beneath the surface, describing an inner court or a hidden room within the temple. It reminds us that God is not only concerned with our outward actions but also with the secret places of our hearts. Just as the most holy place was set apart from the general crowd, our inner lives are significant to Him.

This word invites you to consider your own spiritual depth. It suggests that true faithfulness happens in the quiet moments away from public view. Whether you are navigating personal trials or seeking greater intimacy with God, He sees the sincerity of your heart even when no one else does.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • <the>/ inner8×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • הַ/פְּנִימִ֔ית2×
  • הַ/פְּנִימִיּ֜וֹת1×
  • הַ/פְּנִימִ֜ית1×
  • הַ/פְּנִימִ֜י1×
  • הַ/פְּנִימִ֗י1×
  • הַ/פְּנִימִ֖ית1×
  • הַ/פְּנִימִ֖ים1×

Key Verses

  • I Kings 6:27
    He set the cherubim within the inner house. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house.

    This verse uses the term to locate the cherubim in the innermost sanctuary, highlighting the word's connection to the most sacred and restricted space.

  • Esther 4:11
    “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

    Here it describes the inner court where approaching the king carries a death penalty, emphasizing the danger and exclusivity of entering that specific inner area.

  • I Chronicles 28:11
    Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat;

    David provides plans for the inner rooms, showing how this word applies to the detailed architectural layout of God's dwelling place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does פְּנִימִי mean in the Bible?

It is a Hebrew adjective meaning inner or inward. It typically describes physical spaces that are internal, such as the inner court of the temple or the inner rooms where sacred items were kept.

How is this word different from other words for inside?

While other terms might simply mean inside a container, פְּנִימִי often carries a sense of being central or deeply internal. It is frequently used to distinguish the most holy areas from the outer courts.

Where does this word appear most often?

It appears in passages describing the construction of Solomon's temple, particularly in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. It also appears in Esther to describe the restricted inner court of the palace.

Every Occurrence (8 verses across 4 books)