1002. birah

Strong's Lexicon

birah: Citadel, fortress, palace

Original Word: בִּירָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: biyrah
Pronunciation: bee-raw'
Phonetic Spelling: (bee-raw')
Definition: Citadel, fortress, palace
Meaning: a castle, palace

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be lofty

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3925 (parembolē): Often translated as "camp" or "fortress," used in the New Testament to describe military encampments or fortified places.

- G4166 (pyrgos): Meaning "tower," used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe strongholds or places of refuge.

Usage: The Hebrew word "birah" refers to a fortified structure, often a citadel or palace, that serves as a stronghold or place of protection. It is used in the context of a significant building, typically associated with royal or governmental functions. The term conveys the idea of strength, security, and authority.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, citadels were central to city defense and governance. They were strategically located, often on elevated ground, to provide a vantage point over the surrounding area. These structures were not only military fortresses but also centers of administration and residence for rulers. The concept of a "birah" reflects the importance of security and stability in ancient societies, where cities were frequently under threat from external forces.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a castle, palace
NASB Translation
capitol (1), citadel (11), fortress (2), temple (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בִּירָה noun feminine castle, palace (late & probably loan-word; compare As bîrtu, fortress Dl^{HA 22}; Persian bâru = Sanskrit bura, bari, see Ry Nehemiah 2:8) —

1 of temple at Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 29:1,19 הַבִּירָה; of for-tress near temple Nehemiah 2:8; Nehemiah 7:2 (compare βᾶρις ᵐ5^L Nehemiah 1:1; Nehemiah 2:8; Nehemiah 7:2 — B ἁβιρά, βειρά — and later βᾶρις Jos^Ant.xiv.11,4).

2 בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה Nehemiah 1:1; Esther 1:2,5; Esther 2:3,5,8; Esther 3:15; Esther 8:14; Esther 9:6,11,12; Daniel 8:2; in these passages it apparently means a fortress in the city bearing the same name (compare especially Esther 3:15; Esther 8:14,15; Esther 9:6,12,15,18).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

palace

Of foreign origin; a castle or palace -- palace.

Forms and Transliterations

הַבִּירָ֑ה הַבִּירָ֔ה הַבִּירָ֖ה הַבִּירָ֗ה הַבִּירָ֜ה הַבִּירָ֡ה הַבִּירָ֤ה הַבִּירָ֥ה הַבִּירָֽה׃ הַבִּירָה֙ הבירה הבירה׃ hab·bî·rāh habbiRah habbîrāh

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 29:1
HEB: לֹ֤א לְאָדָם֙ הַבִּירָ֔ה כִּ֖י לַיהוָ֥ה
NAS: is great; for the temple is not for man,
KJV: [is] great: for the palace [is] not for man,
INT: for man the temple for the LORD

1 Chronicles 29:19
HEB: הַכֹּ֔ל וְלִבְנ֖וֹת הַבִּירָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־ הֲכִינֽוֹתִי׃
NAS: and to build the temple, for which
KJV: all [these things], and to build the palace, [for] the which I have made provision.
INT: all build the temple which have made

Nehemiah 1:1
HEB: הָיִ֖יתִי בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃
NAS: year, while I was in Susa the capitol,
KJV: year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
INT: happened Susa the capitol

Nehemiah 2:8
HEB: אֶת־ שַׁעֲרֵ֨י הַבִּירָ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־ לַבַּ֙יִת֙
NAS: for the gates of the fortress which
KJV: for the gates of the palace which [appertained] to the house,
INT: to make the gates of the fortress which the temple

Nehemiah 7:2
HEB: חֲנַנְיָ֛ה שַׂ֥ר הַבִּירָ֖ה עַל־ יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
NAS: the commander of the fortress, in charge
KJV: the ruler of the palace, charge
INT: and Hananiah the commander of the fortress charge of Jerusalem

Esther 1:2
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃
NAS: which [was] at the citadel in Susa,
KJV: which [was] in Shushan the palace,
INT: which Susa the citadel

Esther 1:5
HEB: הַנִּמְצְאִים֩ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ן הַבִּירָ֜ה לְמִגָּ֧דוֹל וְעַד־
NAS: who were present at the citadel in Susa,
KJV: in Shushan the palace, both unto great
INT: were present Susa the citadel the greatest against

Esther 2:3
HEB: אֶל־ שׁוּשַׁ֤ן הַבִּירָה֙ אֶל־ בֵּ֣ית
NAS: virgin to the citadel of Susa,
KJV: unto Shushan the palace, to the house
INT: of Susa to the citadel to the house

Esther 2:5
HEB: הָיָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מָרְדֳּכַ֗י
NAS: [Now] there was at the citadel in Susa
KJV: [Now] in Shushan the palace there was a certain
INT: become Susa the citadel name was Mordecai

Esther 2:8
HEB: אֶל־ שׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָ֖ה אֶל־ יַ֣ד
NAS: were gathered to the citadel of Susa
KJV: unto Shushan the palace, to the custody
INT: of Susa to the citadel into the custody

Esther 3:15
HEB: נִתְּנָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה וְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהָמָן֙
NAS: was issued at the citadel in Susa;
KJV: in Shushan the palace. And the king
INT: was issued Susa the citadel the king and Haman

Esther 8:14
HEB: נִתְּנָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃ פ
NAS: was given out at the citadel in Susa.
KJV: was given at Shushan the palace.
INT: was given Susa the citadel

Esther 9:6
HEB: וּבְשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֗ה הָרְג֤וּ הַיְּהוּדִים֙
NAS: At the citadel in Susa the Jews
KJV: And in Shushan the palace the Jews
INT: Susa the citadel killed the Jews

Esther 9:11
HEB: הַֽהֲרוּגִ֛ים בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
NAS: of those who were killed at the citadel in Susa
KJV: in Shushan the palace was brought
INT: were killed Susa the citadel before to the king

Esther 9:12
HEB: הַמַּלְכָּ֗ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֡ה הָרְגוּ֩ הַיְּהוּדִ֨ים
NAS: of Haman at the citadel in Susa.
KJV: in Shushan the palace, and the ten
INT: to Queen Susa the citadel have killed the Jews

Daniel 8:2
HEB: וַאֲנִי֙ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵילָ֣ם
NAS: and while I was looking I was in the citadel of Susa,
KJV: that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province
INT: myself of Susa the citadel which of Elam

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1002
16 Occurrences

hab·bî·rāh — 16 Occ.