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2 Chronicles 20:8 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ־ בָ֑הּ וַיִּבְנ֨וּ לְךָ֧׀ בָּ֛הּ מִקְדָּ֖שׁ לְשִׁמְךָ֥ לֵאמֹֽר׃

BSAThey have livedyâshab [dwelt, remained] and have builtbânâh [established, constructed] a sanctuarymiqdâsh [holy place, temple] for Your Nameshêm [Your identity, reputation] sayingʼâmar [speaking, declaring]

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 20
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (le.Mor) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Chronicles 20:8quick helps
In a sentenceThe people of Israel have settled in the land and constructed a sanctuary dedicated to God's name.
Who is speakingThe people of Israel, recalling their history and commitment to God.
Where we areThis verse is part of a prayer by Jehoshaphat, reflecting on God's past actions and the people's dedication.
The hard wordמִקְדָּשׁ
Take awayThe sanctuary is a place set apart for God, emphasizing His presence among His people.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbיָשַׁב The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Chronicles 20:8

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Prayer of Jehoshaphatgenerated

7Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?
8They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying,
9‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’
10And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.

2 Chronicles 20:8 describes the people of Israel acknowledging their history of living in the land and building a sanctuary for God's name. This moment occurs during a time of crisis, where they seek God's help against their enemies, reminding Him of their dedication and the sacred space they have established for worship. The context highlights their reliance on God and the importance of the temple as a symbol of His presence.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Chronicles 2:4Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever.
22 Chronicles 6:10Now the LORD has fulfilled the word that He spoke. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יָשַׁב, vai.ye.she.Vu-generated

The verb יָשַׁב (yashab) means to dwell or sit, indicating a settled state. It encompasses the idea of remaining in a place, establishing a home, or causing a location to be inhabited. In this verse, it emphasizes the Israelites' commitment to living in the land God provided.

The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine plural indicates that this action is ongoing and collective, showing that the people have consistently dwelt in the land.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יָשַׁב, have dwelt, governs the sentence, with another verb בָּנָה, have built, following it. The structure indicates that both actions are significant and connected, reflecting the people's commitment to God.

The sentence includes prepositional phrases that clarify where they have dwelt and what they have built, emphasizing the significance of the sanctuary for God's name.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָשַׁב as κατῴκησαν, which means 'they dwelt' and carries a similar sense of settling in a place. This choice maintains the original meaning while using Greek terminology.

The term מִקְדָּשׁ is rendered as ἁγίασμα, which also refers to a sacred space, indicating continuity in the concept of a holy place dedicated to God.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 20:8 tells us that the people of Israel have lived in the land and built a sanctuary for God's name. This reflects their commitment to God and the importance of having a dedicated place for worship, especially during times of need.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to dwell in the land?

To dwell in the land means to live there permanently, establishing a home and community, as the Israelites did after entering the Promised Land.

Why is the sanctuary significant?

The sanctuary is significant because it represents a place where God is worshiped and where His presence dwells among His people.

What does it mean to build a sanctuary for God's name?

Building a sanctuary for God's name means creating a space dedicated to honoring Him, reflecting His identity and character.

How does this verse connect to the people's prayer?

This verse connects to the people's prayer as they remind God of their commitment and the sacred space they have established, seeking His help in their time of need.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I honor God in my own life, similar to how the Israelites built a sanctuary for His name?
  2. How does understanding the significance of a sanctuary change my perspective on worship?
  3. What commitments have I made to God that I can reflect on in times of trouble?
  4. How can I create a space in my life that is dedicated to seeking God's presence?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 20:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they dwelt therein,.... From ages past, hitherto, since it was first given them, and they were put into the possession of it: and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name; a temple for

Read John Gill on 2 Chronicles 20 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 20 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Chronicles 20:8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,Ver. 8. And have built thee a sanctuary therein.] This is to be God’ s faithful remembrancer, as Isaiah 62:6, marg.

Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 20 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) And have built thee a sanctuary therein.—And built thee therein a sanctuary for thy name. “A sanctuary for thy name” is a single expression. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 6:5-8, “that my name might be there.”) The name of Jehovah designates all that He is to Israel; His revealed character.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 20 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 8. Therein for thy name] "For the name of thy WORD." - Targum.

Read AdamClarke on 2 Chronicles 20 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5–13 (no parallel in Kings). The Prayer of Jehoshaphat This prayer should be compared with Solomon’s (2 Chronicles 6:14 ff.).

Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 20 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

6-12. This prayer should be compared with that of Asa, (2 Chronicles 14:11,) and parts of Solomon’s at the dedication of the temple. 2 Chronicles 6:28-31.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Chronicles 20 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying,

NETBNew English Translation2006

They settled down in it and built in it a temple to honor you, saying,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

RVARevised Version, American1894

And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And they dwelt in it, and have built thee a sanctuary in it for thy name, saying,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And they dwelt therein, and haue built thee a Sanctuarie therein for thy Name, saying,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they have dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and they dwell in it, and build to Thee in it a sanctuary for Thy name, saying,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and they dwell in it, and build a sanctuary in it for You, for Your Name, saying,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And they have dwelt therein, and have built for thee therein a sanctuary for thy name, saying,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They lived in it and built you a holy place in it for your name, saying,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And they dwelt in it, and built in it a sanctuary to thy name, saying:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They are living in the land and have built a Temple for you here to honor you, saying,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And they made it their living-place, building there a holy house for your name, and saying,

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיֵּשְׁב֖וּthey.have.dweltprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָ֑inהּitוַandclauseverbיִּבְנ֨וּthey.have.builtprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְforךָ֧youprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּ֛inהּitobjectמִקְדָּ֖שׁa.sanctuaryprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְfornoun phraseשִׁמְnameךָ֥yourprepositional phrase · prepositionalלֵ(cmp)clauseverbאמֹֽרsaying

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text states, "וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ־ בָ֑הּ וַיִּבְנ֨וּ לְךָ֧׀ בָּ֛הּ מִקְדָּ֖שׁ לְשִׁמְךָ֥ לֵאמֹֽר׃" which translates to, "They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying." The Septuagint closely matches the Masoretic Text, with 7 out of 8 words corresponding directly, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variations for this verse, thus affirming the agreement with the Masoretic Text.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ־ בָ֑הּ וַיִּבְנ֨וּ לְךָ֧׀ בָּ֛הּ מִקְדָּ֖שׁ לְשִׁמְךָ֥ לֵאמֹֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ־κατῴκησανבָ֑הּαὐτῇוַיִּבְנ֨וּᾠκοδόμησανבָּ֛הּαὐτῇמִקְדָּ֖שׁἁγίασμαלְשִׁמְךָ֥σουלֵאמֹֽר׃λέγοντες

7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

2 Chronicles 20:8יָשַׁבand they haand they have dיָשַׁבהָin itin itהָבָּנָהand they haand they have bבָּנָהךָּfor youfor youךָּהָin itin itהָמִקְדָּשׁa sanctuarya sanctuaryמִקְדָּשׁשֵׁםfor name yofor name yourשֵׁםאָמַרsayingsayingאָמַרקָדַשׁto consecrto consecrate: קָדַשׁשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחכְּנַעֲנִיCanaanitesCanaanitessכְּנַעֲנִיחוֹמָהwallwallחוֹמָהמִזְבֵּחַaltaraltarמִזְבֵּחַחָלַלto boreto boreחָלַלשָׁרַתto ministeto ministerשָׁרַתקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Chronicles 20:8

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and they have dwelt in it and they have built for you in it a sanctuary for name your saying
וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ־vai.ye.she.Vu- and they have dwelt H3427 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
dwelt, remained
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as

judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to

remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)

abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease

self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
and they have dwelt in it and they have built for you in it a sanctuary for name your saying
בָ֑הּVah in it H9034 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָ (ha) — her.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3fs
and they have dwelt in it and they have built for you in it a sanctuary for name your saying
וַיִּבְנ֨וּvai.yiv.Nu and they have built H1129 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
376× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
established, constructed
Tyndale gloss
to build
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּנָה (banah) means "to build" and encompasses various forms such as rebuilding, establishing, and making permanent. It can refer to physical construction, like building a house or family, as well as metaphorical uses, such as the establishment of restored exiles. The entries indicate that it can also imply being built up, particularly in the context of a childless wife becoming a mother.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּנָה 373 vb. build

Qal build

Niph.

be built

be rebuilt

(fig.) of restored exiles, = established

established, made permanent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1129 בָּנָה build .build

.. . be built

. be rebuilt

. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established

. established, made permanent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1129 banah baw-naw'

a primitive root; to build (literally and

figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,

repair, set (up), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.

1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to build, rebuild

1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be built

1b2) to be rebuilt

1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)

1b4) established (made permanent)

1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)

Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
and they have dwelt in it and they have built for you in it a sanctuary for name your saying
לְךָ֧׀le.Kha for you H9031 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

ךָּ (ka) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2ms
and they have dwelt in it and they have built for you in it a sanctuary for name your saying
בָּ֛הּbah in it H9034 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָ (ha) — her.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3fs
and they have dwelt in it and they have built for you in it a sanctuary for name your saying
מִקְדָּ֖שׁmik.Dash a sanctuary H4720 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
75× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A sanctuary or holy place, like a temple or palace, set apart for God or idols, a sacred space.
Amplified meaning
holy place, temple
Tyndale gloss
sanctuary
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִקְדָּשׁ (miqdash) refers to a sacred place or sanctuary, often associated with the temple or tabernacle of Jehovah. It can denote a consecrated space, including those dedicated to idols, and is derived from a root meaning to consecrate. The term encompasses various types of holy places, such as chapels and asylums.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִקְדָּשׁ 74 n.m. sacred place, sanctuary

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4720 מִקְדָּשׁ sacred place, sanctuary

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4720 miqdash mik-dawsh'

or miqqdash (Exod. 15:17) {mik-ked-awsh'}; from 6942; a

consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary

(whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum:--chapel, hallowed

part, holy place, sanctuary.

see HEBREW for 06942

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִקְדָּשׁ (miq.dash) — sanctuary.

1) sacred place, sanctuary, holy place

1a) sanctuary

1a1) of the temple

1a2) of the tabernacle

1a3) of Ezekiel's temple

1a4) of Jehovah

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sank'-tu-a-ri, sank'-tu-a-ri (miqdash, miqqedhash, qodhesh, "holy place"; hagion):

1. Nature of Article

2. The Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis

The Three Stages

3. Difficulties of the Theory

(1) Slaughter Not Necessarily Sacrificial

(2) Sacrifice and Theophany

(3) Alleged Plurality of Sanctuaries

(4) The Altar of God's House

(5) Local Altars in Deuteronomy

4. The Alternative View

(1) Lay Sacrifice

(2) Three Pilgrimage Festivals

5. The Elephantine Papyri

The Elephantine Temple

LITERATURE

1. Nature of Article:

The present article is designed to supplement the articles on ALTAR; HIGH PLACE; PENTATEUCH; TABERNACLE; TEMPLE, by giving an outline of certain rival views of the course of law and history as regards the place of worship. The subject has a special importance because it was made the turning-point of Wellhausen's discussion of the development of Israel's literature, history and religion. He himself writes…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sanctuary

Denotes, (1) the Holy Land (Ex. 15:17; comp. Ps. 114:2); (2) the temple (1 Chr. 22:19; 2 Chr. 29:21); (3) the tabernacle (Ex. 25:8; Lev. 12:4; 21:12); (4) the holy place, the place of the Presence (Gr. hieron, the temple-house; not the naos, which is the temple area, with its courts and porches), Lev. 4:6; Eph. 2:21, R.V., marg.; (5) God’s holy habitation in heaven (Ps. 102:19). In the final…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A holy place devoted to God. It appears to be the name sometimes of the entire temple, Ps 73.17; Heb 9.1; sometimes of the "Holy place," where the altar on incense, the golden candlestick, and the showbread stood, 2Ch 26:18 Heb 9:2; and sometimes of the "Holy of Holies," the most secret and retired part of the temple, in which was the ark of the covenant, and where none but the high priest might enter, and he only once a year on the day of solemn expiation. The same name was also given to the most sacred part of the tabernacle set up in the wilderness, Le 4:6. See TABERNACLE, and TEMPLE.

The temple or earthly sanctuary is an emblem of heaven, Ps 102:19

→ (The Holy of Holies)

→ In the tabernacle Heb 9:2

→ Divine dwelling place Ex 25:8

→ Reverence for Le 19:30; 26:2

→ In the charge of high priest Ex 27:21; Le 24:3; Nu 18:5

→ The Holy Place in the temple La 2:7,20; Eze 42:20

→ FIGURATIVE Eze 11:16

→ Symbolical Heb 8:2,5

See TABERNACLE

See TEMPLE

and they have dwelt in it and they have built for you in it a sanctuary for name your saying
לְשִׁמְךָ֥le.shim.Kha for name your H8034 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Amplified meaning
Your identity, reputation
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
and they have dwelt in it and they have built for you in it a sanctuary for name your saying
לֵאמֹֽר׃le.Mor saying H559 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Amplified meaning
speaking, declaring
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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