מִבְנֶה
a building
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִבְנֶה (mibneh) refers to a 'building' or 'structure,' specifically denoting something that has been constructed or built up. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 40:2, it describes the visionary 'structure' or 'frame' of a city—the divinely revealed architectural form of the new temple complex. The word emphasizes the completed, established form of an edifice, not just the act of building. It is derived from the common verb for 'to build' (בָּנָה, banah), focusing on the resultant product.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 40:2. In this prophetic vision, the prophet Ezekiel is set on a high mountain and sees 'a structure like a city' (NASB) or 'the frame of a city' (KJV). The usage is highly specific to a visionary, apocalyptic context, describing the divinely revealed blueprint or architectural form of the future temple and its surroundings. It is not used for ordinary buildings in historical narratives.
Etymology
מִבְנֶה (mibneh) is a noun derived directly from the root בָּנָה (banah, H1129), meaning 'to build.' It belongs to a common Hebrew noun pattern (the *miqtal* form) that often indicates the place or result of an action. Thus, mibneh essentially means 'that which is built' or 'a building.' It is a cognate with similar words in related Semitic languages, all stemming from the core concept of construction.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, מִבְנֶה is theologically significant as it describes the divinely architected template for God's dwelling place in Ezekiel's restoration vision. It points not to human construction but to a heavenly blueprint, emphasizing that true worship and God's presence are re-established according to His perfect design (Ezekiel 40-48). Understanding this term highlights that the future hope for God's people is founded on a structure provided by God Himself.
In ancient Israelite culture, a 'building' or 'structure' (mibneh) would have primarily brought to mind stone or brick constructions, from houses to fortifications to temples. In Ezekiel's vision, however, the term transcends ordinary cultural understanding. The 'structure like a city' he sees is not a mundane earthly construction but a supernatural, idealized architectural vision, representing God's perfect, holy order for His restored community.
בַּיִת (bayit, H1004) — a house, dwelling, or household; a more common and broad term for a building or family unit. בִּנְיָן (binyan, H1146) — a building or structure; a later Hebrew term closely related in meaning but not used in the Hebrew Bible. הֵיכָל (heykhal, H1964) — a palace or temple; emphasizes a large, monumental building, often for royal or divine use.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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