Bible Word Study
עָב
ʻâb · an architrave (as shading the pillars)
עָב
an architrave (as shading the pillars)
Definition
The Hebrew noun עָב (ʻâb) refers to a specific architectural feature, most likely a thick beam, lintel, or projecting roof structure. In its three biblical occurrences, it describes a part of a building's portico or vestibule. In 1 Kings 7:6, it is a component of Solomon's grand Hall of Pillars. In Ezekiel's visionary temple (Ezekiel 41:25-26), the term is used twice for the wooden structures on the front of the temple's vestibule and the side chambers, suggesting a decorative or supportive beam.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in architectural descriptions of significant buildings. All three uses are found in passages detailing temple or palace construction: once in the historical account of Solomon's palace (1 Kings 7:6) and twice in the prophetic vision of Ezekiel's future temple (Ezekiel 41:25, 41:26). It consistently describes a substantial wooden beam or overhanging part of a portico.
Etymology
The word comes from an unused root meaning 'to cover' or 'to be thick.' It is related to the more common עָב (ʻāb, H5645), meaning 'cloud' or 'thick mass,' sharing the core idea of something dense and overhanging. Its usage as a specialized architectural term developed from this basic sense of a thick, covering object.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a technical architectural term, its context is theologically significant. It appears in descriptions of God's ordained places of worship and governance: Solomon's royal complex and Ezekiel's ideal temple. Understanding this detail enriches our reading by highlighting the care, grandeur, and specific design that went into these divinely connected structures, reflecting the majesty and order of God's dwelling. In ancient Near Eastern architecture, large wooden beams were critical for supporting roofs and creating covered entryways (porticos) for important buildings like temples and palaces. The 'thick beam' (עָב) was a sign of substantial construction and architectural sophistication, differentiating monumental structures from common dwellings. Modern readers might simply think of a 'beam,' but the term conveys weight, permanence, and decorative function. קוֹרָה (qôrâ, H6982) — a more general term for a roof beam or rafter. עָב implies a specific, thick, and likely decorative beam in a portico, whereas קוֹרָה can refer to any structural beam.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]