בְּאָה

בְּאָה

an entrance to a building

Definition

The Hebrew noun בְּאָה (bᵉʼâh) refers specifically to an entrance or entryway into a building or structure. It denotes the physical point of access, such as a doorway or gate. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 8:5, it describes the 'entry' or 'entrance' to the north gate of the temple's inner court. The word is a straightforward architectural term with no extended metaphorical senses attested in the biblical text.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 8:5. The context is the prophet Ezekiel's visionary tour of the Jerusalem temple, where he is shown the 'entry' (בְּאָה) to the north gate of the inner court. Its usage is purely descriptive of a specific architectural feature within the sacred precincts during a prophetic vision.

Etymology

בְּאָה (bᵉʼâh) is a feminine noun derived directly from the common Hebrew root בּוֹא (bôʾ, H935), which means 'to come in' or 'to enter.' The noun form essentially means 'a place of entering' or 'an entrance.' It is related to other words for entrance or coming, such as מָבוֹא (māḇôʾ, H3996), which can mean an entrance or a coming.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a mundane architectural term, its single use in Ezekiel 8:5 is theologically significant. This specific 'entrance' is the location where the prophet is shown an 'image of jealousy' that provokes God's anger (Ezekiel 8:3). Understanding it as the precise point of access highlights the intrusion of idolatry into the very threshold of God's holy temple, marking a profound violation of sacred space that justifies the vision of judgment which follows. In ancient Israelite architecture, an entrance or 'entry' (בְּאָה) was more than just an opening; it was a transitional, liminal space of great importance. City gates and temple entrances were places of legal proceedings, commerce, and social gathering. The entrance specified in Ezekiel 8:5 was part of the complex, graded holiness of the temple, where access was progressively restricted. An idol placed at such an entry represented a direct and brazen challenge to the order and purity God established for worship. פֶּתַח (pethaḥ, H6607) — A more common and general term for a doorway, opening, or entrance, used for tents, houses, and cities. שַׁעַר (šaʿar, H8179) — Refers specifically to a gate or gateway, often of a city or large courtyard, implying a larger, fortified structure. מָבוֹא (māḇôʾ, H3996) — Can mean entrance, but also 'coming' or 'access'; sometimes used for the entrance to a house or for sunset ('the coming of the day').

Word Details