Lexical Definition

‎בָּנָה‎ bânâh (baw-naw') to build ^H:V
a primitive root

(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely.

• to build (literally and figuratively)

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)

See Greek: ἀνοικοδομέω · δίδωμι · θεμελιόω · ἵστημι · κατασκήνωσις · οἰκοδομέω · οἰκοδομέω · οἰκοδομή · ποιέω

Extended Information

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎בָּנָה‎₃₇₃ verb build (MI, Nabatean Eut^No.1 ‎בנה‎, Phoenician ‎בן‎, Arabic , Assyrian banû COT^Glossary compare Ba^{ZMG 1887, 640}, Sabean ‎בני‎ CIS^{iv, 1, No, 56}, Aramaic ‎בְּנָא‎, , Palmyrene ‎בנא‎ Vog^{No. 31}) —

Qal Perfect ‎׳‎‎ב‎ Deut 20:5 +, ‎בָּֽנְתָה‎ Prov 9:1; Prov 14:1, ‎בָּנִיתָ‎ Deut 6:10, ‎בָּנִתָה‎ 1Kgs 9:3 ‎וּבָנִ֫יתָ‎ consecutive Deut 20:20 +; ‎בָּנִיתְ‎ Ezek 16:25 ‎בָּנִתִי‎ 1Kgs 8:13 +; plural ‎בָּנוּ‎ Gen 11:5 +, etc.; Imperfect ‎יִבְּנֶה‎ Deut 25:9 +; jussive ‎וְיִבֶן‎ Ezra 1:3, ‎וַיִּבְנֶה‎ Josh 19:50 + 2 t., ‎וַיִּ֫בֶן‎ Gen 2:22 +; suffix ‎יִבְנֵ֫הוּ‎ Job 20:19 3 feminine singular ‎וַתִּ֫בֶן‎ 1Chr 7:24; Zech 9:3 ‎אֶבְנֶה‎ 2Sam 7:27 +; plural ‎יִבְנוּ‎ Isa 65:22 +, etc.; Imperative ‎בְּנֵה‎ Num 23:1 +; plural ‎בְּנוּ‎ Num 32:24 +; Infinitive absolute ‎בָּנֹה‎ 1Kgs 8:13 construct ‎בְּנוֺת‎ 1Chr 6:17* +, etc.; Participle active ‎בֹּנֶה‎ (‎בּוֺנֶה‎) Gen 4:17 +; construct ‎בֹּנֵה‎ Ps 147:2 plural ‎(פֹּנִים) בּוֺנִים‎ Ezra 4:1 +; construct ‎בֹּנֵי‎ 1Kgs 5:32* (twice in verse), etc.; passive ‎בָּנוּי‎ Song 4:4; Judg 6:28 feminine ‎בְּנוּיָה‎ Ps 122:3 plural ‎בְּנוּיִם‎ Neh 7:4 — build,

1. (literal)
a. with accusative (α) of city (Hexateuch only J E) Gen 4:17; Gen 10:11; Gen 11:4; Gen 11:5 (+ tower) vGen 11:8 (all J & his sources); Exod 1:11; Num 32:24; Josh 24:13 (all E) Judg 1:26; Judg 18:28 + 22 t. Kings Chronicles + Jer 32:31; Ps 122:3 (passive participle) compare Hab 2:12 of village (‎חָצֵר‎) Neh 12:29 see also below rebuild,
i. below; (β) house Gen 33:17 (J), elsewhere in Hexateuch only Deut 6:10; Deut 8:12; Deut 20:25; Deut 22:8; Deut 28:30 also 2Sam 5:11; 1Kgs 22:39; 1Chr 14:1; 2Chr 2:2*; Prov 24:27; Amos 5:11; Zeph 1:13; Isa 65:21; Jer 35:7; Jer 35:9 compare Zech 5:11 as sign of security Ezek 28:26 compare Ezek 11:3 of luxury Eccl 2:4 compare Jer 22:14 of permanent residence 1Kgs 2:36; Jer 29:5; Jer 29:28 especially of temple 1Kgs 3:1; 1Kgs 5:32*; 1Kgs 6:2 + often Samuel Kings Chronicles; figurative of wisdom's house Prov 9:1 especially build temple ‎ליהוה‎ etc. 2Sam 7:5; 2Sam 7:7; 1Kgs 6:1 (= began to build) + 13 t. Chronicles + Isa 66:1 ‎׳‎‎לְשֵׁם י‎ etc. 2Sam 7:13; 1Kgs 5:17* + 8 t. Kings; 13 t. Chronicles; ‎לְךָ לְשִׁמְךָ‎ 2Chr 20:8 ‎לִהְיוֺת שְׁמִי שָׁם‎ 1Kgs 8:16; 2Chr 6:5 ‎לָשׂוּם‎ ‎שְׁמִי שָׁם‎ 1Kgs 9:3 object chambers, or stories 1Kgs 6:5; 1Kgs 6:10, court 1Kgs 6:36; Hos 8:14 perhaps of idol-temples; compare 1Kgs 16:32; Ps 78:69 of Yahweh's building his sanctuary, Ps 147:2 Jerusalem, Ps 127:1 a house; also Amos 9:6 his chambers in the heavens; of Solomon's palace 1 k Amos 7:1; Amos 7:2; Amos 9:1; Amos 9:10 +; (γ) of a fortress 2Chr 17:12; 2Chr 27:4 compare of Tyre Zech 9:3 (‎מָצוֺר‎); (δ) of wall 1Kgs 3:1; Isa 60:10; Ezek 13:10; 2Chr 33:14 (compare 2Chr 27:8) Neh 4:4*; Neh 6:1 +; (ε) gate 2Kgs 15:35 = 2Chr 27:3 (ζ) tower Isa 5:2; 2Chr 26:9; 2Chr 26:10; 2Chr 27:4 compare figurative Song 8:9 & passive participle Song 4:4 (in simile); (η) siege-works against (‎עַלֿ‎) a city Deut 20:2 (‎מָצוֺר‎), Eccl 9:14 (‎מְצוֺדִים‎), 2Kgs 25:1 = Jer 52:4; Ezek 4:2 (all ‎דָּיֵק‎), & so (without ‎עַלֿ‎) Ezek 17:17; Ezek 21:27* compare ‎בנה עָלַי‎, absolute Lam 3:5 (in figurative); (θ) altar Gen 22:9; Gen 35:7; Exod 17:15; Exod 20:25; Exod 24:4; Num 23:1; Num 23:14; Num 23:29 (all E), Gen 26:25; Exod 32:5 (both J), Josh 22:11 + 6 t. Josh 22 (all P) Judg 6:28 (passive participle) Judg 21:4 + 6 t. Kings Chronicles; often followed by ‎ליהוה‎ etc. Gen 8:20; Gen 12:7; Gen 12:8; Gen 13:18 (all J), Deut 27:5; Deut 27:6; Josh 8:30 (E) Judg 6:24; Judg 6:26 + 8 t. Samuel Kings Chronicles; (ι) high places (‎בָּמָה‎) 1Kgs 11:7; 1Kgs 14:23; 2Kgs 17:9; 2Kgs 21:3; 2Kgs 23:13; 2Chr 33:8; 2Chr 33:19; Jer 7:31; Jer 19:5; Jer 32:35 compare ‎גַּב‎ Ezek 16:24; Ezek 16:31 (both || ‎רָמָה‎) & ‎רָמָה‎ vEzek 16:25 (κ) ‎צִיּוּן‎ Ezek 39:15 also (λ) ‎גִּדְרֹת צאֹן‎ Num 32:16 (E); (μ) ‎מיּ֯סַךְ הַשַּׁבָּת‎ 2Kgs 16:18.
b. with accusative of material Exod 20:25 (E) 1Kgs 6:36; 1Kgs 18:32; 1Kgs 15:22 = 2Chr 16:6; Ezek 27:5 with ‎בְּ‎ of material 1Kgs 6:15; 1Kgs 6:16; 1Kgs 15:17; 2Chr 16:6 compare
c. ‎וַיִּבֶן אֶתהַֿצֵּלָע לְאִשָּׁה‎ Gen 2:22 and he (Yahweh) fashioned the rib into a woman.
d. absolute 2Sam 5:9; 1Kgs 6:16; Isa 9:9*; Jer 1:10; Jer 18:9; Jer 22:18; Jer 31:28; Isa 65:22 + 12 t. Chronicles + Mal 1:4; Eccl 3:3 (opposed to ‎פרץ‎); also
e. Participle active = builder 1Kgs 5:32* (twice in verse) + 6 t. Chronicles + Ezek 27:4; Ps 118:22; Ps 127:1. feminine with indefinite object 1Kgs 9:19 = 2Chr 8:6.
g. ‎וַיִּבֶן אֶתהָֿהָר‎ = and he built on the hill 1Kgs 16:24.
h. followed by ‎בְּ‎ build at Zech 6:15; Neh 4:11* (compare ‎בְּ‎ 1 2 b, p. 88).
i. = rebuild Josh 6:26; 1Kgs 16:34; Amos 9:14; Isa 45:13; Ps 69:36*; Neh 2:5; Dan 9:25 all of city; compare phrase ‎בנה חָרְבוֺת עוֺלָם‎ Isa 58:12; Isa 61:4 & Ezek 36:36; Mal 1:4; Job 3:14 of walls Mic 7:11; 2Chr 32:5; Neh 2:17; Neh 3:33*; Neh 3:35*; Neh 3:38*; Neh 6:6; Ps 51:20* (active of ‎׳‎‎י‎); of gate Neh 3:1; Neh 3:13; Neh 3:14; Neh 3:15 temple Zech 6:12; Zech 6:13; Ezra 1:3 altar 2Chr 33:16 (Qr ‎וַיִּבֶן‎ so Bö < Kt ‎ויכן‎, from ‎כון‎, so Öttli), Ezra 3:2 high places 2Kgs 21:3 = 2Chr 33:3 in some of these apparently an idea of merely repairing; so, sometimes with added notion of enlarging etc., city Num 32:34; Num 32:37; Num 32:38 (E) Josh 19:50 (P) Judg 21:23; 2Kgs 14:22 = 2Chr 26:2; 1Chr 11:8; 2Chr 8:2; 2Chr 11:6 compare Mic 3:10 Millo 1Kgs 9:24; 1Kgs 11:27 compare house Job 20:19.

2. figurative
a. build a house (‎בית‎) = perpetuate and establish a family; subject Leah & Rachel Ruth 4:11 subject a brother Deut 25:9 subject ‎׳‎‎י‎ (promise to David) 1Sam 2:35; 2Sam 7:27; 1Kgs 11:38; 1Chr 17:10 and 1Chr 17:25 (to Solomon) 1Kgs 11:38 compare further ‎סֻכַּת דָּוִד‎ Amos 9:11 (rebuild, restore); = cause a household to flourish Prov 14:1 compare opposed to Prov 27:18 also of establishing David's throne Ps 89:5*.
b. build up Israel (after exile) subject ‎׳‎‎י‎ Jer 24:6; Jer 31:4; Jer 33:7; Jer 42:10 compare Jer 45:4 & Ps 28:5 object Zion Ps 102:17*. Niph`al Perfect ‎נִבְנָה‎ 1Kgs 3:2; 1Kgs 6:7, ‎נִבְנְתָה‎ Num 13:22; Neh 7:1, ‎וְנִבְנְתָה‎ consecutive Jer 30:18 + 2 t.; 2 feminine singular ‎וְנִבְּנֵית‎ consecutive Jer 31:4 3 plural ‎נִבְנוּ‎ Mal 3:15 ‎וְנִבְנוּ‎ consecutive Jer 12:16; Ezek 36:33 Imperfect ‎יִבָּנֶה‎ Job 12:14 + 4 t.; 3 feminine singular ‎תִּבָּנֶה‎ Num 21:27 + 3 t.; 2 masculine singular ‎תִּבָּנֶה‎ Job 22:33, ‎אִבָּנֶה‎ Gen 16:2, ‎וְאִבָּנֶה‎ Gen 30:3 3 feminine plural ‎תִּבָּנֶינָה‎ Ezek 36:10 2 feminine plural ‎תִּבָּנֶינָה‎ Isa 44:26 Infinitive ‎לְהִבָּנוֺת‎ Hag 1:2; Zech 8:9, ‎בְּהִבָּנֹתוֺ‎ 1Kgs 6:7 (twice in verse);Participle ‎נִבְנֶה‎ 1Chr 22:19 —

1. a. be built, (literal) of city Num 13:22 of temple 1Kgs 3:2 (‎׳‎‎לְשֵׁם י‎) 1Kgs 6:7 (3 t. in verse); (with accusative mater.); Participle = to be built (gerundive) 1Chr 22:19.
b. be rebuilt: of city of Sihon Num 21:27 compare Isa 25:2; Isa 44:26, of wall of Jerusalem Neh 7:1, of Jerusalem Jer 30:18; Jer 31:4; Jer 31:38; Isa 44:28 compare Dan 9:25 ‎תָּשׁוּב וְנִבְנְתָה‎, & Ezek 26:14 (with ‎עוֺד‎), of ruinous places (‎הֶחֳרָבוֺת‎) Ezek 36:10; Ezek 36:33, of a devoted city Deut 13:17* (c.‎עוֺד‎), of temple Hag 1:2; Zech 1:16; Zech 8:9, indefinite subject Job 12:14.

2. a. (figurative) of restored exiles, = established Jer 12:16, of prosperous wicked Mal 3:15, of repentant offender Job 22:23.
b. established, made permanent, subject ‎חֶסֶד‎Ps 89:3* (with ‎עוֺלָם‎), subject ‎בַּיִת‎ Prov 24:3 (by wisdom).
c. of childless wife, by means of concubine ‎אִבָּנֶה מִמֶּגָּה‎ Gen 16:2; Gen 30:3 I shall be built up, i.e. become the mother of a family, from or through her; compare Qal 2 a.

‎בּוּנִּי‎ see ‎בֻּנִּי‎ below

Brown-Driver-Briggs References