'House' in the Bible

After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section [of the wall], from the house of Azariah to the Angle [in the wall] and to the corner.

Palal the son of Uzai made repairs in front of the Angle [in the wall] and the tower projecting from the upper house (palace) of the king, which is by the courtyard of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.

Above the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each one in front of his own house.

After them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, keeper of the East Gate, repaired the wall.

After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, carried out repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, in front of the Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room of the corner.

From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah.

I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not keep this promise; like this may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the Lord. Then the people acted in accordance with this promise.

When I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, “Let us meet [and take refuge] together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, because they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.”

I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while the watchmen are still standing guard, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from the residents of Jerusalem, each at his post [on the wall], and each in front of his own house.”

These are the priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;

And these were the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon and Immer; but they [had no birth records and] could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they were of Israel:

So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on the roof of his house, and in their courtyards and the courtyards of God’s house, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the square of the Gate of Ephraim.

Also we pledge ourselves to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service [expenses] of the house of our God:

for the showbread; for the continual grain offerings and the continual burnt offerings; [for the offerings on] the Sabbaths, the New Moons, the [feasts at] appointed times; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the work of the house of our God.

We have also cast lots—the priests, the Levites, and the people—for [contributing] the supply of wood, to bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers’ households, at set times annually, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law;

and [we obligate ourselves] to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the Lord annually,

as well as the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and flocks, to bring to the house of our God, for the priests who minister in the house of our God.

We will bring the first [and best] of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the [olive] oil to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are the ones who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.

The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when they receive tithes, and they shall bring one-tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.

For the Israelites and the sons of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the chambers; the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers, and the singers are there. In this manner, we will not neglect the house of our God.

Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God,

and their brothers (relatives, fellow workers) who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,

and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God;

The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from Asaph’s sons, who were the singers in regard to the work of the house of God.

At the Fountain Gate they went directly up the steps of the City of David by the stairway of the wall above David’s house to the Water Gate on the east.

Then the two choirs stood in the house of God. So did I, and half of the officials with me;

Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and was related to Tobiah [our adversary],

and I came to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil [thing] that Eliashib had done for Tobiah by preparing a room for him in the courtyards of the house of God.

It was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah’s household furnishings out of the room.

Then I gave an order, and they cleaned the rooms; and I put back there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense.

Then I reprimanded the officials and said, “Why is the house of God neglected?” So I gathered the Levites and singers together and restored them at their posts.

O my God, remember me concerning this and do not wipe out my loyal deeds and kindnesses which I have done for the house of my God and for its services.

Queen Vashti also held a [separate] banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.

So he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, saying that every man should be the master and rule in his own home and that he should speak [in the household] in the language of his own people.

So it came about when the king’s command and his decree were proclaimed and when many young women were gathered together in the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace [and placed] in the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.

For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?”

Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his [own] house, mourning and with his head covered [in sorrow].

Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs serving the king said, “Now look, there are gallows fifty cubits (75 ft.) high standing at Haman’s house, which Haman made for Mordecai, whose good warning saved the king.” And the king said, “Hang him on it.”

On that day King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) gave the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, because Esther had disclosed what [relation] he was to her.

The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai in charge of the house of Haman.

Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he stretched out his hand against the Jews.

His sons used to go [in turn] and feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land.

Now there was a day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

and suddenly, a great wind came from across the desert, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

“He will not return again to his house,Nor will his place know about him anymore.

“He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.

“Those who live [temporarily] in my house and my maids consider me a stranger;I am a foreigner in their sight.

“For he has oppressed and neglected the poor;He has violently taken away houses which he did not build.

“The produce and increase of his house will depart [with the victors];His possessions will be dragged away in the day of God’s wrath.

“For what pleasure does he have in his house and family after he is dead,When the number of his months [of life] is cut off?

“For you say, ‘Where is the house of the noble man?And where is the tent, the dwelling place of the wicked?’

“He builds his house like a spider’s web,Like a (temporary) hut which a watchman makes.

“For I know that You will bring me to deathAnd to the house of meeting [appointed] for all the living.

That you may take it to its territoryAnd that you may know the paths to its house?

“[Crush and] hide them in the dust together;Shut them up in the hidden place [the house of death].

Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.

But as for me, I will enter Your house through the abundance of Your steadfast love and tender mercy;At Your holy temple I will bow [obediently] in reverence for You.

Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

O Lord, I love the habitation of Your houseAnd the place where Your glory dwells.

One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the LordAnd to meditate in His temple.

They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;And You allow them to drink from the river of Your delights.

These things I [vividly] remember as I pour out my soul;How I used to go along before the great crowd of people and lead them in procession to the house of God [like a choirmaster before his singers, timing the steps to the music and the chant of the song],With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a great crowd keeping a festival.

Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear [to my instruction]:Forget your people and your father’s house;

Be not afraid when [an ungodly] man becomes rich,When the wealth and glory of his house are increased;

“I will accept no young bull from your houseNor male goat from your folds.

But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;I trust [confidently] in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.

We who had sweet fellowship together,Who walked to the house of God in company.

Blessed is the one whom You choose and bring nearTo dwell in Your courts.We will be filled with the goodness of Your house,Your holy temple.

I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings;I shall pay You my vows,

For zeal for Your house has consumed me,And the [mocking] insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

The bird has found a house,And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,My King and my God.

Blessed and greatly favored are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence;They will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah.

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else];I would rather stand [as a doorkeeper] at the threshold of the house of my GodThan to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.

Planted in the house of the Lord,They will flourish in the courts of our God.

Your precepts are fully confirmed and completely reliable;Holiness adorns Your house,O Lord, forever.

He has [graciously] remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;All the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.

I will behave wisely and follow the way of integrity.When will You come to me?I will walk in my house in integrity and with a blameless heart.

He who practices deceit will not dwell in my house;He who tells lies and half-truths will not continue [to remain] in my presence.

Where the birds make their nests;As for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

He made Joseph lord of his houseAnd ruler of all his possessions,

Wealth and riches are in his house,And his righteousness endures forever.

When Israel came out of Egypt,The house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;He is their help and their shield.

The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless,He will bless the house of Israel;He will bless the house of Aaron.

In the courts of the Lord’s house (temple)—In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Oh let the house of Aaron say,“His lovingkindness endures forever.”

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;We have blessed you from the house of the Lord [you who come into His sanctuary under His guardianship].

Your statutes are my songsIn the house of my pilgrimage.

I was glad when they said to me,“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

For there the thrones of judgment were set,The thrones of the house of David.

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God [which is Jerusalem],I will seek your (the city’s) good.

Unless the Lord builds the house,They labor in vain who build it;Unless the Lord guards the city,The watchman keeps awake in vain.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vineWithin the innermost part of your house;Your children will be like olive plantsAround your table.

“I absolutely will not enter my house,Nor get into my bed—

Behold, bless and praise the Lord, all servants of the Lord (priests, Levites),Who stand and serve by night in the house of the Lord.

You who stand in the house of the Lord,In the courts of the house of our God,

O house of Israel, bless and praise the Lord [with gratitude];O house of Aaron, bless the Lord;

O house of Levi, bless the Lord;You who fear the Lord [and worship Him with obedience], bless the Lord [with grateful praise]!