Ecclesiastes 10:18 — Word Study
WLCבַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם יִמַּ֣ךְ הַמְּקָרֶ֑ה וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּת יָדַ֖יִם יִדְלֹ֥ף הַבָּֽיִת׃
BSAThrough lazinessʻatslâh [much, excessive, slothfulness, sluggishness] the roofmᵉqâreh△ [rafter, frame] caves inmâkak▸ and in the handsyâd [power, direction] of the idleshiphlûwth△ [sluggish, inactive] the housebayith [dwelling place, family home] leaksdâlaph▸ [drips, drops through]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם | in laziness | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| יִמַּ֣ךְ | it sinks | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| הַמְּקָרֶ֑ה | the rafter[s] | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּת | and in lowering of | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine singular construct |
| יָדַ֖יִם | hands | Noun common, both dual absolute |
| יִדְלֹ֥ף | it leaks | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| הַבָּֽיִת׃ | the house | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks. |
| KJV | ¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. |
| ASV | By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. |
| YLT | By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop. |
| WEB | By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks. |
| BBE | When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house. |
The translations agree on the core message of the verse, emphasizing the consequences of laziness.
The sentence comprises two main clauses connected by 'and', each detailing the consequences of laziness.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָכַךְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
2 of 7 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ecclesiastes 10:18
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Reflections on Diligence and Idlenessgenerated
Ecclesiastes 10:18 provides a stark warning about the consequences of laziness. The author contrasts the state of a house with the diligence of its inhabitants, illustrating how neglect can lead to deterioration. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of hard work and responsibility in maintaining both physical and metaphorical structures in life.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 12:24 | The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. |
| 2 | Proverbs 14:1 | Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. |
| 3 | Proverbs 20:4 | The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there. |
| 4 | Proverbs 21:25 | The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work. |
| 5 | Proverbs 23:21 | For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֲצַלְתַּיִם, ba.'a.tzal.Ta.yimgenerated
The word עֲצַלְתַּיִם (atzaltiyim) is a noun derived from עַצְלָה (atslah), meaning laziness or sluggishness. It emphasizes a lack of effort and energy, which can lead to negative outcomes, such as the collapse of a roof.
This term is used twice in the Hebrew Bible and is consistently associated with slothfulness. The parsing indicates that it is a plural noun, suggesting a pervasive attitude rather than an isolated instance.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered similarly across translations, with the BSB using laziness and the KJV opting for slothfulness.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main finite verb is יִמַּךְ (yimakh), meaning 'it sinks', which governs the structure of the verse. The sentence is composed of a prepositional phrase indicating the cause, a noun phrase describing the subject, and another clause detailing the consequence.
The word order emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between laziness and the resulting damage, with the subject of the house being affected by the actions of the idle.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word עֲצַלְתַּיִם is translated as ὀκνηρίαις, which carries a similar connotation of laziness. This choice reflects a direct interpretation of the Hebrew concept.
The Greek term ταπεινωθήσεται for יִמַּךְ suggests a focus on humiliation or degradation, indicating the severity of the consequences of idleness.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ecclesiastes 10:18 warns that laziness can lead to the collapse of a house, highlighting the importance of diligence. When people are idle, the house suffers, illustrating the consequences of neglect.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The verse indicates that laziness can lead to structural problems, such as a collapsing roof, emphasizing the need for diligence.
Idleness can cause neglect, leading to issues like leaks in the house, which symbolize broader consequences in life.
We learn that hard work and responsibility are crucial for maintaining both physical structures and our personal lives.
The house serves as a metaphor for our lives and responsibilities, illustrating how neglect can lead to deterioration.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some areas in my life where I might be neglecting responsibility?
- How can I cultivate diligence in my daily tasks?
- What practical steps can I take to avoid idleness?
- In what ways can I encourage others to be diligent and responsible?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators like Jerome and John Cassian reflect on the implications of this verse, discussing the consequences of laziness and the importance of diligence.
Our house, which was built to human stature, along with the habitation we shall have in heaven, will collapse if we are lazy and hesitant to do good works.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 10 →
"Through slothfulness the ceiling sags, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks." Our house, which is held up by the condition of mankind, even that abode that we have in heaven, sags if we are lazy and slow to do good work.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 10 →
A house never suddenly collapses except because of some old weakness in the foundation or because of extended disregard by its tenants.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 10 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ecclesiastes 10:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBy much slothfulness the building decayeth,.... Or, "by slothfulnesses" (g), The word is in the dual number, and so may signify the slothfulness of the hands, as Aben Ezra, of both hands, and of both
Read John Gill on Ecclesiastes 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBy much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. By much slothfulness - Hebrew, dual: By double slothfulness: or, sloth with both hands.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ecclesiastes 10 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThat house which is neglected by its owner, and not repaired, must needs come to ruin; whereby he intimates that the sloth and carelessness of princes in the management of public affairs, which is a usual attendant upon that luxury of which he hath now discoursed, is most destructive, both to themselves and to their people.
Read Matthew Poole on Ecclesiastes 10 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEcclesiastes 10:18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.Ver. 18. By much slothfulness the building decayeth.] So doth the commonwealth not sheltered with good government; for, as the householder is in his house, so is the magistrate in the city, and the king in his dominions. In his palace he may see a pattern of his kingdom, a draught of his city. Especially if it be, as George Prince of Anhalt’ s was, ecclesia, academia, curia, a church, a university, and a court. For the better despatch of civil businesses, there was daily praying, reading, writing, yea, and preaching too, as Melanchthon and Scultetus report. Here was no…
Read John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 10 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) Droppeth—i.e., lets the rain drop through.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ecclesiastes 10 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 18. By much slothfulness] This is remarkably the case in some countries. Houses are not repaired till they almost fall about the ears of the inhabitants. We have an adage that applies to all such cases: "A stitch in time saves nine."
Read AdamClarke on Ecclesiastes 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. By much slothfulness the building decayeth] The maxim, though generalised in form, and applicable to every form of the evil which it condemns, may fairly be contemplated, in relation to its context, as having a political bearing. There, laissez-faire, the policy of indolent procrastination, may be as fatal to the good government and prosperity of a state as the most reckless profligacy. The figure is singularly apt. The fabric of a state, like that of the house (Amos 9:11), needs from time to time to be surveyed and repaired. “Time,” as Bacon has said, “alters all things” (houses of both kinds included) “for the worse.” “The timber framework of the house decays.” The decay may be hidden…
Read Cambridge on Ecclesiastes 10 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible18. The condition of the state in the hands of such rulers as are mentioned Ecclesiastes 10:16 is compared to that of a neglected building.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ecclesiastes 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
Tyndale line
¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
By slouthfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decaie, and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through.
Strictly literal
By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
By slothfulness is the wall brought low, || And by idleness of the hands the house drops.
Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
From the Latin
By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
Simplified
Lazy people let their roofs collapse; idle people don't repair their leaky houses.
When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of Ecclesiastes 10:18, with all seven words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the verse's message across different traditions.
בַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם יִמַּ֣ךְ הַמְּקָרֶ֑ה וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּת יָדַ֖יִם יִדְלֹ֥ף הַבָּֽיִת׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ecclesiastes 10:18
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עַצְלָה (atslah) is a feminine noun meaning sluggishness or indolence, derived from the root word for laziness. The entries consistently emphasize its association with slothfulness, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
עַצְלָה n.f. sluggishness
base
H6103 עַצְלָה
6103 `atslah ats-law'
feminine of 6102; (as abstractly) indolence:--slothfulness.
see HEBREW for 06102
עַצְלָה (ats.lah) — sluggishness.
sluggishness, laziness
Prep | N-fd — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
→ See SLOTHFULNESS
מָכַךְ (makak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be low or humiliated. It can also refer to sinking, particularly in the context of decay, as in house-timbers. The word is used in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, indicating different nuances of being brought low or perishing.
[מָכַךְ] vb. be low, humiliated
Qal of perverse Isr.
Niph. sink (in decay) of house-timbers.
Hoph. be brought low, of wicked.
base
H4355 מָכַךְ
4355 makak maw-kak'
a primitive root; to tumble (in ruins); figuratively, to
perish:--be brought low, decay.
מָכַךְ (ma.khakh) — to sink.
1) to be low, be humiliated
1a) (Qal) to be low, be humiliated
1b) (Niphal) to sink
1c) (Hophal) to be brought low
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms
מְקָרֶה (mqareh) refers to a structural element, specifically a frame or beam work in construction. It is derived from the root meaning 'to meet' and is used in contexts related to building, as seen in Ecclesiastes 10:18. The term is consistently defined across entries as relating to rafters or beams.
מְקָרֶה n.[m.] beam-work;—Ec 10:18.
done
H4746 מְקָרֶה
4746 mqareh mek-aw-reh'
from 7136; properly, something meeting, i.e. a frame (of
timbers):--building.
see HEBREW for 07136
מְקָרֶה (me.qa.reh) — rafter.
beam work
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
שִׁפְלוּת (shiphluwth) refers to a state of idleness or inactivity, derived from the root meaning 'to sink.' It is noted in the context of Ecclesiastes 10:18, where it conveys the idea of remissness or neglect.
שִׁפְלוּת n.f. sinking;—cstr. Ec 10:18
ref
H8220 שִׁפְלוּת
8220 shiphluwth shif-looth'
from 8213; remissness:--idleness.
see HEBREW for 08213
שִׁפְלוּת (shiph.lut) — idleness.
sinking, idleness, inactivity
Conj | Prep | N-fs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular constructHC/R/Ncfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
יָד 1604 n.f. hand
hand
Fig. = strength, power
Fig. = side
יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—
sign, monument
part, fractional part or share
time, repetition
axle-trees
stays, supports for laver
tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle
a (beckoning) hand
יַד with prep.
base
H3027 יָד hand . hand
. Fig. = strength, power
. Fig. = side
. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument
. part, fractional part or share
. time, repetition
. axle-trees
. stays, supports for laver
. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle
. a (beckoning) hand
. יַד with prep.
3027 yad yawd
a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,
means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed
one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of
applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate
and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,
at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,
(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +
creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,
force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,
labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,
ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,
power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,
draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by
them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,
+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,
יָד (yad) — hand.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
1d) (various special, technical senses)
1d1) sign, monument
1d2) part, fractional part, share
1d3) time, repetition
1d4) axle-trees, axle
1d5) stays, support (for laver)
1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)
1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
1d8) wrists
יָד (yad) — hand: power.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
1d) (various special, technical senses)
1d1) sign, monument
1d2) part, fractional part, share
1d3) time, repetition
1d4) axle-trees, axle
1d5) stays, support (for laver)
1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)
1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
1d8) wrists
יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
N-cd — Noun common · both dual absoluteHNcbda
דָּלַף (dalaph) is a primitive root meaning to drip or drop. It can imply leaking or weeping, particularly in the context of tears. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to dripping and weeping, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
[דָּלַף] vb. drop, drip
base
H1811 דָּלַף
1811 dalaph daw-laf'
a primitive root; to drip; by implication, to weep:--drop
through, melt, pour out.
דָּלַף (da.laph) — to drip.
1) to drop, drip
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to leak
1a2) to weep (of tears)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
hous (bayith; oikos, in classical Greek generally "an estate," oikia, oikema (literally, "habitation"), in Ac 12:1, "prison"):
I. CAVE DWELLINGS
II. STONE-BUILT AND MUD/BRICK-BUILT HOUSES
1. Details of Plan and Construction
(1) Corner-Stone
(2) Floor
(3) Gutter
(4) Door
(5) Hinge
(6) Lock and Key
(7) Threshold
(8) Hearth
(9) Window
(10) Roof
2. Houses of More than One Story
(1) Upper Chambers and Stairs
(2) Palaces and Castles
3. Internal Appearance
III. OTHER MEANINGS
LITERATURE
I. Cave Dwellings.
The earliest permanent habitations of the prehistoric inhabitants of Palestine were the natural caves which abound throughout the country. As the people increased and grouped themselves into communities, these abodes were supplemented by systems of artificial caves which, in some cases, developed into extensive burrowings of many adjoining compartments, having…
House
Till their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews dwelt in tents. They then for the first time inhabited cities (Gen. 47:3; Ex. 12:7; Heb. 11:9). From the earliest times the Assyrians and the Canaanites were builders of cities. The Hebrews after the Conquest took possession of the captured cities, and seem to have followed the methods of building that had been pursued by the Canaanites. Reference is made to the stone (1 Kings 7:9; Isa. 9:10) and marble (1 Chr. 29:2) used in building, and to the internal wood-work of the houses (
The houses of the rural poor in Egypt, as well as in most parts of Syria, Arabia and Persia, are generally mere huts of mud or sunburnt bricks. In some parts of Palestine and Arabia stone is used, and in certain districts caves in the rocks are used as dwellings. (Amos 5:11) The houses are usually of one story only, viz., the ground floor, and often contain only one apartment. Sometimes a small court for the cattle is attached; and in some cases the cattle are housed in the same building, or the live in a raised platform, and, the cattle round them on the ground. (1 Samuel 28:24) The windows are small apertures high up in the walls, sometimes grated with wood. The roofs are commonly but not always flat, and are usually formed of plaster of mud and straw laid upon boughs or…
Is often put for dwelling, residence; and hence the temple, and even the tabernacle, are called the house of God.
The universal mode of building houses in the East, is in the form of a hollow square, with an open court or yard in the center; which is thus entirely shut in by the walls of the house around it. Into this court all the windows open, there being usually no windows towards the street. Some houses of large size require several courts, and these usually communicate with each other. These courts are commonly paved; and in many large houses parts of them are planted with shrubs and trees, Ps 84:3 128:3; they have also, when possible, a fountain in them, often with a jet d’ eau, 2Sa 17:18. It is customary in many houses to extend an awning over the whole court in hot…