Palace

The word palace translates several Hebrew and Greek terms in Scripture, all designating a grand royal or administrative residence. The Hebrew armon refers to a citadel or fortified mansion, while biran and hekal describe the temple-palace complexes of ancient Near Eastern kings. David's palace in Jerusalem was built with cedar from Lebanon, and Solomon's palace complex took thirteen years to complete — longer than the seven-year construction of the temple itself (1 Kings 7:1).

The Daniel narratives use the Aramaic bira for the royal fortress at Shushan, and Nehemiah references it as the administrative center of Persia. In the New Testament, the Greek aule (courtyard or hall) is rendered palace in the accounts of Jesus's trial before Pilate and Herod. Prophetically, the palaces of Nineveh and Babylon became symbols of pride destined for judgment.