Hebrew word · Strong's H1129

בָּנָה

bânâh · baw-naw' · verb · “to build”

In a sentence

Banah means to build — used of houses, cities, and the temple, and metaphorically of building lives, families, and even the church. God is the great builder.

Banah is the verb of construction. It names the labor of stones and beams; it also pictures the building of a family (“build up a house”) and of a people.

The New Testament inherits the picture: Jesus says, “I will build (oikodomēsō) my church.” And Hebrews calls God “the builder of all things.” What he builds, no one tears down for long.

Strong's reference

Definition: to build (literally and figuratively)

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

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Psalms 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.” Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Genesis 8:20 “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.