Bible Dictionary
Building
Building includes the construction of houses, cities, palaces, fortifications, and sacred structures. Scripture also uses building figuratively: believers are God’s building, Christ is the foundation and builder of His church, and the heavenly dwelling is a building from God.
Definition
Building includes the construction of houses, cities, palaces, fortifications, temples, and other structures. Scripture also uses building as a figure for God’s people, the church, and the heavenly dwelling prepared by God.
Biblical Usage
Believers are called God’s building, Christ is the foundation and builder of His church, and heaven is described as a building from God. These figures connect construction with belonging to God and with the church’s foundation in Christ.
Historical Background
Israelite building reflected the climate and resources of Canaan, including native limestone. Phoenician artists assisted Solomon in royal and temple construction, while foreigners helped restore the temple after the Exile. Building tools included the plumb-line, measuring-reed, and saw.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Among the Jews was suited to the climate and conditions of the country. They probably adopted the kind of architecture for their dwellings which they found already existing when they entered Canaan (Deut. 6:10; Num. 13:19). Phoenician artists (2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Kings 5:6, 18) assisted at the erection of the royal palace and the temple at Jerusalem. Foreigners also assisted at the restoration of the temple after the Exile (Ezra 3:7). In Gen. 11:3, 9, we have the first recorded instance of the erection of buildings. The cities of the plain of Shinar were founded by the descendants of Shem (10:11, 12, 22). The Israelites were by occupation shepherds and dwellers in tents (Gen. 47:3); but from the time of their entering Canaan they became dwellers in towns, and in houses built of the native limestone of Palestine. Much building was carried on in Solomon’s time. Besides the buildings he completed at Jerusalem, he also built Baalath and Tadmor (1 Kings 9:15, 24). Many of the kings of Israel and Judah were engaged in erecting various buildings. Herod and his sons and successors restored the temple, and built fortifications and other structures of great magnificence in Jerusalem (Luke 21:5). The instruments used in building are mentioned as the plumb-line (Amos 7:7), the measuring-reed (Ezek. 40:3), and the saw (1 Kings 7:9). Believers are “God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9); and heaven is called “a building of God” (2 Cor. 5:1). Christ is the only foundation of his church (1 Cor. 3:10-12), of which he also is the builder (Matt. 16:18).