The Hebrew verb בָּנָה (root: ב-נ-ה) means “to build,” “to construct,” or “to establish.” It is a foundational term in biblical Hebrew, used both literally—for constructing houses, cities, or altars—and metaphorically—for establishing families, dynasties, or spiritual legacies. It occurs frequently in narrative, poetic, legal, and prophetic texts.
בָּנָה is a hollow verb (middle root letter is a weak נ), resulting in irregularities in some conjugations. It appears primarily in the Qal binyan, with additional occurrences in Niphal (to be built) and Pual (to be constructed passively).
Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּנָה
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | בָּנִיתִי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | בָּנִיתָ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | בָּנִית |
| 3rd person masculine singular | בָּנָה |
| 3rd person feminine singular | בָּנְתָה |
| 1st person plural | בָּנִינוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | בְּנִיתֶם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | בְּנִיתֶן |
| 3rd person plural | בָּנוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | בּוֹנֶה |
| Feminine singular | בּוֹנָה |
| Masculine plural | בּוֹנִים |
| Feminine plural | בּוֹנוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אֶבְנֶה |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תִּבְנֶה |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תִּבְנִי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יִבְנֶה |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תִּבְנֶה |
| 1st person plural | נִבְנֶה |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תִּבְנוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תִּבְנֶינָה |
| 3rd person plural | יִבְנוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | בְּנֵה |
| 2nd person feminine singular | בְּנִי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | בְּנוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | בְּנֶינָה |
Usage in Scripture
- Genesis 4:17 – וַיְהִי בֹנֶה עִיר
“And he was building a city.” - Exodus 1:11 – וַיִּבֶן עָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֹת
“And he built store cities…” - 2 Samuel 7:13 – הוּא יִבְנֶה בַּיִת לִשְׁמִי
“He will build a house for My name.”
Summary
The verb בָּנָה is a cornerstone of biblical Hebrew, both in its literal sense of constructing buildings and in its metaphorical sense of establishing families, dynasties, and spiritual legacies. Whether speaking of the Temple, a city, or the house of David, it expresses permanence, creation, and purpose. Understanding its forms is vital for interpreting many theological and historical themes in the Hebrew Bible.
