Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the roof of a house held significant cultural and practical importance. The construction and use of roofs in ancient Israel and surrounding regions are mentioned in various passages throughout the Bible, providing insight into the daily life and customs of the people.
Construction and DesignRoofs in ancient Israel were typically flat and constructed using beams of wood overlaid with branches, reeds, and a layer of clay or mud to create a solid surface. This design is evident in several biblical accounts, such as in the account of the paralytic man in
Mark 2:4, where the friends of the paralytic "made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it" to lower him down for healing. This passage illustrates the accessibility and the relatively simple construction of roofs during that period.
Cultural and Social UsesThe flat roofs served multiple purposes beyond merely covering a dwelling. They were often used as additional living space, a place for storage, and a location for various domestic activities. In
1 Samuel 9:25, Samuel and Saul conversed on the roof, indicating its use as a place for private discussions and hospitality. Similarly, in
Joshua 2:6, Rahab hid the spies sent by Joshua "under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof," showing the roof's role in domestic work and storage.
Roofs also held religious significance. In
2 Kings 23:12, King Josiah destroyed the altars on the roofs of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which were used for idolatrous worship. This highlights the roof as a place where both legitimate and illegitimate religious practices occurred.
Legal and Moral ConsiderationsThe Law of Moses included specific instructions regarding roofs, emphasizing the importance of safety and responsibility.
Deuteronomy 22:8 commands, "When you build a new house, you are to construct a parapet around your roof, so that you do not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from it." This law reflects the communal and moral obligations of homeowners to protect others from harm.
Symbolic and Prophetic ImageryRoofs also appear in prophetic and symbolic contexts. In
Isaiah 22:1, the "Valley of Vision" is described with people going up to the roofs in a time of distress, symbolizing a place of exposure and vulnerability. Similarly, in
Matthew 10:27, Jesus instructs His disciples, "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops." Here, the roof symbolizes a platform for public proclamation and witness.
ConclusionThroughout the Bible, roofs are depicted as integral parts of daily life, serving practical, social, and religious functions. They are places of refuge, conversation, and proclamation, reflecting the multifaceted role they played in the ancient world.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Roof[HOUSE]
ATS Bible Dictionary
RoofSeeHOUSE.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The cover of any building, including the roofing (see Roofing) and all the materials and construction necessary to carry and maintain the same upon the walls or other uprights. In the case of a building with vaulted ceilings protected by an outer roof, some writers call the vault the roof, and the outer protection the roof mask. It is better, however, to consider the vault as the ceiling only, in cases where it has farther covering.
2. (n.) That which resembles, or corresponds to, the covering or the ceiling of a house; as, the roof of a cavern; the roof of the mouth.
3. (n.) The surface or bed of rock immediately overlying a bed of coal or a flat vein.
4. (v. t.) To cover with a roof.
5. (v. t.) To enclose in a house; figuratively, to shelter.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CHAMBER, ROOFSeeCHAMBER.
ROOF
roof.
SeeHOUSE.
Greek
4721. stege -- aroof... a
roof. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: stege Phonetic Spelling:
(steg'-ay) Short Definition: a flat
roof of a house Definition: a flat
roof of
...5264. hupodechomai -- to receive under one'sroof, to receive as a...
... to receive under one'sroof, to receive as a guest. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hupodechomai Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-od-ekh'-om-ahee) Short...
1430. doma -- a house, a housetop
... a housetop. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: doma Phonetic Spelling:
(do'-mah) Short Definition: the top of the house Definition: theroof (of a...
648. apostegazo -- to unroof
... to unroof. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apostegazo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-os-teg-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I unroof, take theroof off Definition: I...
2766. keramos -- a tile
... a tile. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: keramos Phonetic Spelling:
(ker'-am-os) Short Definition: a tile, theroof Definition: a tile...
4722. stego -- to cover closely (so as to keep water out)...
... 4722 -- properly, to place under , to -over (with aroof); (figuratively) to because ,
ie bearing up (forbearing) because under (). Word Origin a prim....
833. aule -- a courtyard, a court
... 833 -- a building with an ; an , area that is enclosed but without aroof;
an open-air (interior) courtyard of a mansion or palace....
5152. tristegon -- the third story
... third story. Neuter of a compound of treis and stege as noun; a thirdroof (story) --
third loft. see GREEK treis. see GREEK stege. (tristegou) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
2441. chek -- palate,roof of the mouth, gums... 2440, 2441. chek. 2442 . palate,
roof of the mouth, gums. Transliteration:
chek Phonetic Spelling: (khake) Short Definition: mouth.
...1406. gag -- aroof, a top
... 1405, 1406. gag. 1407 . aroof, a top. Transliteration: gag Phonetic Spelling:
(gawg) Short Definition:roof. Word Origin of uncertain...
5944. aliyyah -- aroof chamber
... 5943, 5944. aliyyah. 5945 . aroof chamber. Transliteration: aliyyah
Phonetic Spelling: (al-ee-yaw') Short Definition: chamber....
5952. allith -- aroof chamber
allith or illi. 5951, 5952. allith or illi. 5953 . aroof chamber. Transliteration:
allith or illi Phonetic Spelling: (al-leeth') Short Definition: chamber...
6672b. tsohar -- probablyroof
... probablyroof. Transliteration: tsohar Short Definition: window. Word Origin from
the same as tsohar Definition probablyroof NASB Word Usage window (1)....
2926. talal -- to cover over,roof
... 2925, 2926. talal. 2927 . to cover over,roof. Transliteration: talal Phonetic
Spelling: (taw-lal') Short Definition: covered. Word Origin a prim....
6982. qorah -- a rafter, beam
... Definition: beam. Word Origin from qarah Definition a rafter, beam NASB Word
Usage beam (2), beams (2),roof (1). beam,roof. Or qorah...
5603. saphan -- to cover, cover in, panel
... A primitive root; to hide by covering; specifically, toroof (passive participle
as noun, aroof) or wainscot; figuratively, to reserve -- cieled, cover, seated...
7322. ruph -- tremble
... 7321, 7322. ruph. 7323 . tremble. Transliteration: ruph Phonetic Spelling:
(roof) Short Definition: tremble. Word Origin see raphaph. tremble...
7136. qarah -- to encounter, meet, befall
... A primitive root; to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about;
specifically, to impose timbers (forroof or floor) -- appoint, lay (make...
Library
Description of the Walls,Roof, Decoration, and Gilding of the...
... Book III. Chapter XXXVI."Description of the Walls,Roof, Decoration, and
Gilding of the Body of the Church. For at the side opposite...
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. viii. 8, "I am not Worthy that...
... On the words of the Gospel, Matt. viii. 8, "I am not worthy that thou shouldest
come under myroof," etc., and of the words of the apostle, 1 Cor. viii....
The Paralytic Let Down through theRoof.
... homily on the paralytic let down through theroof. 1. Having lately come
across the incident of the paralytic [700] who lay upon...
That He Instructed the Governors Concerning the Beautifying of the...
... Book III. Chapter XXXII."That he instructed the Governors concerning the
Beautifying of theRoof; also concerning Workmen, and Materials....
Of Gog and Magog, who are to be Roused by the Devil to Persecute...
... The meaning of these names we find to be, Gog, "aroof," Magog, "from a
roof,""a house, as it were, and he who comes out of the house....
Jesus Heals a Paralytic at Capernaum.
... in turn opens upon the court. In this porch there is usually a stairway
leading to theroof. The roofs are invariably flat, and...
Of the Building of this Temple
... They erected its entire body, quite up to theroof, of white stone; its height was
sixty cubits, and its length was the same, and its breadth twenty....
After These Things, Joseph and Mary Departed Thence with Jesus...
... And on the first of the week, when Jesus was playing with the children on theroof
of a certain house, it happened that one of the children pushed another down...
Christ's Authority to Forgive
... unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.4. And when they
could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered theroof where He...
The Sick of the Palsy
... And being unable to get to Him on account of the crowd, they removed theroof above
Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which...
Thesaurus
Roof (55 Occurrences)... In the case of a building with vaulted ceilings protected by an outer
roof, some
writers call the vault the
roof, and the outer protection the
roof mask.
...Roof-chamber
Roof-chamber. Roofchamber,Roof-chamber. Roofed . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ROOF-CHAMBER. See HOUSE. Roofchamber,Roof-chamber. Roofed ....
Roofing (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofRoof. 2. (n.) The act of covering with aroof. 3. (n.)
The materials of which aroof is composed; materials for aroof....
Parapet (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A low wall, especially one serving to
protect the edge of a platform,roof, bridge, or the like....
Fetch (45 Occurrences)
... WL Walker. Multi-Version Concordance Fetch (45 Occurrences). Matthew 24:17 let him
who is on theroof not go down to fetch what is in his house; (WEY)....
Flax (11 Occurrences)
... plant: "The flax was in bloom" (the King James Version "bolled"; Exodus 9:31);
(2) the "stalks of flax," literally, "flax of the tree," put on theroof to dry...
Deck (8 Occurrences)
... decks. 5. (n.) The upper part or top of a mansardroof or curbroof when
made nearly flat. 6. (n.) Theroof of a passenger car. 7...
Pinnacle (2 Occurrences)
... At the south-eastern corner theroof of this cloister was some 300 feet
above the Kidron valley. The pinnacle, some parapet or wing...
Cell (8 Occurrences)
... convent. 3. (n.) Any small cavity, or hollow place. 4. (n.) The space between
the ribs of a vaultedroof. 5. (n.) Same as Cella....
Gateway (40 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:24 Now David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to
theroof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and...
Resources
Did David rape Bathsheba? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about a contentious or quarrelsome woman? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the flesh? | GotQuestions.orgRoof: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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