Jerusalem Temple
If you want to know how to say temple in Hebrew, the answer depends on exactly what kind of temple you mean.
The Hebrew word מִקְדָּשׁ – Mikdash means a sanctuary or sacred place. When Jews refer specifically to the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the usual Hebrew expression is בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ – Beit HaMikdash.
In English, Beit HaMikdash is usually translated as the Holy Temple or simply the Temple.
You may also see the same Hebrew phrase written in English as Beit Hamikdash, Bet Hamikdash, Beis Hamikdash or Bais Hamikdash. These spellings reflect different traditions of Hebrew pronunciation and transliteration.
How Do You Say Temple in Hebrew?
The general Hebrew word for a temple or sanctuary is:
מִקְדָּשׁ – Mikdash
When referring specifically to the Jewish Temple that stood in Jerusalem, Hebrew normally uses:
בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ – Beit HaMikdash
In everyday English discussion of Jewish history, this is translated as:
- The Holy Temple
- The Temple
- The Jerusalem Temple
- The Temple in Jerusalem
So if someone asks, “What is the Hebrew word for the Jewish Temple?” the clearest answer is Beit HaMikdash.
How Is Beit HaMikdash Written in Hebrew?
Beit HaMikdash is written:
בית המקדש
With Hebrew vowel markings, it can be written:
בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
The phrase is composed of several parts that help explain its meaning.
What Does Beit HaMikdash Mean?
The phrase Beit HaMikdash is commonly translated as the Holy Temple.
Breaking the Hebrew expression into its components helps explain the literal meaning:
- Beit – בית means “house” in the grammatical form used when it is connected to another noun.
- Ha – ה means “the.”
- Mikdash – מקדש means “sanctuary” or “holy place.”
The phrase can therefore be understood literally along the lines of “House of the Sanctuary” or “House of Holiness,” while the natural English translation is “the Holy Temple.”
What Does Mikdash Mean in Hebrew?
The Hebrew word Mikdash – מִקְדָּשׁ means a sanctuary, sacred place or holy place.
It comes from the Hebrew root:
ק-ד-ש – K-D-Sh
This Hebrew root is connected with holiness and sanctity.
The same root appears in many familiar Jewish words, including:
- Kadosh – קדוש – holy
- Kiddush – קידוש – sanctification, especially the blessing over wine for Shabbat and festivals
- Kedushah – קדושה – holiness or sanctity
- Mikdash – מקדש – sanctuary
This connection with holiness helps explain why Mikdash is used for a sacred sanctuary rather than simply an ordinary building.
What Is the Difference Between Mikdash and Beit HaMikdash?
Mikdash is the more general word meaning sanctuary or sacred place.
Beit HaMikdash is the established Hebrew name for the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
For example:
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| מקדש | Mikdash | Sanctuary or temple |
| בית המקדש | Beit HaMikdash | The Holy Temple in Jerusalem |
| בית המקדש הראשון | Beit HaMikdash HaRishon | The First Temple |
| בית המקדש השני | Beit HaMikdash HaSheni | The Second Temple |
| בית המקדש השלישי | Beit HaMikdash HaShlishi | The Third Temple |
Beit HaMikdash or Beis HaMikdash?
You will frequently encounter both Beit HaMikdash and Beis HaMikdash.
They refer to exactly the same Hebrew words:
בית המקדש
The difference comes primarily from pronunciation traditions.
Beit HaMikdash reflects modern Israeli and Sephardic-style Hebrew pronunciation, where the final Hebrew letter tav in this word is pronounced with a “t” sound.
Beis HaMikdash reflects a traditional Ashkenazi pronunciation in which the same letter may be pronounced with an “s” sound.
Neither expression refers to a different Temple.
What About Bais Hamikdash?
Bais Hamikdash is another English spelling based on Ashkenazi pronunciation.
You may therefore encounter:
- Beit HaMikdash
- Beit Hamikdash
- Bet Hamikdash
- Beis HaMikdash
- Beis Hamikdash
- Bais Hamikdash
All of these generally represent the same Hebrew expression:
בית המקדש
Transliterating Hebrew into the Latin alphabet is not completely standardized, which explains many of these variations.
How Do You Pronounce Beit HaMikdash?
In modern Israeli Hebrew, an approximate pronunciation is:
Bayt Ha-Mik-DASH
The emphasis falls on the final syllable of Mikdash.
In Ashkenazi communities, you may instead hear:
Beis Ha-Mik-Dash
Different Jewish communities preserve different Hebrew pronunciation traditions, so variations are normal.
What Was the Beit HaMikdash?
The Beit HaMikdash was the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the central sanctuary of ancient Jewish worship.
It stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Jewish history traditionally distinguishes between the First Temple and the Second Temple.
The Temples were associated with sacrifices, pilgrimage festivals, the priesthood, the menorah and other forms of worship described in biblical and rabbinic sources.
For a detailed historical explanation, read our guide to the First and Second Jerusalem Temples.
How Do You Say First Temple in Hebrew?
The First Temple is called:
בית המקדש הראשון – Beit HaMikdash HaRishon
HaRishon – הראשון means “the first.”
The First Temple is traditionally associated with King Solomon and is therefore also frequently called Solomon’s Temple in English.
How Do You Say Second Temple in Hebrew?
The Second Temple is:
בית המקדש השני – Beit HaMikdash HaSheni
HaSheni – השני means “the second.”
The Second Temple existed for centuries and was greatly expanded during the reign of Herod the Great before being destroyed by Roman forces in 70 CE.
How Do You Say Third Temple in Hebrew?
The Third Temple is:
בית המקדש השלישי – Beit HaMikdash HaShlishi
HaShlishi – השלישי means “the third.”
The concept of a future Third Temple plays an important role in Jewish religious tradition, prayer and interpretations of messianic redemption.
Because the Third Temple has not historically stood as a completed structure, artwork depicting it is necessarily symbolic or interpretive rather than a direct historical record.
Temple in Hebrew vs. Synagogue in Hebrew
The Hebrew terms for the Jerusalem Temple and a synagogue should not be confused.
The Holy Temple is:
בית המקדש – Beit HaMikdash
A synagogue is:
בית כנסת – Beit Knesset
Beit Knesset literally means a “house of assembly.”
Synagogues became central places for Jewish communal prayer, Torah reading and study, but a synagogue is not the same thing as the historical Beit HaMikdash.
Why Are Some Synagogues Called Temples in English?
In some English-speaking Jewish communities, especially certain Reform congregations, the word Temple became part of synagogue names.
For example, a synagogue might be called “Temple Beth…” in English.
This modern English naming convention should not be confused with the Hebrew term Beit HaMikdash, which specifically refers to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
What Is the Mishkan?
Another important Hebrew word is:
משכן – Mishkan
The Mishkan was the portable sanctuary described in the Torah that the Israelites used before the establishment of the permanent Temple in Jerusalem.
In English it is commonly called the Tabernacle.
The Mishkan and Beit HaMikdash are closely connected concepts, but they are not identical terms.
Mishkan vs. Mikdash
Mishkan comes from a Hebrew root connected with dwelling.
Mikdash comes from the root connected with holiness.
The Mishkan was the portable sanctuary used during the Israelites’ journey and early history.
The Beit HaMikdash was the permanent Temple established in Jerusalem.
Both served as sacred centers of worship, but their architecture, location and historical periods differed.
How Do You Say Temple Mount in Hebrew?
The Temple Mount is called:
הר הבית – Har HaBayit
The phrase literally means “Mountain of the House.”
In this context, “the House” refers to the Temple.
The Temple Mount is the elevated area in Jerusalem where the First and Second Temples stood according to Jewish tradition and historical sources.
Beit HaMikdash vs. Har HaBayit
These two terms are related but not interchangeable.
Beit HaMikdash refers to the Temple itself.
Har HaBayit refers to the larger Temple Mount area on which the Temple complex stood.
The Temple was therefore located on Har HaBayit, but the entire Temple Mount was not itself the Temple building.
How Do You Say Western Wall in Hebrew?
The Western Wall is called:
הכותל המערבי – HaKotel HaMa’aravi
It is commonly shortened simply to:
הכותל – HaKotel
Kotel means “wall.”
The Western Wall is a surviving section of the retaining wall surrounding the expanded Temple Mount platform from the Second Temple period.
It should not be described as a surviving wall of the Temple sanctuary itself.
Learn more in our guide to the Kotel and Western Wall.
What Is Heichal in Hebrew?
Another Hebrew term sometimes translated as temple or palace is:
היכל – Heichal
Depending on context, heichal can refer to a palace, great hall or sanctuary.
In descriptions of the Beit HaMikdash, the word can refer specifically to the main sanctuary building or hall.
However, if you simply want the usual Hebrew name for the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, Beit HaMikdash is the clearer expression.
What Does HaMikdash Mean?
HaMikdash – המקדש means “the sanctuary” or “the holy place.”
The Hebrew prefix ה – ha functions as the definite article “the.”
Therefore:
Mikdash – מקדש = sanctuary
HaMikdash – המקדש = the sanctuary
Beit HaMikdash – בית המקדש = the Holy Temple
Why Is the Beit HaMikdash Important in Judaism?
The Temple was the central place of Jewish national worship in ancient Jerusalem.
It was associated with:
- The priestly service
- Offerings
- The menorah
- The altar
- The Holy of Holies
- Jewish pilgrimage festivals
- National prayer
- Jerusalem
Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot were pilgrimage festivals during which Israelites traveled to Jerusalem when the Temple stood.
Even after the destruction of the Second Temple, remembrance of the Beit HaMikdash remained deeply embedded in Jewish prayer and tradition.
Why Is Jerusalem Connected With the Hebrew Word for Temple?
Although the Hebrew word mikdash can mean sanctuary more generally, Beit HaMikdash has such a strong connection with Jerusalem that Jewish usage normally assumes the Jerusalem Temple unless another context is specified.
The Temple stood at the spiritual center of ancient Jerusalem.
For this reason, Jerusalem artwork frequently incorporates Temple imagery even when the actual subject is the modern city.
Beit HaMikdash in Jewish Prayer
The memory and future hope associated with the Temple appear throughout Jewish liturgy.
References to Jerusalem, restoration and the Temple occur in daily prayer, festival services and other parts of Jewish religious life.
This continuing presence explains why Beit HaMikdash is not merely a historical vocabulary term.
It remains a living expression within Jewish religion and culture.
Beit HaMikdash in Jewish Art
The Temple is also one of the most important architectural subjects in Jewish art.
Artists have attempted to visualize the First Temple, Second Temple and a future Third Temple.
Because no complete visual record survives of the ancient Temple buildings, these artworks combine textual descriptions, archaeology, historical research and artistic interpretation.
They should therefore be understood as reconstructions and artistic visions rather than photographs of ancient Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Temple Paintings by Alex Levin
Israeli artist Alex Levin has created an extensive series of paintings inspired by the Beit HaMikdash.
His works portray the Temple from different perspectives, including historical reconstructions, imagined pilgrimages and symbolic visions connecting the ancient Temple with modern Jerusalem.
Explore Jerusalem Temple Paintings by Alex Levin
Beit HaMikdash Paintings
You can also explore artwork specifically grouped around the Hebrew concept of the Temple in Alex Levin’s Beit HaMikdash paintings.
These works show how the Hebrew term continues to carry meaning beyond language.
For many collectors, an image of the Beit HaMikdash represents Jerusalem, Jewish history, prayer and hope for the future within a single subject.
Common Hebrew Temple Terms
| English | Hebrew | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Temple / Sanctuary | מקדש | Mikdash |
| The Holy Temple | בית המקדש | Beit HaMikdash |
| First Temple | בית המקדש הראשון | Beit HaMikdash HaRishon |
| Second Temple | בית המקדש השני | Beit HaMikdash HaSheni |
| Third Temple | בית המקדש השלישי | Beit HaMikdash HaShlishi |
| Temple Mount | הר הבית | Har HaBayit |
| Western Wall | הכותל המערבי | HaKotel HaMa’aravi |
| Synagogue | בית כנסת | Beit Knesset |
| Tabernacle | משכן | Mishkan |
Frequently Asked Questions About Temple in Hebrew
What is the Hebrew word for temple?
The general Hebrew word for a temple or sanctuary is Mikdash – מקדש. The Jewish Holy Temple in Jerusalem is normally called Beit HaMikdash – בית המקדש.
What does Beit HaMikdash mean?
Beit HaMikdash is the Hebrew name for the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It combines beit, meaning house in a connected grammatical form, with haMikdash, meaning the sanctuary or holy place.
How do you write Beit HaMikdash in Hebrew?
It is written בית המקדש.
Is it Beit Hamikdash or Beis Hamikdash?
Both refer to the same Hebrew phrase. Beit reflects modern Israeli and Sephardic-style pronunciation, while Beis reflects traditional Ashkenazi pronunciation.
Is Bais Hamikdash also correct?
Yes. Bais Hamikdash is another English transliteration based on Ashkenazi pronunciation. Transliteration from Hebrew is not completely standardized.
What does Mikdash mean?
Mikdash means sanctuary or sacred place. The word comes from the Hebrew root associated with holiness.
What is the First Temple called in Hebrew?
The First Temple is Beit HaMikdash HaRishon – בית המקדש הראשון.
What is the Second Temple called in Hebrew?
The Second Temple is Beit HaMikdash HaSheni – בית המקדש השני.
What is the Third Temple called in Hebrew?
The Third Temple is Beit HaMikdash HaShlishi – בית המקדש השלישי.
What is Temple Mount in Hebrew?
Temple Mount is Har HaBayit – הר הבית.
What is the Western Wall in Hebrew?
The Western Wall is HaKotel HaMa’aravi – הכותל המערבי, commonly shortened to HaKotel.
Is a synagogue the same as Beit HaMikdash?
No. A synagogue is called Beit Knesset – בית כנסת. Beit HaMikdash specifically refers to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
What was the Mishkan?
The Mishkan was the portable sanctuary described in the Torah, commonly called the Tabernacle in English. It preceded the permanent Temple in Jerusalem.
Where can I see paintings of the Beit HaMikdash?
ArtLevin.com features an extensive collection of Temple artwork by Israeli artist Alex Levin, including paintings inspired by the First, Second and future Third Temple.
