en_tw/bible/other/house/01.md

# house

## Definition

The term "house" is often used figuratively in the Bible. 

* Sometimes it means "household, referring to the people who live together in one house.
* Often "house" refers to a person's ancestors, descendants or other relatives as in, "the house of David."
* The terms "house of God" and "house of Yahweh" are used to refer to the tabernacle or temple. They can refer generally to where God is or dwells.
* In Hebrews 3, "God's house" is used as a metaphor to refer to God's people or more generally, to everything pertaining to God.
* The phrase "house of Israel" can refer generally to the entire nation of Israel or more specifically to the tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel.


## Translation Suggestions



* Depending on the context, "house" could be translated as, "household" or "people" or "family" or "descendants" or "temple" or "dwelling place."
* The phrase "house of David" could be translated as, "clan of David" or "family of David" or "descendants of David." Related expressions could be translated in a similar way.
* Different ways to translate "house of Israel" could include, "people of Israel" or "Israel's descendants" or "Israelites."
* The phrase "house of Yahweh" could be translated as "Yahweh's temple" or "place where Yahweh is worshiped" or "place where Yahweh meets with his people" or "where Yahweh dwells."