### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **bîyrâʼ**, represented by `{{H1001}}`, is the term for a **palace**. As the Aramaic corresponding word to the Hebrew בִּירָה, it specifically denotes a royal residence or fortress. It is a rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire biblical text.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H1001}}` is found in [[Ezra 6:2]], where it sets the scene for a critical discovery. A search is conducted for an official decree, and it is "found at Achmetha, in the **palace** that is in the province of the Medes." In this context, the **palace** is not just a residence but an administrative center and a royal archive, the official repository for state records.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words from its only appearance in [[Ezra 6:2]] help clarify its function:
* `{{H307}}` **ʼAchmᵉthâʼ** (Achmetha (i.e. Ecbatana), the summer capital of Persia): This word specifies the exact, prominent location of the **palace**, highlighting its connection to the Persian government.
* `{{H4083}}` **mᵉdîynâh** (a region; province): This term places the **palace** within its larger administrative jurisdiction, the province of the Medes.
* `{{H4040}}` **mᵉgillâh** (a roll): This identifies the specific object that was found inside the **palace**, emphasizing its role as a place for storing documents.
* `{{H1799}}` **dikrôwn** (a register; record): This defines the nature of the document found, confirming that the **palace** served as a place for keeping official records.
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1001}}` is tied entirely to the importance of the event in which it appears.
* **A Place of Official Record:** The **palace** is established as a center of royal administration where historical and legal documents, such as a **roll** `{{H4040}}` with a **record** `{{H1799}}`, are stored [[Ezra 6:2]].
* **Confirmation of Authority:** The discovery of the decree within a royal **palace** lends it undeniable official weight, serving as legal proof.
* **Pivotal Narrative Setting:** The **palace** at Achmetha is the specific setting for the discovery that allows the work on the house of the great God, mentioned in the surrounding narrative [[Ezra 5:8]], to proceed with royal authorization.
### Summary
In summary, while **bîyrâʼ** `{{H1001}}` is used only once, its role is crucial. It defines the **palace** as a state archive, the location where a vital historical record was preserved. The word's importance comes not from frequency but from its singular context, marking the place where a forgotten decree was found, thereby shaping the course of events in the book of Ezra.
TRV