Lexical Summary aulé: Courtyard, court, palace Original Word: αὐλή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance courtyard, hallFrom the same as aer; a yard (as open to the wind); by implication, a mansion -- court, (sheep-)fold, hall, palace. see GREEK aer HELPS Word-studies 833 aulḗ – a building with an interior courtyard; an uncovered, walled area that is enclosed but without a roof; an open-air (interior) courtyard of a mansion or palace. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition a courtyard, a court NASB Translation court (3), courtyard (5), fold (2), house (1), palace (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 833: αὐλήαὐλή, αὐλῆς, ἡ (ἄω to blow; hence) properly, a place open to the air (διαπνεόμενος τόπος αὐλή λέγεται, Athen. 5, 15, p. 189 b.); 1. among the Greeks in Homers time an uncovered space around the house, enclosed by a wall, in which the stables stood (Homer, Odyssey 9, 185; Iliad 4, 433); hence, among the Orientals that roofless enclosure in the open country in which flocks were herded at night, a sheepfold: John 10:1, 16. 2. the uncovered court-yard of the house, Hebrew חָצֵר, the Sept. αὐλή, Vulg.atrium. In the O. T. particularly of the courts of the tabernacle and of the temple at Jerusalem; so in the N. T. once: Revelation 11:2 (τήν αὐλήν τήν ἔξωθεν (Rec.st ἔσωθεν) τοῦ ναοῦ). The dwellings of the higher classes usually had two αὐλαί, one exterior, between the door and the street, called also προαύλιον (which see); the other interior, surrounded by the buildings of the dwelling itself. The latter is mentioned Matthew 26:69 (where ἔξω is opposed to the room in which the judges were sitting); Mark 14:66; Luke 22:55. Cf. Winers RWB under the word Häuser; (B. D. American edition under the word 3. the house itself a palace: Matthew 26:3, 58; Mark 14:54; Mark 15:16; Luke 11:21; John 18:15, and so very often in Greek writings from Homer, Odyssey 4, 74 down (cf. Eustathius 1483, 39 τῷ τῆς αὐλῆς ὀνόματι τά δώματα δηλοῖ, Suidas col. 652 c. αὐλή. ἡ τοῦ βασιλέως οἰκία. Yet this sense is denied to the N. T. by Meyer et al.; see Meyer on Matthew, the passage cited). Topical Lexicon Semantic Field and Core Idea The word denotes an enclosed open space adjoining a dwelling—most commonly a domestic courtyard surrounding a house or palace—but it can also signify the walled enclosure that protects livestock, especially sheep. The sense of protection, separation, and controlled access lies at the heart of every New Testament occurrence. Old Testament and Second-Temple Roots In the Septuagint, cognate Hebrew terms translate to the courts of the Tabernacle and Temple (for example, Exodus 27:9; Psalm 84:2). These spaces were places of worship, secure boundaries set apart for holy activity. By the first century, Jewish homes frequently featured an inner court encircled by rooms, and the royal residences of the Herods mirrored Hellenistic palace architecture with large outer courts. Occurrences in the Gospels 1. Palace Courtyard of the High Priest (Matthew 26:3, 26:58-69; Mark 14:54-66; Luke 22:55; John 18:15) Eschatological and Prophetic Use Revelation 11:2 applies the word to the outer court of the future Temple: “But exclude the courtyard outside the temple; do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations.” The boundary line between measured sanctuary and unmeasured court becomes a symbol of divine sovereignty over judgment and preservation. Theological Themes • Access and Exclusion: Courtyards can shelter insiders while keeping intruders out. The gospel narrative places Jesus in settings where that barrier is crossed, whether by Peter’s fearful trespass or by Gentile occupation in Revelation. Ministry Implications • Hospitality and Accountability: First-century courtyards served as gathering places; modern ministry settings should emulate their openness while maintaining spiritual boundaries. Typological Insight The protective walls of the sheepfold prefigure the ultimate security of the New Jerusalem, whose gates “will never be shut” because nothing unclean can enter (Revelation 21:25-27). Temporal courtyards anticipate a perfected sanctuary where redeemed humanity enjoys unhindered fellowship with God. Summary Across twelve New Testament occurrences, the term moves from literal palace and praetorium courts to parabolic and prophetic images of spiritual enclosure. Whether describing the scene of Peter’s denial, the safety of Christ’s sheep, or the contested outer court of the Temple, it consistently points to themes of access, protection, and the decisive authority of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations αυλαί αυλαίς αυλάς αυλη αυλή αὐλῇ αυλην αυλήν αὐλήν αὐλὴν αυλης αυλής αύλης αὐλῆς αυλών aule aulē aulêi aulē̂i aulen aulēn aulḗn aulḕn aules aulês aulēs aulē̂sLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 26:3 N-AFSGRK: εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως NAS: were gathered together in the court of the high priest, KJV: unto the palace of the high priest, INT: in the court of the high priest Matthew 26:58 N-GFS Matthew 26:69 N-DFS Mark 14:54 N-AFS Mark 14:66 N-DFS Mark 15:16 N-GFS Luke 11:21 N-AFS Luke 22:55 N-GFS John 10:1 N-AFS John 10:16 N-GFS John 18:15 N-AFS Revelation 11:2 N-AFS Strong's Greek 833 |