BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.
GREEK · G4232
praitōrion — praetorium
πραιτώριον, -ου, τό (Lat. prætorium) 1. headquarters in a Roman camp, 2. The palace or official residence of the Governor of a province: Mat.27:27, Mrk.15:16 (see Swete, in l), Jhn.18:28, 33 19:9; τ. π. τ. Ἡρώδου, Act.23:35. 3. the Prætorian Guard: Php.1:13 (see Lft., in l; ICC, 51 f.).† (AS)
7 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →The Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in Mark 15:16 is rendered “common hall” (Matt. 27:27, marg., “governor’s house”), “judgment hall,” (John 18:28, 33, marg., “Pilate’s house”, 19:9; Acts 23:35), “palace” (Phil. 1:13). This is properly a military word. It denotes (1) the general’s tent or headquarters; (2) the governor’s residence, as in Acts 23:35 (R.V., “palace”); and (3) the praetorian guard (See PALACE), or the camp or quarters of the praetorian cohorts (Acts 28:16), the imperial guards in immediate attendance on the emperor, who was “praetor” or commander-in-chief.
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.
