Courtyard

An enclosed, uncovered area within the precincts of large buildings such as temples, palaces and houses. The wilderness tabernacle also incorporated a courtyard.

The courtyard of the tabernacle

Exodus 27:9–19 See also Exodus 38:9–20

The courtyard of the temple

1 Kings 7:12 See also 1 Kings 8:64 parallel 2 Chronicles 7:7; 2 Chronicles 4:9, 2 Chronicles 23:5, 2 Chronicles 24:21; Jeremiah 26:2, Jeremiah 36:10; Ezekiel 40:14

The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD.

Courtyards of palaces

Esther 2:11 See also Jeremiah 32:2, Jeremiah 39:15

And every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn about Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.

Courtyards of private houses

Nehemiah 8:16 See also 2 Samuel 17:18; Matthew 26:69 parallels Mark 14:66, Luke 22:55; John 18:15

And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.