Roof

Most buildings in biblical times had flat roofs. With the hot climate, they had a wider range of uses than merely providing shelter for the building.

Uses of roofs

Shelter erected on the roof to make an extra room

2 Kings 4:10 See also 2 Samuel 16:22; Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 25:24

Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”

Guests lodged on the roof

Joshua 2:8 See also 1 Samuel 9:25–26

Before the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof

The roof used as a place for leisure and relaxation

2 Samuel 11:2 See also Daniel 4:29; Matthew 24:17 parallels Mark 13:15, Luke 17:31

One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing— a very beautiful woman.

The roof used as a place of religious observance

Nehemiah 8:16 See also 2 Kings 23:12; Jeremiah 19:13, Jeremiah 32:29; Zephaniah 1:5; Acts 10:9

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.

In cities, some roofs were open, public places

Isaiah 15:3 See also Judges 9:50–52; 2 Samuel 18:24; Jeremiah 48:38; Matthew 10:26–27 parallel Luke 12:2–3

In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping.

Roofs were usually constructed with a thick layer of clay

Mark 2:4 parallel Luke 5:19

Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.

Roof as a synonym for house

Matthew 8:8 parallel Luke 7:6

The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.