Praetorium*, Praetorian Guard* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Term appearing in the Greek NT in Mark 15:16; Matthew 27:27; John 18:28, 33 OET JHN 18:28 · OET JHN 18:33; 19:9; Acts 23:35; and Philippians 1:13. It is a Latin word borrowed from the Romans, who dominated the Mediterranean world in NT times. It was used primarily in military and governmental affairs. Originally it designated the tent of the general (praetor) in a military encampment. The meaning was extended to include the residence of a governor or other Roman official, as, for example, that of Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea. In looser usage the term may also have referred to a part of the residence—for instance, the barracks of the soldiers.

Show passage in OET: MRK 15:16

OET-RV MRK 15:16

16 So the soldiers led Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) inside the palace that was the governor’s residence, and called in the rest of the battalion.

OET-LV MRK 15:16

16 And the soldiers led_ him _away within the palace, that is the_residence _of _the _governor, and they _are _calling _together all the cohort.

Show passage in OET: MAT 27:27

OET-RV MAT 27:27

27 The governor’s soldiers took Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) to the courtyard of his residence and called together all the soldiers in the unit.

OET-LV MAT 27:27

27 Then the soldiers of _the governor, having _taken the Yaʸsous to the residence _of _the _governor, gathered _together all the cohort before him.

Show passage in OET: JHN 18:28; JHN 18:33

OET-RV JHN 18:28

28 Then they led Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) out from Kayafa’ (Caiaphas’; Grk. Kaiafas’) place and towards the residence of the governor. It was now the early hours of the morning and as Yehudim (Jews), they didn’t enter the residence of the Roman governor so they wouldn’t become defiled and thus unable to eat the Passover meal.

OET-RV JHN 18:33

33 So Pilatos went back into his governor’s residence and called for Yeshua and asked him, “So you’re the king of the Yehudim?”

OET-LV JHN 18:28

28 Therefore they _are _leading the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) from the Kaiafas into the residence _of _the _governor, and it _was early.
And they not came _in into the residence _of _the _governor, in _order _that they _may_ not _be _defiled, but they _may _eat the passover_feast.

OET-LV JHN 18:33

33 Therefore the Pilatos came _in again into the residence _of _the _governor, and he _called the Yaʸsous and said to _him:
Are you the king of _the Youdaiōns?

Show passage in OET: JHN 19:9

OET-RV JHN 19:9

9 So he went back inside the residence and asked Yeshua, “Where do you come from?”
¶ But Yeshua didn’t answer him.

OET-LV JHN 19:9

9 And he _came _in into the residence _of _the _governor again, and is _saying to_ the _Yaʸsous:
From _where are you?
But the Yaʸsous not gave an_answer to _him.

Show passage in OET: ACT 23:35

OET-RV ACT 23:35

35 ⇔Then he ordered Paulos to be kept under guard in the prison in Herodes’s (Herod’s) palace until he would hear from him in the future once his accusers got there.

OET-LV ACT 23:35

35 he _was _saying I _will _be _thoroughly _hearing from _you:
whenever also the accusers of _you may _arrive, having _commanded for _him to _be _being _guarded in the residence _of _the _governor the of _Haʸrōdaʸs.

Show passage in OET: PHP 1:13

OET-RV PHP 1:13

13 in that my being in chains because of Messiah, has become known in the governor’s residence and to all the rest.

OET-LV PHP 1:13

13 so _as the bonds of _me manifest in chosen _one /messiah to _become, in all the residence _of _the _governor and to _the rest all,

Jump to OET MRK 15:16 section.

Jump to OET MAT 27:27 section.

Jump to OET JHN 18:28 section. · OET JHN 18:33 section.

Jump to OET JHN 19:9 section.

Jump to OET ACT 23:35 section.

Jump to OET PHP 1:13 section.

In English translations of the NT, the variety of terms used by translators indicates the uncertainty about the specific reference. The general reference to the headquarters of the Roman representative and military force is clear, however. According to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, the praetorium was the location of the Roman soldiers’ mocking of Jesus after his appearance before Pilate. Mark also calls this place a “palace” (rsv) or “courtyard” (neb, tev). According to the Gospel of John, the “praetorium” was the place within which Pilate examined Jesus about the charges brought against him. He went outside the praetorium to meet with the accusers who brought the charges.

Within Jerusalem, two locations are possible for Pilate’s headquarters. One is the fortress known as the Tower of Antonia at the northwest corner of the temple area. The other is the old palace of Herod the Great, in the western part of the city. Either one could have served as the praetorium, but the Gospel sources identify neither by name or description.

In Acts 23:35, on the other hand, the praetorium in which Paul is held in Caesarea (pending the arrival of his accusers) is called “Herod’s praetorium.” This probably means that the procurator Felix (and his predecessors) had taken over the old official residence of King Herod as their coastal headquarters.

The location of Paul’s imprisonment at the time he wrote to the Philippians is not clear. His mention of the “praetorium” in Philippians 1:13 suggests some center of Roman government. The phrase “the whole praetorium,” however, indicates that in this context he was referring to the personnel rather than to a building or a place. Recent translations reflect this meaning: “the whole praetorian guard” (rsv); “all at headquarters” (neb); “all the soldiers in the palace guard” (NLT).