Temple vs. Synagogue — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
"Temple" is a place of worship used in various religions, while "Synagogue" is a Jewish place of worship and community gathering.
Difference Between Temple and Synagogue
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The term "Temple" possesses a broad scope, encompassing places of worship for numerous religions, from ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks to modern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. Conversely, "Synagogue" is specific to Judaism, serving as both a place of prayer and community gathering.
When we dive deeper into the "Temple", its significance varies depending on the religious context. In ancient times, temples often housed deities' statues and were sites for sacrifices. In contemporary religions like Hinduism, a temple remains a sacred abode of deities. On the flip side, a "Synagogue" is devoid of idol worship and is principally centered around the Torah, the central reference of the religious Judaic tradition.
"Temple" can also represent the ancient temples of Jerusalem, pivotal in Jewish history and faith. This iteration aligns the term closer to "Synagogue" in the context of Judaism, though their functions and structures differ. The Synagogue's core is its regular reading of the Torah, accompanied by prayers and psalms.
In various religions, a "Temple" often assumes a central role in religious rites, ceremonies, and festivals. Its architecture, size, and grandeur can vary greatly across cultures and religions. A "Synagogue", characterized by its Ark holding the Torah scrolls and its pulpit for readings, offers a consistent architectural pattern, emphasizing functionality over grandiosity.
Lastly, while "Temple" can also colloquially refer to church buildings in the Christian Latter-Day Saint movement, the term "Synagogue" remains steadfast in its association with Jewish places of worship and study, underlining its unique identity in religious contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Religious Affiliation
Multiple religions.
Judaism.
Primary Use
Worship, rituals, ceremonies.
Worship, Torah reading, community gathering.
Idol Worship
Present in some (e.g., Hindu temples).
Absent.
Architectural Consistency
Varies widely across religions.
Fairly consistent.
Historical Context
Ancient structures, various civilizations.
Jewish community and worship since antiquity.
Compare with Definitions
Temple
In Judaism, it refers specifically to the ancient holy temples in Jerusalem.
The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE.
Synagogue
The Jewish equivalent to a church or mosque in terms of religious functions.
Many Jewish holidays are celebrated in the synagogue.
Temple
In the Latter-Day Saint movement, a sacred building for special religious ceremonies.
They went to the temple for their sealing ceremony.
Synagogue
A Jewish place of worship and community gathering.
Every Sabbath, they attended the local synagogue.
Temple
A temple (from the Latin templum) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Islam (whose temples are called mosques), Judaism (whose temples are called synagogues), and ancient religions such as the Ancient Egyptian religion.
Synagogue
The central place for Jewish liturgical practices.
Cantors often lead the singing and chanting in the synagogue.
Temple
A building devoted to the worship of a god or gods.
Synagogue
A building where the Torah is read and studied.
The synagogue had a beautiful Ark containing the Torah scrolls.
Temple
A group of buildings in Fleet Street, London, which stand on land formerly occupied by the headquarters of the Knights Templar. Located there are the Inner and Outer Temple, two of the Inns of Court.
Synagogue
A synagogue (; from Ancient Greek συναγωγή, synagogē, 'assembly'; Hebrew: בית כנסת beit knesset, 'house of assembly', or בית תפילה beit tfila, "house of prayer"; Yiddish: שול shul, Ladino: אשנוגה esnoga, 'bright as fire'; or קהל kahal) is a Jewish or rarely Samaritan house of worship. Synagogues have a place for prayer (the main sanctuary) and may also have rooms for study, a social hall, and offices.
Temple
The flat part of either side of the head between the forehead and the ear
A man with curly hair greying at the temples
Synagogue
A building or place of meeting for worship and religious instruction in the Jewish faith.
Temple
A device in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched.
Synagogue
A congregation of Jews for the purpose of worship or religious study.
Temple
A building dedicated to religious ceremonies or worship.
Synagogue
The Jewish religion as organized or typified in local congregations.
Temple
Temple Either of two successive buildings in ancient Jerusalem serving as the primary center for Jewish worship.
Synagogue
A place of worship for Jews or Samaritans.
Temple
(Judaism) A synagogue, especially of a Reform congregation.
Synagogue
A congregation of Jews or Samaritans for the purpose of worship or religious study.
Temple
Mormon Church A building in which the sacred ordinances are administered.
Synagogue
A congregation or assembly of Jews met for the purpose of worship, or the performance of religious rites.
Temple
Something regarded as having within it a divine presence.
Synagogue
The building or place appropriated to the religious worship of the Jews.
Temple
A building used for meetings by any of several fraternal orders, such as the Freemasons.
Synagogue
The council of, probably, 120 members among the Jews, first appointed after the return from the Babylonish captivity; - called also the Great Synagogue, and sometimes, though erroneously, the Sanhedrin.
Temple
A building reserved for a highly valued function
The library, a temple of learning.
Synagogue
A congregation in the early Christian church.
My brethren, . . . if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring.
Temple
Temple Either of two groups of buildings in London, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, that house two of the four Inns of Court and that occupy the site of a complex used by the medieval Knights Templars.
Synagogue
Any assembly of men.
Temple
The flat region on either side of the forehead.
Synagogue
(Judaism) the place of worship for a Jewish congregation
Temple
Either of the sidepieces of a frame for eyeglasses that extends along the temple and over the ear.
Synagogue
A place for Jewish educational and community events.
The children attended Hebrew school at the synagogue.
Temple
A device in a loom that keeps the cloth stretched to the correct width during weaving.
Temple
A house of worship, especially:
Temple
A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith.
The temple of Zeus was very large.
Temple
(Judaism) synagogue, especially a non-Orthodox synagogue.
How often do you go to temple?
Temple
(Mormonism) As opposed to an LDS meetinghouse, a church closed to non-Mormons and necessary for particular rituals.
Temple
(in Japan) A Buddhist monastery, as opposed to a Shinto shrine.
Temple
A meeting house of the Oddfellows fraternity; its members.
Temple
(figurative) Any place regarded as holding a religious presence.
Temple
(figurative) Any place seen as an important centre for some activity.
A temple of commerce;
A temple of drinking and dining
Temple
(figurative) Anything regarded as important or minutely cared for.
My body is my temple.
Temple
(figurative) A gesture wherein the forefingers are outstretched and touch pad to pad while the other fingers are clasped together.
Temple
(anatomy) The slightly flatter region, on either side of the human head, behind of the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch, and forward of the ear.
Temple
(ophthalmology) Either of the sidepieces on a set of spectacles, extending backwards from the hinge toward the ears and, usually, turning down around them.
Temple
(weaving) A contrivance used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.
Temple
(transitive) To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; to temple a god
Temple
A contrivence used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.
Temple
The space, on either side of the head, back of the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch and in front of the ear.
Temple
One of the side bars of a pair of spectacles, jointed to the bows, and passing one on either side of the head to hold the spectacles in place.
Temple
A place or edifice dedicated to the worship of some deity; as, the temple of Jupiter at Athens, or of Juggernaut in India.
Temple
The edifice erected at Jerusalem for the worship of Jehovah.
Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Temple
Hence, among Christians, an edifice erected as a place of public worship; a church.
Can he whose life is a perpetual insult to the authority of God enter with any pleasure a temple consecrated to devotion and sanctified by prayer?
Temple
Fig.: Any place in which the divine presence specially resides.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?
The groves were God's first temples.
Temple
A building dedicated to the administration of ordinances.
Temple
A local organization of Odd Fellows.
Temple
To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; as, to temple a god.
Temple
Place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
Temple
The flat area on either side of the forehead;
The veins in his temple throbbed
Temple
An edifice devoted to special or exalted purposes
Temple
(Judaism) the place of worship for a Jewish congregation
Temple
A building dedicated to religious activities in various cultures and religions.
The ancient temple was a marvel of architecture.
Temple
A place where a deity or deities are worshiped.
The temple was filled with devotees during the festival.
Temple
A symbolic or metaphorical place of spiritual importance.
The human body is often considered a temple of the soul.
Common Curiosities
What is a Temple generally used for?
A "Temple" is a place of worship in various religions.
What distinguishes a Synagogue?
A "Synagogue" is specifically a Jewish place of worship and community gathering.
Can Temple refer to a Christian place of worship?
In the context of the Latter-Day Saint movement, "Temple" can refer to specific church buildings.
Are Synagogues exclusive to any particular Jewish denomination?
No, Synagogues are found across various Jewish denominations.
Were there historical Temples significant to Judaism?
Yes, notably the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.
Do Temples always have the same architecture?
No, "Temple" architectures vary widely across religions and cultures.
Is music a part of Synagogue services?
Yes, music, particularly chanting and singing, is integral to many Synagogue services.
Do all Temples have idols?
No, while some temples, like Hindu temples, have idols, others, including the Jewish Temples of Jerusalem, did not.
Is the Torah central to a Synagogue?
Yes, the Torah's reading is a primary function of the Synagogue.
Are community events held in a Synagogue?
Yes, Synagogues often host educational and community events.
What's a common feature inside a Synagogue?
An Ark containing Torah scrolls is a defining feature of Synagogues.
Can a Temple be metaphorical?
Yes, sometimes "Temple" represents something symbolic, like the body being a temple of the soul.
Can Temples be places of pilgrimage?
Yes, many Temples, such as those in Hinduism, serve as pilgrimage sites.
How is a Synagogue different from a church or mosque?
While all are places of worship, a Synagogue is specific to Judaism and emphasizes the Torah reading.
Are there dress codes for entering Temples or Synagogues?
Dress codes vary, but modest attire is generally recommended for both.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
