Concise Bible Dictionary:
A place attached to the judgment-hall, where judgment was pronounced, speeches delivered, and so forth. It was on the βημα that Herod sat, when he made his oration (Matt. 27:19; John 19:13; Acts 12:21; Acts 18:12-17; Acts 25:6-17). The floor of this place was doubtless of tesselated stones, which accounts for its being called the PAVEMENT in John 19:13. In the Hebrew it was called GABBATHA, which signifies elevated or raised platform. In James 2:6 the word is κριτήριον. (For the judgment-seat of Christ, see JUDGMENT, No. 3.)
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
from 3559; or probably ident. with 8498; something arranged or fixed, i.e. a place