The Greek noun doma refers to a flat roof or housetop — standard in Mediterranean architecture, where the flat roof served as an outdoor living area for drying goods, sleeping, prayer, and socializing. Several pivotal Gospel events occur on or reference the doma.
The doma is the site of significant biblical actions. Friends lower a paralyzed man through the roof (doma context, Mark 2:4; Luke 5:19) to reach Jesus. Peter receives his vision of the clean and unclean animals while praying on a rooftop (Acts 10:9). Jesus warns that in the last days, those on the housetop should not come down to get their possessions (Matthew 24:17) — the urgency of the end leaves no time for earthly attachment. What is whispered in the ear is to be proclaimed from the housetop (Matthew 10:27; Luke 12:3) — the Gospel cannot be hidden.