מִשְׁכָּן
𐤌𐤔𐤊𐤍
mishkân
H4908 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A dwelling place or abode, especially a designated structure or space intended for habitation. In biblical contexts, most frequently used to refer to the portable sanctuary or shrine constructed by the Israelites in the wilderness, serving as the locus of divine presence. The term encompasses both ordinary dwellings and, in ritual contexts, the sacred Tabernacle. In rare instances, may refer generically to lairs, shelters, or the abode of animals.
Semantic Range
habitation, dwelling, abode, lair (of animals), shelter, the Tabernacle (portable sanctuary), place of divine presence; rarely, grave (as a dwelling place of the dead)
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁכַן (sh-k-n), 'to settle, dwell, inhabit, reside.' The noun מִשְׁכָּן formed with the nominal prefix מִ־ and the root gives the sense of 'place of dwelling' or 'habitation.' The lexical meaning reflects a settled habitation, whether ordinary or sacred.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מִשְׁכָּן is most prominently used in the context of the Tabernacle—the portable sanctuary designed according to divine command in Exodus (Exod 25–40), central to Israelite worship prior to the construction of the permanent Temple in Jerusalem. In these contexts, the word distinguishes the sacred structure from other temporary shelters such as tents (אֹהֶל, ohel). Over time, מִשְׁכָּן became closely associated with the concept of the divine presence (שְׁכִינָה, Shekhinah, a later term), though מִשְׁכָּן itself in the biblical period primarily indicated the physical sanctuary. While the Masoretic text and ancient translations sometimes render it as 'tabernacle' or 'dwelling,' English translations often constrain it to refer to the wilderness sanctuary, which may obscure its broader possible referential range. The Septuagint typically translates מִשְׁכָּן as σκηνή (skēnē, tent), which can both clarify and broaden the sense, since both mobile and fixed displays of divine presence came to be associated with the term. Later Jewish tradition and Christian translations may reflect this narrowing and spiritualization of meaning. Outside priestly and cultic texts, the term is rare, and when it does occur, it can refer to a generic abode, shelter, or habitation, contrasting with terms such as אֹהֶל (tent of nomads) or בַּיִת (permanent house).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁכַן; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls); dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שכן (sh-k-n) — to settle, dwell, inhabit, reside
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4907 | מִשְׁכַּן | his dwelling-place |
| H7931 | שָׁכַן | in dwelling |
| H7932 | שְׁכַן | he caused to dwell |
| H7933 | שֶׁכֶן | to his dwelling-place |
| H7934 | שָׁכֵן | the resident women |
Word Forms
22 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4908-01 |
הַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֔ן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
the tabernacle | the dwelling-place | 76 |
H4908-06 |
מִשְׁכַּ֣ן | mishekan | HNcmsc |
tabernacle | dwelling of | 24 |
H4908-02 |
לַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֑ן | lamishekan | HRd/Ncmsa |
for the tabernacle | to the dwelling-place | 9 |
H4908-12 |
מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת | mishekenot | HNcmpc |
dwellings | dwelling-places of | 4 |
H4908-07 |
מִשְׁכָּנִ֖/י | mishekani | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my-dwelling-place | my dwelling-place | 3 |
H4908-16 |
מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖י/ךָ | mishekenoteykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
are your dwelling places | your dwelling-places | 3 |
H4908-04 |
לְ/מִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽי/ו | lemishekenotayv | HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
their dwellings | to his dwelling-places | 2 |
H4908-20 |
וּ/מִשְׁכְּנֹתָ֖י/ו | umishekenotayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and his dwellings | and his dwelling-places | 2 |
H4908-03 |
לְ/מִשְׁכַּ֣ן | lemishekan | HR/Ncmsc |
the dwellings of | to a dwelling-place of | 2 |
H4908-09 |
מִשְׁכָּנ֥וֹת | mishekanot | HNcmpa |
dwelling places | dwelling-places | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
139 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4908-01 |
Exodus 25:9 | הַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֔ן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the tabernacle | the dwelling-place |
H4908-01 |
Exodus 26:1 | הַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֥ן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
tabernacle | the dwelling-place |
H4908-01 |
Exodus 26:6 | הַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֖ן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
the tabernacle | the dwelling-place |
H4908-01 |
Exodus 26:7 | הַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֑ן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
the tabernacle | the dwelling-place |
H4908-01 |
Exodus 26:12 | הַ/מִּשְׁכָּֽן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the tabernacle | the dwelling-place |
H4908-01 |
Exodus 26:13 | הַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֛ן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the tabernacle | the dwelling-place |
H4908-02 |
Exodus 26:15 | לַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֑ן | lamishekan | HRd/Ncmsa |
for the tabernacle | to the dwelling-place |
H4908-01 |
Exodus 26:17 | הַ/מִּשְׁכָּֽן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
the tabernacle | the dwelling-place |
H4908-02 |
Exodus 26:18 | לַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֑ן | lamishekan | HRd/Ncmsa |
for the tabernacle | to the dwelling-place |
H4908-01 |
Exodus 26:20 | הַ/מִּשְׁכָּ֛ן | hamishekan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the tabernacle | the dwelling-place |