σκήνωμα
skḗnōma
G4638 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A dwelling place or habitation, particularly something temporary such as a tent or shelter; by extension, any temporary lodging or abode. In certain contexts, used metaphorically to denote the human body as the transient dwelling of the soul, or, less commonly, as a reference to the Temple as the (temporary) dwelling place of God. The term emphasizes impermanence and transience, distinguishing such dwellings from permanent structures.
Semantic Range
temporary dwelling, tent, portable habitation; tabernacle (portable sanctuary), human body as a temporary abode of the soul, temporary structure housing divinity or people
Root / Etymology
From the verb σκηνόω (skēnoō, 'to pitch a tent, dwell in a tent'), which itself is derived from σκηνή (skēnē, 'tent, tabernacle, hut, booth'). The suffix -ωμα forms abstract nouns indicating a state or result, thus 'the act of dwelling in a tent' or 'that which is dwelt in.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The noun σκήνωμα appears rarely in Greek literature, occurring primarily in Hellenistic and Koine sources. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it is used to translate Hebrew מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan)—the portable sanctuary or 'tabernacle' in the wilderness. In the New Testament (e.g., 2 Peter 1:13-14), it metaphorically refers to the human body as a temporary 'tabernacle' or dwelling, highlighting the transient nature of physical existence. While traditional English Bibles often render σκήνωμα as 'tabernacle,' 'tent,' or less often 'body,' these do not always convey the emphasis on temporariness. The term is distinct from σκηνή (which can refer generically to tents or booths, including festival shelters) and from ναός or οἶκος, which signal more permanent or sacred structures. The metaphorical use for the human body reflects a broader Hellenistic and Jewish tendency to speak of embodiment as a kind of temporary residency. Its usage declines after the early Christian period with later Greek preferring more specific terms for 'body' or 'temple.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from σκηνόω; an encampment, i.e. (figuratively) the Temple (as God's residence), the body (as a tenement for the soul):-- tabernacle.
Root Family
σκήνωμα (skēnōma) — tent, dwelling, shelter
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4638-03 |
σκηνώματός | skenomatos | N GEN N SG |
tabernacle | of the temporary dwelling | tent | 1 |
G4638-01 |
σκήνωμα | skenoma | N ACC N SG |
dwelling place | temporary dwelling | temporary dwelling | 1 |
G4638-02 |
σκηνώματι | skenomati | N DAT N SG |
tabernacle | in a temporary dwelling | tent | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4638-01 |
Acts 7:46 | σκήνωμα | skenoma | N ACC N SG |
dwelling place | temporary dwelling | temporary dwelling |
G4638-02 |
2 Peter 1:13 | σκηνώματι | skenomati | N DAT N SG |
tabernacle | in a temporary dwelling | tent |
G4638-03 |
2 Peter 1:14 | σκηνώματός | skenomatos | N GEN N SG |
tabernacle | of the temporary dwelling | tent |