אֹהֶל (H168) — Hebrew Lexicon

אֹהֶל

𐤀𐤄𐤋

ʼôhel

H168 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A portable shelter made of fabric or animal skins, used as a dwelling. It denotes a tent in the context of nomadic life, familial habitation, or as a ritual or sacred structure. The term encompasses temporary or semi-permanent dwellings for individuals, families, or groups, and includes both ordinary tents of everyday use and specialized cultic or sacred tents such as the sanctuary tent ('Tent of Meeting'). In poetic and metaphorical usage, often signifies habitation, presence, or domain.

Semantic Range

tent, portable dwelling, household (figurative), the 'Tent of Meeting' (cultic/sanctuary tent), tabernacle (traditional English term), habitation, presence (metaphorical), home, place of dwelling

Root / Etymology

From the root אָהַל (ʼāhal), meaning 'to tent' or 'dwell in a tent.' The noun אֹהֶל (ʼôhel) is formed from this root and refers to the object of dwelling—the tent itself. The root emphasizes the notion of portable, nomadic dwelling as distinct from fixed, built structures.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term אֹהֶל is foundational for understanding nomadic and semi-nomadic life in ancient Israel and its neighbors. It occurs frequently in narratives concerning the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) who are portrayed as tent-dwellers, marking the transient lifestyle of early Israelite clans. In the later literary and ritual traditions, particularly in the Pentateuch, אֹהֶל refers to the 'Tent of Meeting' (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ʼôhel môʿēd), the portable sanctuary utilized during the wilderness period and understood as the locus of divine presence and communication. In poetic literature, and the prophets, אֹהֶל can be used metaphorically for household, familial line, or the presence/domain of a group. In the post-exilic period, the term invokes ancestral tradition and is also contrasted with established, stone, or permanent buildings (e.g., houses or temples). English translations generally render it as 'tent,' 'tabernacle,' or, figuratively, 'dwelling,' but modern readers should note that 'tabernacle' (in reference to the 'Tent of Meeting') is traditional and specific to later ritual interpretation. The distinction between אֹהֶל and related words (e.g., סֻכָּה sukkah, a temporary shelter or booth; חָנָה ḥanah, to pitch camp) reflects nuances in permanence, function, and ritual significance. In earlier biblical periods, 'tent' indicates not only physical dwelling but also broader notions of lineage and community.

Translation Consistency

primary "tent" 32 occurrences

'Tent' is the natural, common English word for a portable fabric or skin dwelling and matches the majority of P2 renderings. It easily yields plural/possessive/inflected forms (tents, tent‑of‑, tented) and can be used figuratively (habitation, presence) or for the cultic Tent of Meeting/tabernacle without forcing a more formal term like 'tabernacle.' Choosing 'tent' maximizes consistency and naturalness across the SILEX semantic range.

Alternatives (18 occurrences):

"portable tent-dwelling" (14x) "tent-dwelling" (4x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אהל (Ohel) — to shine, to radiate, to emit light

Root אהל to tent, to dwell, to encamp

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H166	אָהַל	he will cause to shine
H167	אָהַל	and he pitched a tent
H169	אֹהֶל	Ohel
H170	אׇהֳלָה	Her Tent
H172	אׇהֳלִיבָה	My Tent in Her

Word Forms

52 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H168-42`	אֹֽהֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling	124
`H168-16`	בְּ/אֹ֖הֶל	beohel	`HR/Ncmsa`	in the tent	in a tent	in the tent	41
`H168-18`	הָ/אֹ֖הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the tent	the tent	the tent	41
`H168-29`	לְ/אֹהָלָֽי/ו	leohalayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	to his tents	to his tents	to his tents	12
`H168-07`	אָהֳל֑/וֹ	aholo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent-dwelling	his tent-dwelling	11
`H168-03`	אָהֳלֵ֥י	aholey	`HNcmpc`	tents of	tents of	tents of	9
`H168-32`	לְ/אֹ֥הֶל	leohel	`HR/Ncmsc`	for the tent	to a tent	to the tent	9
`H168-19`	הָ/אֹֽהֱלָ/ה	haohelah	`HTd/Ncmsa/Sd`	the tent	the tent	the tent	8
`H168-04`	אָהֳלֵי/הֶ֜ם	aholeyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their tents	their tents	their tents	7
`H168-14`	בְּ/אָהֳלֽ/וֹ	beaholo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his tent	in his tent	in his tent	7
`H168-10`	בָּ/אֹ֑הֶל	baohel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the tent	in the tent-dwelling	in the tent	5
`H168-13`	בְּ/אָ֣הֳלֵי/הֶ֔ם	beaholeyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	in their tents	in their tents	in their tents	5
`H168-06`	אָהֳלִ֣/י	aholi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my tent	my tent	my tent	4
`H168-12`	בְּ/אָֽהֳלֵי	beaholey	`HR/Ncmpc`	in the tents of	in tents of	in tents of	4
`H168-38`	מֵ/אֹ֥הֶל	meohel	`HR/Ncmsa`	from the tent	from a tent	from a tent	4
`H168-08`	אָהֳלֹֽ/ה	aholoh	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent-dwelling	his tent	3
`H168-24`	לָ/אֹ֑הֶל	laohel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	for the tent	to the tent	for the tent	3
`H168-31`	לְ/אֹהָלֶ֨י/ךָ֙	leohaleykha	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms`	to your tents	to your tents	to your tents	3
`H168-41`	אֹהָלִֽים	ohalim	`HNcmpa`	tents	tents	tents	3
`H168-09`	בָּ/אֳהָלִ֤ים	baohalim	`HR/Ncmpa`	in tents	in tents	in tents	2
`H168-11`	בְּ/אָהֳלֶ֑/ךָ	beaholekha	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms`	in your tent	in your tent	in your tent	2
`H168-15`	בְּ/אֹהָלֶֽי/ךָ	beohaleykha	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms`	in your tents	in your tents	in your tents	2
`H168-25`	לְ/אָהֳלֵי/הֶ֗ם	leaholeyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	to their tents	to their tents	to their tents	2
`H168-26`	לְ/אָהֳלֵי/כֶֽם	leaholeykhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp2mp`	to-tents-your_(pl)	to your tents	to your tents	2
`H168-28`	לְ/אָהֳל֔/וֹ	leaholo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	to his tent	to his tent	to his tent	2
`H168-33`	ל/אהל/ו	lhlv	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	to his tent	to his tent-dwelling	to his tent	2
`H168-43`	וּ/בְ/אֹ֣הֶל	uveohel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and into the tent	and in a tent	and into the tent	2
`H168-44`	בָ/אֳהָלִ֖ים	vaohalim	`HR/Ncmpa`	in tents	in tents	in tents	2
`H168-47`	וְ/אָהֳלֵי/הֶ֗ם	veaholeyhem	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	and-their-tents	their tents	and their tents	2
`H168-51`	וְ/אֹהָלִ֖ים	veohalim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and tents	and tents	and tents	2
`H168-52`	וְ/אֹ֖הֶל	veohel	`HC/Ncmsc`	and tent	and tent of	and tent of	2
`H168-01`	אָהֳלֶ֑/ךָ	aholekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	your tent	your tent	your tent	1
`H168-02`	אָהֳלֵ֗/ךְ	aholekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp2fs`	of your tent	your tent	your tent	1
`H168-05`	אָֽהֳלֵי/כֶם֙	aholeykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	your tents	your tents	your tents	1
`H168-17`	הָ/אָֽהֳלִ֖/י	haaholi	`HTd/Ncmsc/Sp1cs`	my tent	my tent	my tent	1
`H168-20`	אהל/ה	hlh	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent	his tent	1
`H168-21`	כָּ/אֹ֖הֶל	kaohel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like-a-tent	like a tent	like a tent	1
`H168-22`	כְּ/אָהֳלֵ֣י	keaholey	`HR/Ncmpc`	like the tents of	like tents of	like the tents of	1
`H168-23`	כְּ/אֹ֣הֶל	keohel	`HR/Ncmsc`	like a tent	like a tent of	like a tent	1
`H168-27`	לְ/אָהֳלִֽ/י	leaholi	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs`	to my tent	to my tent	to my tent	1
`H168-30`	לְ/אֹהָלֶֽ/ךָ	leohalekha	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms`	to your tent	to your tent	to your tent	1
`H168-34`	מֵ/אָהֳלֶֽ/ךָ	meaholekha	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms`	far from your tents	your tent	from your tent	1
`H168-35`	מֵ/אָהֳלֵ֖י	meaholey	`HR/Ncmpc`	from tents of	from tents of	from tents of	1
`H168-36`	מֵ/אָ֣הֳלֵי/הֶ֔ם	meaholeyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	from their tents	from their tents	from their tents	1
`H168-37`	מֵ֭/אָהֳל/וֹ	meaholo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	from his tent	from his tent	from his tent	1
`H168-39`	אֹהָלַ֔/י	ohalay	`HNcmpc/Sp1cs`	my tents	my tents	my tents	1
`H168-40`	אֹהָלֶ֖י/ךָ	ohaleykha	`HNcmpc/Sp2ms`	your tents	your tent-dwellings	your tents	1
`H168-45`	בָ/אֹֽהֶל	vaohel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the tent	tent-dwelling	in the tent	1
`H168-46`	בְ֭/אָהָלְ/ךָ	veahalekha	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms`	in Your tent	in your tent-dwelling	in your tent-dwelling	1
`H168-48`	בְ/אָהֳלֵי/כֶם֙	veaholeykhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp2mp`	in-your-tents	in your tents	in your tents	1
`H168-49`	בְ֭/אָהֳל/וֹ	veaholo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in His tent	in his tent-dwelling	in his tent	1
`H168-50`	וְ/הָ/אֹ֑הֶל	vehaohel	`HC/Td/Ncmsa`	and the tent	and the tent	and the tent	1

Occurrences in Scripture

348 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H168-42`	Genesis 4:20	אֹ֖הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsa`	in tents	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-08`	Genesis 9:21	אָהֳלֹֽ/ה	aholoh	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent-dwelling	his tent
`H168-12`	Genesis 9:27	בְּ/אָֽהֳלֵי	beaholey	`HR/Ncmpc`	in the tents of	in tents of	in tents of
`H168-08`	Genesis 12:8	אָהֳלֹ֑/ה	aholoh	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent-dwelling	his tent
`H168-20`	Genesis 13:3	אהל/ה	hlh	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent	his tent
`H168-07`	Genesis 13:3	אָֽהֳל/וֹ֙	aholo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`		his tent-dwelling	his tent-dwelling
`H168-51`	Genesis 13:5	וְ/אֹהָלִֽים	veohalim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and tents	and tents	and tents
`H168-18`	Genesis 18:1	הָ/אֹ֖הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-18`	Genesis 18:2	הָ/אֹ֔הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-19`	Genesis 18:6	הָ/אֹ֖הֱלָ/ה	haohelah	`HTd/Ncmsa/Sd`	the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-45`	Genesis 18:9	בָ/אֹֽהֶל	vaohel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the tent	tent-dwelling	in the tent
`H168-18`	Genesis 18:10	הָ/אֹ֖הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-19`	Genesis 24:67	הָ/אֹ֨הֱלָ/ה֙	haohelah	`HTd/Ncmsa/Sd`	into the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-41`	Genesis 25:27	אֹהָלִֽים	ohalim	`HNcmpa`	in tents	tents	tents
`H168-07`	Genesis 26:25	אָהֳל֑/וֹ	aholo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent-dwelling	his tent-dwelling
`H168-07`	Genesis 31:25	אָהֳל/וֹ֙	aholo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent-dwelling	his tent-dwelling
`H168-16`	Genesis 31:33	בְּ/אֹ֥הֶל	beohel	`HR/Ncmsc`	into the tent	in a tent	into the tent
`H168-43`	Genesis 31:33	וּ/בְ/אֹ֣הֶל	uveohel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and into the tent	and in a tent	and into the tent
`H168-43`	Genesis 31:33	וּ/בְ/אֹ֛הֶל	uveohel-2	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and into the tent	and in a tent	and into the tent
`H168-38`	Genesis 31:33	מֵ/אֹ֣הֶל	meohel	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the tent	from a tent	from the tent
`H168-16`	Genesis 31:33	בְּ/אֹ֥הֶל	beohel-2	`HR/Ncmsc`	into the tent	in a tent	into the tent
`H168-18`	Genesis 31:34	הָ/אֹ֖הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-07`	Genesis 33:19	אָהֳל֔/וֹ	aholo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent-dwelling	his tent-dwelling
`H168-08`	Genesis 35:21	אָֽהֳלֹ֔/ה	aholoh	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his tent	his tent-dwelling	his tent
`H168-14`	Exodus 16:16	בְּ/אָהֳל֖/וֹ	beaholo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his tent	in his tent	in his tent
`H168-19`	Exodus 18:7	הָ/אֹֽהֱלָ/ה	haohelah	`HTd/Ncmsa/Sd`	into the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-32`	Exodus 26:7	לְ/אֹ֖הֶל	leohel	`HR/Ncmsa`	for a tent	to a tent	to a tent
`H168-18`	Exodus 26:9	הָ/אֹֽהֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-18`	Exodus 26:11	הָ/אֹ֖הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-18`	Exodus 26:12	הָ/אֹ֑הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-18`	Exodus 26:13	הָ/אֹ֑הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-24`	Exodus 26:14	לָ/אֹ֔הֶל	laohel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	for the tent	to the tent	for the tent
`H168-18`	Exodus 26:36	הָ/אֹ֔הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-16`	Exodus 27:21	בְּ/אֹ֣הֶל	beohel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the tent	in a tent	in the tent
`H168-42`	Exodus 28:43	אֹ֣הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 29:4	אֹ֣הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	of the tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 29:10	אֹ֣הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 29:11	אֹ֥הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	of the tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 29:30	אֹ֥הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 29:32	אֹ֥הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	of the tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 29:42	אֹֽהֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	of the tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 29:44	אֹ֥הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 30:16	אֹ֣הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 30:18	אֹ֤הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	the tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 30:20	אֹ֧הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	the tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-42`	Exodus 30:26	אֹ֣הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-16`	Exodus 30:36	בְּ/אֹ֣הֶל	beohel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the tent	in a tent	in the tent
`H168-42`	Exodus 31:7	אֹ֣הֶל	ohel	`HNcmsc`	the tent	portable tent-dwelling	portable tent-dwelling
`H168-18`	Exodus 31:7	הָ/אֹֽהֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the tent	the tent	the tent
`H168-18`	Exodus 33:7	הָ/אֹ֜הֶל	haohel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	tent	the tent	the tent

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