Greek word · G4637

σκηνόω

skēnoō

to dwell

To pitch a tent, live in a tent, take up residence, dwell (BDAG s.v. σκηνόω). The verb is formed from skēnē and keeps the image of tenting.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

σκηνόω, -ῶ

(σκηνή), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁכַן ;]

to have one's tabernacle, to dwell (in π. of temporary dwelling, see MM, Exp., xxii): before ἐπί, with accusative of person(s), Revelation 7:15; before ἐν, with dative of person(s), John 1:14; id. with dative loc., Revelation 12:12 13:6; before μετά, with genitive of person(s), Revelation 21:3 (cf. ἐπι-, κατα-σκηνόω).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 21:3

Range of meaning

To pitch a tent, live in a tent, take up residence, dwell (BDAG s.v. σκηνόω). The verb is formed from skēnē and keeps the image of tenting.

Against the English

Almost every English version says 'dwell' or 'live'. YLT alone keeps the wordplay: 'the tabernacle of God… He will tabernacle with them.' The Greek pairing of noun and verb (tent / will tent) disappears in most translations.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the verb appears only in John 1:14 ('the Word became flesh and tented among us') and in Revelation: 7:15 (the one on the throne 'will spread his tent over them'), 12:12 and 13:6 (those who 'tent' in heaven). The Septuagint uses the compound kataskēnoō for God's dwelling among his people, e.g. Zechariah 2:14 [Eng. 2:10], 'I will dwell in your midst'.

From the study of John 1:14

Range of meaning

To pitch a tent, to live in a tent; more broadly to settle, take up residence (BDAG: 'live, settle, take up residence').

Against the English

'Dwelt' (KJV, ESV), 'lived' (WEB) and 'made his home' (NLT) are accurate but plain. YLT's 'did tabernacle' and the BSB/NIV's 'made his dwelling' come closer to the picture.

How it drifted

The ordinary English verb loses the root word skēnē (tent, tabernacle), so the link to Israel's tabernacle disappears for the English reader.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX the tabernacle is the skēnē (Exod 25:8–9; 40:34–35, where the cloud covers the tent and glory fills it). Promises of God's coming presence use the related verb: 'I will dwell (kataskēnōsō) in your midst' (Zech 2:10 LXX); 'my dwelling (kataskēnōsis) will be with them' (Ezek 37:27 LXX). In Sirach 24:8 Wisdom is told, 'Pitch your tent (kataskēnōson) in Jacob.' In the New Testament the verb appears only here and in Revelation (7:15; 12:12; 13:6; 21:3: 'the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will tabernacle with them'). Many commentators also point out that the consonants s-k-n sound like the Hebrew root sh-k-n ('to dwell'), from which later Jewish writers formed Shekinah, God's dwelling presence. That sound-link is suggestive, not proven.

From the study of Revelation 12:12

Range of meaning

To pitch a tent, encamp, dwell. In Jewish and Christian Greek it carries overtones of the tabernacle (skēnē), the tent where God lived among Israel.

Against the English

"Dwell" (BSB, KJV, WEB, most modern versions) is correct but loses the tabernacle picture. YLT's "do tabernacle" keeps it.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT it appears only in John 1:14 ("the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us") and Rev 7:15, 12:12, 13:6 and 21:3 ("God will tabernacle with them"). The Greek root s-k-n sounds like the Hebrew root š-k-n ("to dwell"), from which later Jewish tradition took Shekinah, God's dwelling presence. The match is often noted, though how much readers heard in it is debated.

Where it appears

John · 1

  1. John 1:14 ἐσκήνωσεν He dwelt

    The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Here: Built on skēnē, 'tent', the word the Greek Old Testament uses for the wilderness tabernacle. It pictures God setting up his tent-dwelling among his people again, now in a human life.

Revelation · 4

  1. Revelation 7:15 σκηνώσει will tabernacle

    For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

    Here: From skēnē, 'tent', the word used for Israel's wilderness tabernacle. Future tense. God will pitch his own dwelling-tent and live there as a sheltering presence. The verb calls up the tabernacle and the glory-cloud.

  2. Revelation 12:12 σκηνοῦντες. dwelling!

    Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”

    Here: Literally "tenting". It is the word for God's tabernacle presence. Those in heaven live where God lives. Contrast "those who dwell on the earth", Revelation's phrase for the hostile world.

  3. Revelation 13:6 σκηνοῦντας. dwelling.

    And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.

    Here: This is the verb of the noun 'tent': 'tenting' in God's tent. The present tense gives an ongoing state. Revelation uses the word only for God and those who belong to him (7:15; 12:12; 21:3). Its opposite is the stock phrase for the beast-worshippers, 'those who dwell on the earth'.

  4. Revelation 21:3 σκηνώσει He will tabernacle

    And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

    Here: The verb made from 'tent': 'he will pitch his tent, he will live in a tent.' A future verb. The noun-and-verb pair (tent… will tent) is a deliberate echo: God's tent is here, and he will live in it among them.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.