Encyclopedia entry
Tent
Disambiguation
The source enumerates 4 distinct subjects under Tent. Jump to one below, or read in order.
Tent (1)
#Heb. ‘ohel (Gen. 9:21, 27). This word is used also of a dwelling or habitation (1 Kings 8:66; Isa. 16:5; Jer. 4:20), and of the temple (Ezek. 41:1). When used of the tabernacle, as in 1 Kings 1:39, it denotes the covering of goat’s hair which was placed over the mishcan.
Tent (2)
#Heb. mishcan (Cant. 1:8), used also of a dwelling (Job 18:21; Ps. 87:2), the grave (Isa. 22:16; comp. 14:18), the temple (Ps. 46:4; 84:2; 132:5), and of the tabernacle (Ex. 25:9; 26:1; 40:9; Num. 1:50, 53; 10:11). When distinguished from ’ohel, it denotes the twelve interior curtains which lay upon the framework of the tabernacle (q.v.).
Tent (3)
#Heb. kubbah (Num. 25:8), a dome-like tent devoted to the impure worship of Baal-peor.
Tent (4)
#Heb. succah (2 Sam. 11:11), a tent or booth made of green boughs or branches (see Gen. 33:17; Lev. 23:34, 42; Ps. 18:11; Jonah 4:5; Isa. 4:6; Neh. 8:15-17, where the word is variously rendered).
Jubal was “the father of such as dwell in tents” (Gen. 4:20). The patriarchs were “dwellers in tents” (Gen. 9:21, 27; 12:8; 13:12; 26:17); and during their wilderness wanderings all Israel dwelt in tents (Ex. 16:16; Deut. 33:18; Josh. 7:24). Tents have always occupied a prominent place in Eastern life (1 Sam. 17:54; 2 Kings 7:7; Ps. 120:5; Cant. 1:5). Paul the apostle’s occupation was that of a tent-maker (Acts 18:3); i.e., perhaps a maker of tent cloth.
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
Among the leading characteristics of the nomad races, those two have always been numbered whose origin has been ascribed to Jabal the son of Lameth, (Genesis 4:20) viz., to be tent-dwellers and keepers of cattle. The same may be said of the forefathers of the Hebrew race; nor was it until the return into Canaan from Egypt that the Hebrews became inhabitants of cities. An Arab tent is called beit, “house;” its covering consists of stuff, about three quarters of a yard broad, made of black goat’s-hair, (Song of Solomon 1:5) laid parallel with the tent’s length. This is sufficient to resist the heaviest rain. The tent-poles or columns are usually nine in number, placed in three groups; but many tents have only one pole, others two or three. The ropes which hold the tent in its place are fastened, not to the tent-cover itself, but to loops consisting of a leathern thong tied to the ends of a stick, round which is twisted a piece of old cloth, which is itself sewed to the tent-cover. The ends of the tent-ropes are fastened to short sticks or pins, which are driven into the ground with a mallet. (Judges 4:21) Round the back and sides of the tent runs a piece of stuff removable at pleasure to admit air. The tent is divided into two apartments, separated by a carpet partition drawn across the middle of the tent and fastened to the three middle posts. When the pasture near an encampment is exhausted, the tents are taken down, packed on camels and removed. (Genesis 26:17,22,25; Isaiah 38:12) In choosing places for encampment, Arabs prefer the neighborhood of trees, for the sake of the shade and coolness which they afford. (Genesis 18:4,8)
In the Bible
279
Verses where Tent is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 6:32
They ministered with song before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. And they performed their duties according to the regulations given them.
- 1 Chronicles 9:19
Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives from the Korahites were assigned to guard the thresholds of the Tent, just as their fathers had been assigned to guard the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.
- 1 Chronicles 9:21
Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Chronicles 9:23
So they and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the Tent.
- 1 Chronicles 15:1
David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.
- 1 Chronicles 16:1
So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
+273 more verses naming Tent.
Scripture on Tent
138
See all 138 +−
- Judges 4Genesis 18Leviticus 4Leviticus 16Numbers 8Exodus 30Exodus 33Leviticus 8Numbers 3Numbers 16Joshua 7Exodus 36Exodus 38Exodus 39Leviticus 17Numbers 112 Chronicles 1Job 18Genesis 9Genesis 13Genesis 26Genesis 31Genesis 33Exodus 35Leviticus 1Leviticus 3Leviticus 6Leviticus 14Numbers 6Numbers 12Numbers 17Numbers 19Numbers 251 Kings 21 Chronicles 92 Corinthians 5Genesis 4Exodus 16Exodus 27Leviticus 9Leviticus 10Leviticus 15Numbers 1Numbers 2Numbers 7Numbers 9Deuteronomy 31Judges 5Judges 71 Samuel 172 Samuel 72 Samuel 201 Kings 82 Kings 71 Chronicles 17Psalms 78Song of Solomon 1Isaiah 16Isaiah 382 Peter 1Genesis 12Genesis 24Genesis 35Exodus 18Exodus 25Exodus 28Exodus 31Leviticus 12Leviticus 19Leviticus 23Leviticus 24Numbers 10Numbers 14Numbers 20Numbers 27Numbers 31Deuteronomy 33Joshua 18Joshua 19Judges 201 Samuel 21 Samuel 41 Samuel 132 Samuel 62 Samuel 112 Samuel 162 Samuel 182 Samuel 191 Kings 11 Chronicles 61 Chronicles 151 Chronicles 161 Chronicles 232 Chronicles 52 Chronicles 242 Chronicles 25Nehemiah 8Job 4Job 5Job 8Job 19Job 20Job 29Psalms 15Psalms 18Psalms 19Psalms 27Psalms 46Psalms 52Psalms 61Psalms 76Psalms 87Psalms 91Psalms 104Psalms 120Proverbs 14Isaiah 4Isaiah 13Isaiah 22Isaiah 33Isaiah 40Isaiah 54Jeremiah 4Jeremiah 10Jeremiah 37Jeremiah 49Lamentations 2Ezekiel 41Amos 9Jonah 4Zechariah 10Acts 15Acts 18
Entries that reference Tent
3
Tent references
16
Voices on Tent
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.