4634. skénopégia

Lexical Summary

skénopégia: Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths

Original Word: σκηνοπηγία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: skénopégia
Pronunciation: skay-no-PAY-ghee-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (skay-nop-ayg-ee'-ah)
KJV: tabernacles
NASB: feast of Booths
Word Origin: [from G4636 (σκήνος - tent) and G4078 (πήγνυμι - pitched)]

1. the Festival of Tabernacles (so called from the custom of erecting booths for temporary homes)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

tabernacles.

From skenos and pegnumi; the Festival of Tabernacles (so called from the custom of erecting booths for temporary homes) -- tabernacles.

see GREEK skenos

see GREEK pegnumi

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from skéné and pégnumi
Definition
the setting up of tents
NASB Translation
feast of Booths (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4634: σκηνοπηγία

σκηνοπηγία, σκηνοπηγίας, ἡ (σκηνή and πήγνυμι, cf. Hebrews 8:2);

1. the construction of a tabernacle or tabernacles: ἡ τῆς χελιδονος, the skill of the swallow in building its nest, Aristotle, h. a. 9, 7 (p. 612{b}, 22).

2. the feast of tabernacles: John 7:2. This festival was observed by the Jews yearly for seven days, beginning with the 15th of the month Tisri (i. e. approximately, Oct.; cf. BB. DD., under the word ), partly to perpetuate the memory of the time when their ancestors after leaving Egypt dwelt in tents on their way through the Arabian desert (Leviticus 23:43), partly as a season of festivity and joy on the completion of the harvest and the vintage (Deuteronomy 16:13) ('the feast of ingathering' (see below)). In celebrating the festival the Jews were accustomed to construct booths of the leafy branches of trees — either on the roofs or in the courts of their dwellings, or in the streets and squares (Nehemiah 8:15, 16), and to adorn them with flowers and fruits of all kinds (Leviticus 23:40) — under which, throughout the period of the festival, they feasted and gave themselves up to rejoicing. This feast is called הַסֻּכּות חַג (ἡ) ἑορτή (τῆς) σκηνοπηγίας, Deuteronomy 16:16; Deuteronomy 31:10; Zechariah 14:16, 18; 1 Esdr. 5:50 (51); 1 Macc. 10:21; Josephus, Antiquities 4, 8, 12; (ἡ) ἑορτή (τῶν) σκηνῶν, Leviticus 23:34; Deuteronomy 16:13; (2 Chronicles 8:13; Ezra 3:4); 2 Macc. 10:6; σκηναί, Philo de septenar. § 24; ἡ σκηνοπηγία, 2 Macc. 1:9, 18; once (twice) (Exodus 23:16; (Exodus 34:22)) הַאָסִיף חַג, i. e. 'the feast of ingathering' namely, of fruits. (Cf. BB. DD. (especially Ginsburg in Alex.'s Kitto); Edersheim, The Temple, chapter xiv.)

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence

John 7:2 contains the sole New Testament use of σκηνοπηγία (skēnopēgia): “However, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near.” (John 7:2). The verse serves as the narrative setting for a major block of Johannine teaching, anchoring the life-giving revelations of Jesus to Israel’s last great pilgrimage feast.

Old Testament Foundations

• Institution: Leviticus 23:33-44 commands a seven-day feast beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, with an additional closing assembly on the eighth day. Israel was to dwell in booths constructed from “branches of palms, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook” (Leviticus 23:40).
• Historical memory: “so that your generations may know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 23:43).
• Agricultural setting: called “the Feast of Ingathering” (Exodus 23:16) because it celebrated the completion of the harvest of grapes and olives.

Ritual and Calendar

1. Pilgrimage: One of three annual feasts requiring the nation to appear before the LORD in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16).
2. Daily sacrifices: Numbers 29:12-34 prescribes an unparalleled number of offerings, underscoring the feast’s climactic character.
3. Water-drawing ceremony (Second Temple era): Priests carried water from the Pool of Siloam to the altar, praying for rain.
4. Illumination of the Court of Women: Four towering lampstands turned the city into a beacon after dark, commemorating the pillar of fire in the wilderness.

The Feast in Israel’s Story

• Temple dedication: Solomon chose Tabernacles for the consecration of the first temple (1 Kings 8:2, 65).
• Restoration under Ezra and Nehemiah: “The whole assembly who had returned from exile made booths… and there was very great rejoicing” (Nehemiah 8:17).
• Eschatological hope: Zechariah 14:16-19 foresees all nations coming up to Jerusalem annually “to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.”

Second Temple and First-Century Observance

By the time the Gospel of John was written, σκηνοπηγία had become the most joyous week of the Jewish year, featuring:
• Extensive pilgrim crowds, temporary shelters on rooftops and streets, and nightly music.
• Messianic overtones, as prayers for rain and light invited reflection on divine provision and future glory.

Christological Fulfillment

1. Presence: The Word “tabernacled” (ἐσκήνωσεν) among us (John 1:14), echoing the booths that proclaimed God’s dwelling with Israel.
2. Living water: On the last and greatest day of the feast Jesus cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37-38), identifying Himself as the true source anticipated by the water-drawing rite.
3. Light of the world: In the context of the illuminated courtyard Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), surpassing the ritual lamps that brightened Jerusalem.

Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions

• Universal worship: Zechariah 14 envisions nations ascending to Jerusalem, signaling the worldwide recognition of the King.
• Final dwelling: “He will spread His tabernacle over them” (Revelation 7:15, cf. Revelation 21:3). The earthly booths point forward to God’s permanent presence with His redeemed people.

Theological Themes

• Divine provision: remembers both wilderness sustenance and ongoing agricultural blessing.
• Joyful obedience: “You shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days” (Leviticus 23:40).
• Unity: one feast, one city, one people—fulfilled ultimately in the multinational church gathered to Christ.

Ministry Implications Today

• Celebration of God’s faithful presence encourages believers to trust His care in present pilgrimage.
• The feast’s imagery enriches preaching on John 7–8, Revelation 7, and Revelation 21, linking Old and New Testament revelation.
• Calls the church to anticipate the consummation when “the dwelling place of God is with men” (Revelation 21:3), motivating holiness, mission, and hope.

Forms and Transliterations

σκηνοπηγια σκηνοπηγία σκηνοπηγίας skenopegia skenopegía skēnopēgia skēnopēgía

Englishman's Concordance

John 7:2 N-NFS
GRK: Ἰουδαίων ἡ σκηνοπηγία
NAS: of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.
KJV: feast of tabernacles was
INT: Jews the tabernacles

Strong's Greek 4634
1 Occurrence

σκηνοπηγία — 1 Occ.