Lexical Summary skénos: Tent, Tabernacle, Dwelling Original Word: σκῆνος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tabernacle. From skene; a hut or temporary residence, i.e. (figuratively) the human body (as the abode of the spirit) -- tabernacle. see GREEK skene NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom skéné Definition a tent, fig. for the body NASB Translation tent (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4636: σκῆνοςσκῆνος, σκήνους, τό (Hippocrates, Plato, others), a tabernacle, a tent, everywhere (except Boeckh, Corpus inscriptions vol. ii., no. 3071) used metaphorically, of the human body, in which the soul dwells as in a tent, and which is taken down at death: 2 Corinthians 5:4; ἡ ἐπίγειος ἡμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους, i. e. ho esti τό σκῆνος (Winers Grammar, § 59, 7 d., 8 a.), which is the well-known tent, ibid. 1 (R. V. the earthly house of our tabernacle). Cf. Wis. 9:15 and Grimm at the passage; in the same sense in (Plato) Tim. Locr., p. 100ff and often in other philosophic writings; cf. Fischer, Index to Aeschines dial. Socrates; Passow, under the word; (Field, Otium Norv. pars iii., p. 113 (on 2 Corinthians 5:1)). Topical Lexicon Root imagery and biblical narrative The term evokes the picture of a portable tent—light, impermanent, and easily dismantled. Throughout Scripture tents signify pilgrimage (Genesis 12:8), covenant gatherings (Exodus 33:7–11), and divine presence among a journeying people (Leviticus 23:42–43). The imagery anticipates both vulnerability and hope: life lived between promise given and promise fulfilled. Pauline theology: the earthly tent and the heavenly dwelling In 2 Corinthians 5:1, 4 the apostle employs the word to portray the human body: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands”. The contrast is striking: Paul’s pastoral aim is assurance. Affliction, mortality, and persecution cannot nullify the covenant promise of a glorified body (Romans 8:23; Philippians 3:20–21). Believers groan, not in despair, but in longing for consummation. Old Testament background and typology The wilderness tabernacle prefigures this teaching (Exodus 25–40). Just as the tent of meeting signaled God’s presence yet pointed toward a more enduring temple, so the present body houses the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) while anticipating an everlasting habitation. The Feast of Tabernacles, celebrating God’s provision in temporary shelters, likewise foreshadows the day when “the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3). Eschatological hope and resurrection The imagery safeguards two truths: 1. Continuity — the same person who now occupies the earthly tent will inhabit the heavenly building; resurrection is not mere survival of the soul but transformation of the whole person (1 Corinthians 15:51–54). Pastoral and doctrinal implications • Mortality is neither denied nor minimized; believers admit frailty while fixing eyes on unseen realities. Historical interpretation in Church teaching Early church fathers cited the passage to comfort martyrs, affirming that death releases them from the tent into the promised edifice. The Reformers appealed to it in controversies over purgatorial doctrine, emphasizing the immediacy of the believer’s hope in Christ. Modern evangelical theology likewise draws from this text to balance biblical realism about death with confident expectation of bodily resurrection. Practical ministry applications 1. Funeral services: the metaphor offers language that honors the deceased body while proclaiming resurrection hope. Affirmations for worship and discipleship • “I confess my body is a tent, yet my Redeemer prepares a dwelling imperishable.” Forms and Transliterations σκηνει σκήνει σκηνους σκήνους skenei skēnei skḗnei skenous skēnous skḗnousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Corinthians 5:1 N-GNSGRK: οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους καταλυθῇ οἰκοδομὴν NAS: the earthly tent which is our house KJV: house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, INT: house of the tabernacle be destroyed a building 2 Corinthians 5:4 N-DNS Strong's Greek 4636 |