"a habitation, abode, dwelling, Acts 7:46; the corporeal tabernacle of the soul, 2 Pet. 1:13, 14*"
Definition and meaning
a habitation, abode, dwelling, Acts 7:46; the corporeal tabernacle of the soul, 2 Pet. 1:13, 14*
In the original Greek the word is written: σκήνωμα
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of skenoma (G4638) across the King James Bible.
Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
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Common questions
Strong's G4638 (skenoma) is a Greek word that means: a habitation, abode, dwelling, Acts 7:46; the corporeal tabernacle of the soul, 2 Pet. 1:13, 14* It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word skenoma (G4638) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4638 is skenoma, a Greek word defined as: a habitation, abode, dwelling, Acts 7:46; the corporeal tabernacle of the soul, 2 Pet. 1:13, 14*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
skenoma is a Greek word found in the New Testament.