Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms • Resources Smith's Bible Dictionary TentAmong 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, (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) ATS Bible Dictionary TentDwelling in tents was very general in ancient times among Eastern nations, Genesis 4:20; their way of life being pastoral, locomotion became necessary for pasturage, and dwellings adapted for such a life became indispensable, Isaiah 38:12. The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt in tents, Genesis 18:1 Hebrews 11:9; and on the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, throughout their peregrinations until they obtained the promised land, and to some extent afterwards, they adopted the same kind of habitation. See BOOTHS. Hence the expression. "Every man to his tents, O Israel," etc., Jud 7:8 2 Samuel 20:1 2 Kings 8:21. Indeed, the people of the East, men, women, and children, lived very much in the open air, as is obvious from the New Testament narratives. And the same is true of them at the present day. The Midianites, the Philistines, the Syrains, the descendants of Ham, the Hagarites, and the Cushanites are mentioned in Scripture as living in tents. But the people most remarkable for this unsettled and wandering mode of life are the Arabs, who from the time of Ishmael to the present have continued the custom of dwelling in tents. Amid the revolutions which have transferred kingdoms from one possessor to another, these wandering tribes still dwell in tents, unsubdued and wild as was their progenitor. This kind of dwelling is not, however, confined to the Arabs, but is used throughout the continent of Asia. The word tent is formed from the Latin, "to stretch;" tents being usually made of canvas stretched out, and sustained by poles with cords secured to pegs driven into the ground. The "nail of the tent" with which Jael pierced the head of Sisera was such a tent-pin, Jud 4:21. See also Isaiah 33:20 40:22 54:2. The house of God, and heaven, are spoken of in Scripture as the tent or tabernacle of Jehovah, Psalm 15:1 61:4 84:1 Heb 8:2:9:11; and the body as the tabernacle of the soul, taken down by death, 2 1 Corinthians 5:1 2 Peter 1:13. Says Lord Lindsay, "There is something very melancholy in our morning flitting. The tentpins are plucked up, and in a few minutes a dozen holes, a heap or two of ashes, and the marks of the camels' knees in the sand, soon to be obliterated, are the only traces left of what has been for a while our home." "Often," says M-Cheyne, "we found ourselves shelterless before being fully dressed. What a type of the tent of our body! Ah, how often is it taken down before the soul is made meet for the inheritance of he saints in light." A tent is also put for its inmates, Habakkuk 3:7 Zechariah 12:7. Tents are of various colors; black, as tents of Kedar, Psalm 120:5 So 1:5; red, as of scarlet cloth; yellow, as of gold shining brilliantly; white, as of canvas. They are also of various shapes; some circular, others of an oblong figure, not unlike the bottom of a ship turned upside down. In Syria, the tents are generally made of cloth of goats' hair, woven by women, Exodus 35:26. Those of the Arabs are of black goats' hair. Some other nations adopt the same kind, but it is not common. The Egyptian and Moorish inhabitants of Askalon are said to use white tents; and D-Arvieux mentions that the tent of an Arab emir he visited was distinguished from the rest by its being of white cloth. An Arab sheikh will have a number of tents, of himself, his family, servants, and visitors; as in patriarchal times Jacob had separate tents for himself, for Leah, Rachel, and their maids, Genesis 31:33 Jud 4:17. Usually, however, one tent suffices for a family; being divided, if large, into several apartments by curtains. Easton's Bible Dictionary (1.) Hebrews `ohel (Genesis 9:21, 27). This word is used also of a dwelling or habitation (1 Kings 8:66; Isaiah 16:5; Jeremiah 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. (2.) Hebrews mishcan (Cant. 1:8), used also of a dwelling (Job 18:21; Psalm 87:2), the grave (Isaiah 22:16; Comp. 14:18), the temple (Psalm 46:4; 84:2; 132:5), and of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:9; 26:1; 40:9; Numbers 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.). (3.) Hebrews kubbah (Numbers 25:8), a dome-like tent devoted to the impure worship of Baal-peor. (4.) Hebrews succah (2 Samuel 11:11), a tent or booth made of green boughs or branches (see Genesis 33:17; Leviticus 23:34, 42; Psalm 18:11; Jonah 4:5; Isaiah 4:6; Nehemiah 8:15-17, where the word is variously rendered). Jubal was "the father of such as dwell in tents" (Genesis 4:20). The patriarchs were "dwellers in tents" (Genesis 9:21, 27; 12:8; 13:12; 26:17); and during their wilderness wanderings all Israel dwelt in tents (Exodus 16:16; Deuteronomy 33:18; Joshua 7:24). Tents have always occupied a prominent place in Eastern life (1 Samuel 17:54; 2 Kings 7:7; Psalm 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. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A kind of wine of a deep red color, chiefly from Galicia or Malaga in Spain; -- called also tent wine, and tinta.2. (n.) Attention; regard, care. 3. (n.) Intention; design. 4. (v. t.) To attend to; to heed; hence, to guard; to hinder. 5. (v. t.) To probe or to search with a tent; to keep open with a tent; as, to tent a wound. Used also figuratively. 6. (n.) A roll of lint or linen, or a conical or cylindrical piece of sponge or other absorbent, used chiefly to dilate a natural canal, to keep open the orifice of a wound, or to absorb discharges. 7. (n.) A probe for searching a wound. 8. (n.) A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of skins, canvas, or some strong cloth, stretched and sustained by poles, -- used for sheltering persons from the weather, especially soldiers in camp. 9. (n.) The representation of a tent used as a bearing. 10. (v. i.) To lodge as a tent; to tabernacle. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia TENTtent ('ohel; skene; 'ohel is a derivative of 'ahal, "to be clear," "to shine"; hence, 'ohel, "to be conspicuous from a distance"): In the great stretches of uncultivated lands in the interior of Syria or Arabia, which probably have much the same aspect today as in Abraham's time, it is an easy matter to espy an encampment of roving Bedouin, "a nation.... that dwelleth without care.... that have neither gates nor bars" (Jeremiah 49:31). The peaks of their black (compare Songs 1:5) goats' hair tents stand out in contrast against the lighter colors of the soil. Greek 1981. episkenoo -- to tent upon, fig. abide ... 1980b, 1981. episkenoo. 1982 . to tent upon, fig. abide. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: episkenoo Phonetic Spelling: (ep ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1981.htm - 7k 4637. skenoo -- to have one's tent, dwell 4636. skenos -- a tent, fig. for the body 4633. skene -- a tent 4638. skenoma -- a tent 2681. kataskenoo -- to pitch one's tent, encamp, dwell 4635. skenopoios -- making tents 4078. pegnumi -- to make fast Strong's Hebrew 167. ahal -- to move a tent (from place to place)... 166, 167. ahal. 168 . to move a tent (from place to place). Transliteration: ahal Phonetic Spelling: (aw-hal') Short Definition: moved. ... /hebrew/167.htm - 6k 168. ohel -- a tent 6898. qubbah -- a large vaulted tent 172. Oholibah -- "tent in her," a symbolic name for Jer. 171. Oholiab -- "father's tent," an assistant of Bezalel 170. Oholah -- "she who has a tent," a symbolic name for Samaria 173. Oholibamah -- "tent of the high place," wife of Esau, also an ... 2334. Chavvoth Yair -- "tent villages of Jair," an area East of ... 2333. chavvah -- a tent village 2583. chanah -- to decline, bend down, encamp Library Tent and Building March the Fifth the Tent and the Building How He Took Bishops with Him on an Expedition against the Persians ... Our Tented Neighbour. The Tournament at Constantinople. The Story of the Tower of Babel The Copies of Things in the Heavens January the Second the Larger Outlook A Battle Without a Sword Chapter eight Thesaurus Tent (333 Occurrences)... tabernacle (qv). (3.) Hebrews kubbah (Numbers 25:8), a dome-like tent devoted to the impure worship of Baal-peor. (4.) Hebrews succah ... /t/tent.htm - 48k Tent-door (6 Occurrences) Tent-pin (4 Occurrences) Tent-circle (45 Occurrences) Tent-circles (4 Occurrences) Tent-pins (2 Occurrences) Tent-maker (1 Occurrence) Tent-cord (1 Occurrence) Tent-makers (1 Occurrence) Tent-chamber (1 Occurrence) Resources What was the tent of meeting? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Jael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was Sisera in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Tent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Tent (333 Occurrences)Acts 7:43 Acts 7:44 Acts 7:45 Acts 7:46 Acts 15:16 Acts 18:3 2 Corinthians 5:1 2 Corinthians 5:4 Hebrews 8:2 Hebrews 8:5 Hebrews 9:2 Hebrews 9:3 Hebrews 9:6 Hebrews 9:8 Hebrews 9:11 Hebrews 9:21 Hebrews 13:10 2 Peter 1:13 2 Peter 1:14 Revelation 7:15 Revelation 13:6 Revelation 15:5 Revelation 21:3 Genesis 9:21 Genesis 12:8 Genesis 13:3 Genesis 13:12 Genesis 13:18 Genesis 18:1 Genesis 18:2 Genesis 18:6 Genesis 18:9 Genesis 18:10 Genesis 18:11 Genesis 24:67 Genesis 26:17 Genesis 26:25 Genesis 31:25 Genesis 31:33 Genesis 31:34 Genesis 32:13 Genesis 33:18 Genesis 33:19 Genesis 35:21 Exodus 16:16 Exodus 18:5 Exodus 18:7 Exodus 26:7 Exodus 26:9 Exodus 26:11 Exodus 26:12 Exodus 26:13 Exodus 26:14 Exodus 26:36 Exodus 27:19 Exodus 27:21 Exodus 28:43 Exodus 29:4 Exodus 29:10 Exodus 29:11 Exodus 29:30 Exodus 29:32 Exodus 29:42 Exodus 29:43 Exodus 29:44 Exodus 30:16 Exodus 30:18 Exodus 30:20 Exodus 30:26 Exodus 30:36 Exodus 31:7 Exodus 33:7 Exodus 33:8 Exodus 33:9 Exodus 33:10 Exodus 33:11 Exodus 35:11 Exodus 35:21 Exodus 36:14 Exodus 36:18 Exodus 36:19 Exodus 36:37 Exodus 38:8 Exodus 38:30 Exodus 38:31 Exodus 39:32 Exodus 39:33 Exodus 39:38 Exodus 39:40 Exodus 40:2 Exodus 40:6 Exodus 40:7 Exodus 40:12 Exodus 40:19 Exodus 40:22 Exodus 40:24 Exodus 40:26 Exodus 40:29 Exodus 40:30 Exodus 40:32 Subtopics Tent: Women had Separate Tents from Men Related Terms |