Word Studies¶

σκηνή (skene) -- G4633¶

Original: σκηνή Transliteration: skene Pronunciation: skay-nay Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A tent or cloth hut; tabernacle; dwelling

Translations¶

tabernacle (13x, 65%): Acts 7:43-44, 15:16, Heb 8:2,5, 9:6,8,11,21, 13:10, Rev 13:6, 15:5, 21:3
tabernacles (4x, 20%): Mat 17:4, Mk 9:5, Lk 9:33 (Transfiguration), Heb 11:9
habitations (1x): Lk 16:9
a tabernacle (1x): Heb 9:2
the tabernacle (1x): Heb 9:3

Key Verses¶

Rev 21:3 -- "Behold, the tabernacle [skene] of God is with men" -- the ONLY verse where skene (noun) and skenoo (verb) appear together
Heb 8:2 -- "the true tabernacle [skene], which the Lord pitched, and not man"
Heb 9:11 -- "a greater and more perfect tabernacle [skene], not made with hands"
Heb 11:9 -- Abraham dwelling in "tabernacles [skenais]" while looking for a city (polis)
Rev 15:5 -- "the temple of the tabernacle [skene] of the testimony in heaven"
Acts 15:16 -- "I will build again the tabernacle [skene] of David" (quoting Amos 9:11)

LXX Connection¶

H5521 (sukkah) -> G4633 (skene): PMI 16.97 (highest affinity pairing)
The sukkah of the Feast of Tabernacles is rendered as skene in the LXX
This vocabulary bridge connects OT Tabernacles to NT "tabernacle of God"

σκηνόω (skenoo) -- G4637¶

Original: σκηνόω Transliteration: skenoo Pronunciation: skay-no Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To tent, encamp; to tabernacle, dwell in a tent

All 5 NT Occurrences (ALL Johannine)¶

Verse	Greek Form	Tense	Translation
John 1:14	ἐσκήνωσεν (eskenosen)	Aorist Act Ind 3S	"dwelt/tabernacled" (among us)
Rev 7:15	σκηνώσει (skenosei)	Future Act Ind 3S	"shall dwell" (over them)
Rev 12:12	σκηνοῦντες (skenountes)	Pres Act Ptcp NPM	"ye that dwell" (in heaven)
Rev 13:6	σκηνοῦντας (skenountas)	Pres Act Ptcp APM	"them that dwell" (in heaven)
Rev 21:3	σκηνώσει (skenosei)	Future Act Ind 3S	"he will dwell" (with them)

Tense Trajectory (Inclusio)¶

Aorist (John 1:14): The Word tabernacled among us -- past, completed, incarnation
Future (Rev 7:15, 21:3): He shall tabernacle over/with them -- eschatological, permanent
The Aorist-to-Future arc traces God's dwelling from incarnation to eternal state

Key Verses with Context¶

John 1:14 -- "The Word was made flesh, and tabernacled [eskenosen] among us, and we beheld his glory" -- the incarnation as the first New Testament tabernacling; glory (doxa) echoes the Shekinah filling the tabernacle (Exo 40:34-35)
Rev 7:15 -- "he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell/tabernacle [skenosei] over them" -- proleptic Tabernacles vision with palm branches, living water, shelter from heat
Rev 21:3 -- "the tabernacle [skene] of God is with men, and he will dwell/tabernacle [skenosei] with them" -- double tabernacle emphasis (noun + verb)

ναός (naos) -- G3485¶

Original: ναός Transliteration: naos Pronunciation: nah-os Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: From ναίω (to dwell); inner shrine, sanctuary, temple

All Revelation Occurrences (16x) -- Progression from Present to Absent¶

Verse	Context	Temple Status
Rev 3:12	"a pillar in the temple of my God"	Present (promise)
Rev 7:15	"serve him day and night in his temple"	Present (heavenly)
Rev 11:1	"Rise, and measure the temple of God"	Present (measured)
Rev 11:2	"the court which is without the temple"	Present (outer court)
Rev 11:19	"the temple of God was opened in heaven"	Present (opened, ark visible)
Rev 11:19	"there was seen in his temple the ark"	Present (with ark)
Rev 14:15	"another angel came out of the temple"	Present (angels emerge)
Rev 14:17	"another angel came out of the temple"	Present (angels emerge)
Rev 15:5	"temple of the tabernacle of testimony"	Present (tabernacle-temple)
Rev 15:6	"seven angels came out of the temple"	Present (plagues)
Rev 15:8	"the temple was filled with smoke"	Present (filled with glory)
Rev 15:8	"no man was able to enter the temple"	Present (inaccessible)
Rev 16:1	"a great voice out of the temple"	Present (voice)
Rev 16:17	"a great voice out of the temple"	Present (voice, "It is done")
Rev 21:22	"I saw no temple therein"	ABSENT (negated)
Rev 21:22	"the Lord God... is the temple of it"	ABSORBED (God IS the temple)

Theological Significance¶

naos = the inner shrine where God dwells (distinct from hieron, the temple complex)
Through Revelation: naos is present and active (Rev 3-16) -> naos is absent/absorbed (Rev 21:22)
Rev 21:22 uses naos TWICE: first negated (ναὸν οὐκ εἶδον), then as predicate (ναὸς αὐτῆς ἐστιν)
The temple is not abolished but ABSORBED -- God himself IS the dwelling place
This is the climax of the sanctuary trajectory: tabernacle -> temple -> incarnation -> believers -> no temple (God is all in all)

Contrast with G2411 (hieron)¶

hieron (temple complex/courts) is NEVER used in Revelation
Only naos (inner shrine) appears -- the progression concerns God's dwelling presence, not the building complex

סֻכָּה (sukkah) -- H5521¶

Original: סֻכָּה Transliteration: sukkah Pronunciation: sook-kaw Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A hut, lair; booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent

Translations¶

of tabernacles (9x): Lev 23:34, Deu 16:13,16, 31:10, 2Ch 8:13, Ezr 3:4, Zec 14:16,18,19
booths (4x): Gen 33:17, Neh 8:15,16,17
in booths (4x): Lev 23:42(x2), Lev 23:43
pavilion(s) (various): 2Sa 22:12, 1Ki 20:12,16, Psa 18:12, 27:5, 31:21
tabernacle (1x): Isa 4:6
booth (1x): Jon 4:5

Key Verses¶

Lev 23:34 -- "the fifteenth day... shall be the feast of tabernacles [sukkot]" -- instituting the feast
Lev 23:42 -- "Ye shall dwell in booths [sukkot] seven days" -- the command to dwell in temporary shelters
Lev 23:43 -- "I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths [sukkot]" -- memorial of wilderness wandering
Isa 4:6 -- "there shall be a tabernacle [sukkah] for a shadow in the daytime from the heat" -- eschatological sukkah shelter AFTER purification (v.4)
Zec 14:16 -- "keep the feast of tabernacles [sukkot]" -- the ONLY feast projected into the eschatological age
Psa 27:5 -- "in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion [sukkah]" -- divine protection imagery

LXX Bridge¶

sukkah (H5521) -> skene (G4633): PMI 16.97
This is the highest-affinity pairing, confirming the direct vocabulary continuity from OT Feast of Tabernacles to NT "tabernacle of God"

שָׁכַן (shakan) -- H7931¶

Original: שָׁכַן Transliteration: shakan Pronunciation: shaw-kan Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To reside, permanently stay; abide, continue, dwell, inhabit, remain, rest

Key Occurrences (129 total)¶

Exo 25:8 -- "let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell [shakanti] among them" -- the foundational sanctuary purpose statement
Exo 29:45-46 -- "I will dwell [shakanti] among the children of Israel, and will be their God... that I may dwell [shokni] among them"
Exo 40:35 -- the cloud abode [shakan] upon the tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled it
1Ki 8:12 -- "The LORD said that he would dwell [lishkon] in the thick darkness"
Isa 57:15 -- "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth [shoken] eternity... I dwell [eshkon] in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit"
Eze 43:9 -- "I will dwell [shakanti] in the midst of them for ever"

Derived Words¶

מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan, H4908): "dwelling place, tabernacle" -- the noun form, used for the wilderness tabernacle
Shekinah (rabbinic concept): the manifest divine presence -- not a biblical word but derived from this root
Eze 37:27: מִשְׁכָּנִי (mishkani, "my dwelling place") -- "My tabernacle also shall be with them"

LXX Rendering¶

shakan (H7931) -> κατασκηνόω (kataskenoo, G2681): PMI 28.37 (strongest mapping)
kataskenoo = kata + skenoo -- the compound form of the NT skenoo (G4637)
Phonetic bridge: shakan -> Shekinah -> skene/skenoo
This confirms the direct etymological continuity from OT dwelling theology to NT tabernacle language

Theological Trajectory¶

Exo 25:8 -- shakanti ("I will dwell") -- purpose of sanctuary
Eze 37:27 -- mishkani ("my dwelling place") -- eschatological promise
John 1:14 -- eskenosen ("tabernacled") -- incarnation fulfillment
Rev 21:3 -- skenosei ("shall dwell/tabernacle") -- eternal fulfillment

מָקוֹר (maqor) -- H4726¶

Original: מָקוֹר Transliteration: maqor Pronunciation: maw-kore Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: Something dug; a source of water; figuratively, of happiness, wisdom, progeny; fountain, spring, well

Key Verses¶

Jer 2:13 -- "they have forsaken me the fountain [maqor] of living waters [mayim chayyim]" -- God himself is the fountain of living waters
Jer 17:13 -- "they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain [maqor] of living waters"
Psa 36:9 -- "with thee is the fountain [maqor] of life: in thy light shall we see light"
Zec 13:1 -- "In that day there shall be a fountain [maqor] opened to the house of David... for sin and for uncleanness"
Pro 14:27 -- "The fear of the LORD is a fountain [maqor] of life"

Theological Connection¶

God IS the maqor (fountain of living waters) -- Jer 2:13, 17:13
The living water trajectory: maqor mayim chayyim (Jer 2:13) -> wells of salvation (Isa 12:3, Tabernacles ceremony) -> rivers of living water (John 7:37-38, at Tabernacles) -> river of water of life from the throne (Rev 22:1) -> "let him take the water of life freely" (Rev 22:17)

κατάθεμα (katathema) -- G2652¶

Original: κατάθεμα Transliteration: katathema Pronunciation: kat-an-ath-em-ah Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: An imprecation; curse; accursed thing. From kata (intensive) + anathema.

NT HAPAX LEGOMENON¶

Only occurrence: Rev 22:3 -- "and there shall be no more curse [katathema]"
The intensified compound (kata- prefix + anathema) emphasizes the completeness of the curse's removal
Reverses Gen 3:17 (cursed ground) and Gen 3:14 (cursed serpent)
The "no more" (ouk...eti) construction parallels the other negation statements in Rev 21:1-22:5 (no more sea, death, sorrow, crying, pain, night)

πηγή (pege) -- G4077¶

Original: πηγή Transliteration: pege Pronunciation: pay-gay Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A fount, fountain, spring (from the idea of gushing)

Key Verses¶

Rev 7:17 -- "the Lamb shall lead them unto living fountains [pegas] of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears" -- in the Tabernacles vision
Rev 21:6 -- "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain [peges] of the water of life freely"
John 4:14 -- "the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well [pege] of water springing up into everlasting life"
John 4:6 -- "Jacob's well [pege] was there"

Theological Connection¶

pege in Revelation connects to the maqor (H4726, fountain) of the OT
The Tabernacles vision (Rev 7:17) and the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:6) both feature pege/pegas
The progression: earthly well/fountain -> Christ as living water -> eschatological fountains of life

ὕδωρ (hudor) -- G5204¶

Original: ὕδωρ Transliteration: hudor Pronunciation: hoo-dore Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: Water (literally or figuratively)

Key Revelation Occurrences¶

Rev 22:1 -- "a pure river of water [hudatos] of life, clear as crystal"
Rev 22:17 -- "let him take the water [hudor] of life freely"
Rev 7:17 -- "living fountains of waters [hudaton]"
Rev 1:15, 14:2 -- "sound of many waters" (divine voice)

Connection to Tabernacles¶

The Tabernacles water ceremony drew water from the Pool of Siloam
Jesus declared himself the source of living water AT the Tabernacles feast (John 7:37-38)
Rev 22:1 fulfills this: the river of water of life from the throne

πόλις (polis) -- G4172¶

Original: πόλις Transliteration: polis Pronunciation: pol-is Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A town, city

Key Verses for New Jerusalem¶

Rev 21:2 -- "the holy city [polin], new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven"
Rev 21:14 -- "the wall of the city [poleos] had twelve foundations"
Rev 22:14 -- "enter in through the gates into the city [polin]"
Rev 22:19 -- "take away his part out of... the holy city [poleos]"
Heb 11:10 -- Abraham "looked for a city [polin] which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God"
Heb 11:16 -- "he hath prepared for them a city [polin]"
Heb 12:22 -- "ye are come unto... the city [polei] of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem"
Heb 13:14 -- "here have we no continuing city [polin], but we seek one to come"

Theological Connection¶

Abraham dwelt in skenais (tents/tabernacles, Heb 11:9) while looking for a polis with foundations (11:10)
The New Jerusalem IS that city -- the permanent dwelling the temporary sukkah always pointed toward
The city IS also the bride (Rev 21:2,9) and the expanded Most Holy Place (21:16, cubic dimensions)

νύμφη (nymphe) -- G3565¶

Original: νύμφη Transliteration: nymphe Pronunciation: noom-fay Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A bride; daughter-in-law

Key Verses¶

Rev 21:2 -- "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband"
Rev 21:9 -- "I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife" -- then shows the New Jerusalem
Rev 22:17 -- "the Spirit and the bride say, Come"
John 3:29 -- "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom"

Theological Connection¶

The New Jerusalem is simultaneously city, bride, and tabernacle
The bride identity connects to the covenant: "they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them" (Rev 21:3) -- marriage as ultimate covenant communion
"The Spirit and the bride say, Come" (22:17) -- the invitation to the water of life, echoing the Tabernacles water ceremony

ζωή (zoe) -- G2222¶

Original: ζωή Transliteration: zoe Pronunciation: dzo-ay Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Life (literally or figuratively)

Key Revelation Occurrences¶

Rev 21:6 -- "fountain of the water of life"
Rev 21:27 -- "Lamb's book of life"
Rev 22:1 -- "river of water of life"
Rev 22:2 -- "tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits"
Rev 22:14 -- "right to the tree of life"
Rev 22:17 -- "water of life freely"

Theological Connection¶

In Rev 21-22, zoe appears in three key images: fountain/river of life, tree of life, book of life
All three are accessible in the New Jerusalem -- reversing the barring of the tree of life in Gen 3:24
The "water of life" connects to the Tabernacles water ceremony and Jesus' declaration at the feast (John 7:37-39)

ξύλον (xylon) -- G3586¶

Original: ξύλον Transliteration: xylon Pronunciation: xoo-lon Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: Timber; wood, tree; by extension, a cross/stake

Key Verses¶

Rev 2:7 -- "eat of the tree [xylon] of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God"
Rev 22:2 -- "the tree [xylon] of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits... and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations"
Rev 22:14 -- "that they may have right to the tree [xylon] of life"
Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29 -- "slew and hanged on a tree [xylon]" (= cross)
Gal 3:13 -- "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree [xylon]" (quoting Deu 21:23)
1 Pet 2:24 -- "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree [xylon]"

Theological Connection¶

The xylon of the cross (where the curse was borne, Gal 3:13) leads to the xylon of life (where the curse is removed, Rev 22:2-3)
The tree of life in Rev 22:2 echoes Gen 2:9 and Ezk 47:12 (trees by the river with leaves for healing)
12 fruits, one for each month -- perpetual provision, not seasonal