Word Studies¶
sukkah (H5521) — Booth, Tabernacle¶
Original: סֻכָּה Transliteration: cukkah (sook-kaw) Part of Speech: Feminine noun BLB Count: 31 occurrences Definition: Feminine of H5520 (sok); a hut or lair: booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| of tabernacles | 9 | 26.5% |
| booths | 4 | 11.8% |
| in booths | 4 | 11.8% |
| in the pavilions | 2 | 5.9% |
| a tabernacle | 1 | 2.9% |
| the tabernacle | 1 | 2.9% |
| a booth | 1 | 2.9% |
| under the booths | 1 | 2.9% |
| and as a booth | 1 | 2.9% |
| as a cottage | 1 | 2.9% |
| his pavilion | 1 | 2.9% |
| in a pavilion | 1 | 2.9% |
| in the covert | 1 | 2.9% |
| of his tabernacle | 1 | 2.9% |
| in tents | 1 | 2.9% |
| pavilions | 1 | 2.9% |
Key Verses¶
"of tabernacles" (the feast): Lev 23:34; Deu 16:13; Deu 16:16; Deu 31:10; 2Ch 8:13; Ezr 3:4; Zec 14:16; Zec 14:18; Zec 14:19 "booths": Gen 33:17; Neh 8:15; Neh 8:16; Neh 8:17 "a tabernacle": Isa 4:6 "a booth": Jon 4:5
Full Occurrence List¶
Gen 33:17 (x2); Lev 23:34; 23:42; 23:43; Deu 16:13; 16:16; 31:10; 2Sa 11:11 (x2); 22:12 (x2); 1Ki 20:12; 20:16; 2Ch 8:13; Ezr 3:4; Neh 8:14; 8:15 (x2); 8:16; 8:17; Job 27:18; 36:29 (x2); 38:40; Psa 18:12 (x2); 27:5; 31:21; Isa 1:8 (x2); 4:6; Amo 9:11 (x2); Jon 4:5; Zec 14:16; 14:18; 14:19
LXX Connections (Critical Bridge)¶
The LXX translates H5521 (sukkah) as: - G4633 (skene) — 20 times, PMI score 16.97 — This is the primary LXX translation - G4634 — 5 times - G1859 (heorte, "feast") — 10 times, PMI 15.73 - G1858 (heortazo, "keep the feast") — 3 times
This confirms the direct vocabulary bridge: Hebrew sukkah (H5521) -> Greek skene (G4633) -> Revelation's "tabernacle of God" (Rev 21:3)
skenoo (G4637) — To Tabernacle, Encamp¶
Original: σκηνόω Transliteration: skenoo (skay-no-oh) Part of Speech: Verb BLB Count: 5 occurrences Definition: From G4633 (skene); to tent or encamp, i.e. (figuratively) to occupy (as a mansion) or (specifically) to reside (as God did in the Tabernacle of old, a symbol of protection and communion).
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| dwelt | 1 | 25% |
| shall dwell | 1 | 25% |
| ye that dwell | 1 | 25% |
| he will dwell | 1 | 25% |
ALL NT Occurrences (5 total — every one is significant)¶
- John 1:14 — "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt [eskenosen] among us" — The incarnation as tabernacling
- Revelation 7:15 — "he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell [skenosei] among them" — Eschatological Tabernacles
- Revelation 12:12 — "rejoice, ye that dwell [skenountes] in them" (heaven)
- Revelation 13:6 — "to blaspheme... them that dwell [skenountas] in heaven"
- Revelation 21:3 — "the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell [skenosei] with them" — Ultimate fulfillment
Pattern: John 1:14 (incarnation) and Rev 21:3 (consummation) form an inclusio — the same verb frames the entire NT arc of God dwelling with humanity. The verb appears ONLY in John and Revelation (same author tradition).
skene (G4633) — Tent, Tabernacle¶
Original: σκηνή Transliteration: skene (skay-nay) Part of Speech: Feminine noun BLB Count: 20 occurrences Definition: Apparently akin to G4632 and G4639; a tent or cloth hut (literally or figuratively).
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| tabernacle | 13 | 65% |
| tabernacles | 4 | 20% |
| habitations | 1 | 5% |
| a tabernacle | 1 | 5% |
| the tabernacle | 1 | 5% |
Key Verses by Category¶
Hebrews (The True Tabernacle): - Heb 8:2 — "A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched" - Heb 8:5 — "shadow of heavenly things... make the tabernacle" - Heb 9:1,2,3,6,8,11 — Multiple references to the earthly and heavenly tabernacle - Heb 11:9 — "dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob" (Abraham's tents) - Heb 13:10 — "an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle"
Revelation (Eschatological Tabernacle): - Rev 13:6 — "to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle" - Rev 15:5 — "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven" - Rev 21:3 — "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men" — THE CLIMACTIC USE
Gospels (Tabernacles on the Mount): - Mat 17:4; Mar 9:5; Luk 9:33 — Peter's offer to build three tabernacles at the Transfiguration
Acts (OT References): - Act 7:43 — "the tabernacle of Moloch" - Act 7:44 — "the tabernacle of witness" - Act 15:16 — "the tabernacle of David" (quoting Amos 9:11)
shakan (H7931) — To Dwell, Abide¶
Original: שָׁכַן Transliteration: shakan (shaw-kan) Part of Speech: Verb BLB Count: 129 occurrences (150 total with all forms) Definition: A primitive root; to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively): abide, continue, dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, remain, rest, set (up).
Key Dwelling Verses¶
- Exo 25:8 — "that I may dwell among them" — THE PURPOSE STATEMENT
- Exo 29:45-46 — "And I will dwell among the children of Israel"
- Exo 40:35 — "the cloud abode thereon" (shakan)
- Lev 16:16 — "[the tabernacle] that dwelleth among them"
- Num 5:3 — "their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell"
- Deu 12:5,11 — "the place which the LORD your God shall choose... to put his name to dwell there" (shikno)
- Deu 33:12,16 — "The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him"
- Psa 85:9 — "that glory may dwell in our land"
- Isa 57:15 — "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity... I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit"
- Ezk 43:7,9 — "where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever"
- Joel 3:17,21 — "the LORD your God dwelling in Zion"
LXX Connections¶
The LXX translates H7931 (shakan) as: - G2681 (kataskenoo) — 46 times, PMI 7.37 — "to camp down, dwell" — The primary LXX equivalent - G2730 (katoikeo) — 25 times — "to house permanently, reside" - G373 (anapauo) — 8 times — "to repose, rest" - G4638 (skenoma) — 4 times, PMI 3.62 — Direct cognate of skene
Note on the shakan -> skenoo bridge: While the LXX primarily uses kataskenoo for shakan, the conceptual and phonetic connection between shakan and skenoo/skene has been widely recognized. The NT authors appear to use skenoo (G4637) as a deliberate theological echo of shakan (H7931), particularly in John 1:14 and Revelation 7:15; 21:3.
mishkan (H4908) — Dwelling-Place, Tabernacle¶
Original: מִשְׁכָּן Transliteration: mishkan (mish-kawn) Part of Speech: Masculine noun BLB Count: 139 occurrences Definition: From H7931 (shakan); a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively the grave; also the Temple); specifically the Tabernacle (properly its wooden walls): dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| the tabernacle | 49 | 34.0% |
| of the tabernacle | 46 | 31.9% |
| tabernacle | 7 | 4.9% |
| my tabernacle | 2 | 1.4% |
| the dwelling place | 2 | 1.4% |
| the dwellings | 2 | 1.4% |
| an habitation | 2 | 1.4% |
Key Verses¶
- Exo 25:9 — "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle"
- Exo 40:34-35 — "the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle"
- Num 24:5 — "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!"
- Psa 84:2 — "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD"
- Psa 132:5 — "Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob"
- Ezk 37:27 — "My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people"
Relationship to shakan¶
Mishkan is the nominal form of shakan — literally "the dwelling-place" derived from "to dwell." The linguistic chain: shakan (verb: to dwell) -> mishkan (noun: dwelling-place/tabernacle) -> Shekinah (theological term: dwelling-presence) -> skenoo (Greek verb: to tabernacle)
atzeret (H6116) — Solemn Assembly¶
Original: עֲצָרָה (or עֲצֶרֶת atseret) Transliteration: atsarah (ats-aw-raw) Part of Speech: Feminine noun BLB Count: 11 occurrences Definition: From H6113 (atsar, "to restrain"); an assembly, especially on a festival or holiday: (solemn) assembly (meeting).
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| a solemn assembly | 8 | 72.7% |
| even the solemn meeting | 1 | 9.1% |
| an assembly | 1 | 9.1% |
| in your solemn assemblies | 1 | 9.1% |
Key Verses¶
- Lev 23:36 — "on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you... it [is] a solemn assembly"
- Num 29:35 — "On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work"
- Deu 16:8 — "on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God"
- 2Ch 7:9 — the eighth day they made a solemn assembly
- Neh 8:18 — "on the eighth day [was] a solemn assembly, according unto the manner"
- Joe 1:14 — "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly"
- Joe 2:15 — "sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly"
- Amo 5:21 — "I will not smell in your solemn assemblies" (God's rejection of empty ritual)
- Isa 1:13 — "the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with" (same rejection)
Note: The atzeret appears specifically on the EIGHTH DAY of Tabernacles (Lev 23:36; Num 29:35; Neh 8:18). The root atsar means "to restrain/hold back" — the assembly that restrains or closes the festival cycle. This eighth day is when Jesus spoke His living water declaration (John 7:37).
skenoma (G4638) — Encampment, Tabernacle¶
Original: σκήνωμα Transliteration: skenoma (skay-no-mah) Part of Speech: Neuter noun BLB Count: 3 occurrences Definition: From G4637 (skenoo); an encampment, i.e. (figuratively) the Temple (as God's residence), the body (as a tenement for the soul).
ALL Occurrences¶
- Acts 7:46 — "and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob" (David's desire)
- 2 Peter 1:13 — "as long as I am in this tabernacle" (Peter's mortal body)
- 2 Peter 1:14 — "shortly I must put off [this] my tabernacle" (approaching death)
Pattern: The word bridges God's desire for a dwelling (Acts 7:46) with the human body as a temporary dwelling (2 Pet 1:13-14). Both are temporary — pointing to the permanent dwelling of Rev 21:3.
maqor (H4726) — Fountain, Source¶
Original: מָקוֹר Transliteration: maqor (maw-kore) Part of Speech: Masculine noun BLB Count: 18 occurrences Definition: From H6979 (qur); properly something dug, i.e. a general source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood; figuratively of happiness, wisdom, progeny): fountain, issue, spring, well(-spring).
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| the fountain | 4 | 21.1% |
| a fountain | 4 | 21.1% |
| her fountain | 1 | 5.3% |
| a well | 1 | 5.3% |
| a wellspring | 1 | 5.3% |
| the wellspring | 1 | 5.3% |
| spring | 1 | 5.3% |
| Other forms | 5 | 26.3% |
Key Verses¶
- Psa 36:9 — "with thee is the fountain of life"
- Pro 13:14 — "The law of the wise is a fountain of life"
- Pro 14:27 — "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life"
- Pro 18:4 — "the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook"
- Jer 2:13 — "they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters"
- Jer 17:13 — "they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters"
- Zec 13:1 — "there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David... for sin and for uncleanness"
Tabernacles Connection: The "fountain of living waters" (Jer 2:13; 17:13) parallels Jesus' declaration at Tabernacles in John 7:37-38. The water-pouring ceremony of Tabernacles celebrated God as the source of life-giving water. Jesus claims to BE that fountain. Zec 14:8 ("living waters shall go out from Jerusalem") uses the same "living waters" language in the same chapter that commands eschatological Tabernacles observance (14:16-19).