Dwell

Greek Word Pronunciation: skahy-NAH-oh
Strong’s Number: 4637
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 5012
Key Verse: “… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …” -- John 1:14

Another Greek word, oikeo, is frequently translated as dwell, but its reference is to occupy a house. Our word skenoo is literally “to live or camp in a tent.” In the Septuagint, it is rare. It is used twice in Genesis 13:12, “Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.”

The noun form of this word, skenos, is of a literal tent or tabernacle, as in Hebrews 11:9. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents. A tent speaks of a pilgrim journey. They were looking for a permanent place of abode. In the New Testament, it doesn’t refer to dwelling in a real tent, only metaphorically. Revelation 7:15 refers to God’s dwelling among the redeemed; the sense is that of residing permanently, since context speaks of God’s sitting on His throne, not of a divine tent in heaven. Revelation 21:3 is a figure of speech for His abiding and gracious presence.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the verb is in compound form: epi, meaning “upon,” and skenao). In KJV: “... power of Christ may rest upon me”; in NASB: “... may dwell in me.” Literally, it is: “may spread a tabernacle over me.” The image is that of the Shekinah glory descending upon the faithful.

JOHN 1:14 suggests the skenos of the incarnate Word is to be regarded as an expression of the fact that His earthly stay was for Him no more than an episode between the pre- and post-existence as the exalted Lord, in which case the translation “He tabernacled among us” is more suitable than “He dwelt among us.” It is designed to show that this is the presence of the Eternal in time.

Wuest states: “Out of the ivory palaces, the King of Glory came to live in a tent among a people who lived in tents. In Revelation 21:3, literally, ‘the tent of God is with men, and He will live in a tent in company with them.’ This tent is the same human body in which our Lord lived while on earth, glorified. The King condescends to live in a tent all through eternity with His Bride. If His Bride lives in a tent, He will. He chose her for Himself notwithstanding the tent.”