σκῆνος

a tent

Definition

Σκῆνος (skēnos) literally means 'a tent' or 'dwelling,' referring to a temporary, portable shelter. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 as a powerful metaphor for the human body, which he describes as our earthly 'tent' that is temporary and perishable. This contrasts with the future, permanent, heavenly dwelling from God, which is a building not made with hands. The word thus carries the dual sense of a physical shelter and a figurative representation of mortal, physical existence.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only twice, both in 2 Corinthians 5. In 2 Corinthians 5:1, Paul states, 'we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God.' In 2 Corinthians 5:4, he reiterates the metaphor, expressing the desire not to be 'unclothed' (to die) but to be further 'clothed' with the heavenly dwelling. Its usage is entirely metaphorical, contrasting the fragility of our current bodily life with the permanence of the resurrection body.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek root σκην- (skēn-), related to σκηνή (skēnē, G4633), meaning 'tent' or 'tabernacle.' This root is also the source for the word 'scene' in English (from the theatrical stage as a tent). The concept inherently carries the idea of a temporary, movable dwelling, which informed its metaphorical development.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant for understanding the Christian view of the body and resurrection. It underscores the temporary, fragile nature of our present physical life (the 'tent') compared to the eternal, glorified body God will provide (the 'building'). This metaphor enriches the reading of 2 Corinthians 5 by vividly portraying the believer's hope—not an escape from the body, but its redemption and transformation into an imperishable, heavenly state.

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, tents were common for travelers, soldiers, and nomadic peoples, representing impermanence, journey, and fragility. Paul's audience would have immediately grasped the contrast between a flimsy, temporary tent and a solid, permanent building. This cultural understanding makes the metaphor of the mortal body as a tent powerfully resonant.

σκηνή (skēnē, G4633) — The more common word for 'tent' or 'tabernacle,' used for the wilderness tabernacle and in literal contexts. σκήνωμα (skēnōma, G4638) — Also means 'dwelling' or 'tabernacle,' used in Acts 7:46 and 2 Peter 1:13-14 with a similar metaphorical sense for the body.

Word Details

Scripture References