from σκῆνος and πήγνυμι; the Festival of Tabernacles (so called from the custom of erecting booths for temporary homes):--tabernacles.
Transliteration:skēnopēgía
Pronunciation:skay-nop-ayg-ee'-ah
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term `{{G4634}}` (skēnopēgía) is a compound word derived from `{{G4636}}` (skēnos), meaning "tent" or "booth," and `{{G4078}}` (pēgnumi), meaning "to fix," "to pitch," or "to erect." Thus, its literal meaning is "the pitching or erecting of tents/booths." In its primary and almost exclusive biblical usage, `{{G4634}}` refers to the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths (Hebrew: Sukkot, related to `{{H5521}}`). This festival commemorated the Israelites' forty years of wandering in the wilderness, during which they lived in temporary shelters, and celebrated God's provision and presence among them. The semantic range of `{{G4634}}` is highly specific, denoting this particular annual pilgrimage festival and the associated custom of dwelling in temporary booths.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{G4634}}` appears twice in the New Testament, both instances occurring in the Gospel of John, specifically within the narrative of Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem during this significant annual festival.
* In [[John 7:2]], the text states, "Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand." This sets the immediate context for the ensuing discourse and events. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) was one of the three major pilgrimage festivals (alongside Passover and Pentecost) when all adult Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem. It was a time of great national celebration and remembrance.
* The second occurrence is implied in [[John 7:37]], which refers to "On the last day, the great day of the feast." Although `{{G4634}}` is not explicitly repeated here, the context clearly indicates that this "feast" is the Feast of Tabernacles mentioned earlier in the chapter. This "great day" was likely the seventh day of the festival, Hoshanah Rabbah, or possibly an eighth day of solemn assembly. During this festival, two prominent ceremonies were observed: the water-drawing ceremony (Nisuch HaMayim), where water was drawn from the Pool of Siloam and poured out at the altar, symbolizing prayers for rain and the outpouring of the Spirit; and the illumination of the Temple courts with large menorahs, symbolizing God's glory and presence. Jesus' declarations in [[John 7:37-38]] ("If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water") and [[John 8:12]] ("I am the light of the world") are deeply contextualized by these specific festival rites, presenting Himself as the ultimate fulfillment of their symbolic meaning.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of `{{G4634}}` is enriched by examining its linguistic components and related theological concepts:
* **`{{G4636}}` (skēnos):** The root for "tent" or "booth," emphasizing the temporary dwelling. This concept is central to the festival's meaning.
* **`{{G4078}}` (pēgnumi):** "To fix," "to pitch," highlighting the act of constructing these temporary dwellings.
* **`{{G4637}}` (skēnoō):** The verb "to tabernacle" or "to dwell in a tent." This verb is profoundly significant in [[John 1:14]], where it states that "the Word became flesh and *tabernacled* among us," directly linking the divine presence of Christ to the concept of God dwelling with His people, reminiscent of the wilderness tabernacle and Sukkot.
* **`{{G4638}}` (skēnōma):** A "tent" or "dwelling," often used to refer to the human body as a temporary dwelling place ([[2 Peter 1:13-14]]).
* **`{{H5521}}` (Sukkot):** The Hebrew word for "booths" or "tabernacles," which gives the festival its name in the Old Testament. The Old Testament commands for the festival are found in passages like [[Leviticus 23:34-43]], [[Deuteronomy 16:13-15]], and [[Nehemiah 8:13-18]].
* **Wilderness Wandering:** The historical context for the festival, recalling God's miraculous provision and guidance for Israel in the desert.
* **Divine Presence (Shekinah):** The concept of God dwelling among His people, first in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, foreshadowed by the temporary booths.
* **Pilgrimage Festivals:** Sukkot was one of the three annual festivals requiring pilgrimage to Jerusalem, fostering a sense of national unity and worship.
### Theological Significance
The Feast of Tabernacles, denoted by `{{G4634}}`, carries profound theological significance:
1. **Remembrance of God's Faithfulness and Provision:** The festival served as a perpetual reminder of God's miraculous care for Israel during their wilderness journey. Dwelling in temporary booths underscored their dependence on God for shelter, food, and water, fostering gratitude and trust in His ongoing provision.
2. **God's Desire to Dwell with Humanity:** At its core, Sukkot points to the divine intention for God to dwell intimately with His people. The Old Testament Tabernacle was the physical manifestation of God's presence among Israel, and the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated this reality. This finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, as [[John 1:14]] powerfully declares that the Word "tabernacled" (`{{G4637}}`) among us. Jesus is the ultimate "booth" or dwelling place of God on earth.
3. **Eschatological Hope and Messianic Fulfillment:** The Feast of Tabernacles had strong eschatological and messianic overtones within Judaism. It was associated with the ingathering of the nations in the Messianic age, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. Jesus' claims to be the "living water" and the "light of the world" during this festival were direct assertions of His identity as the Messiah who would bring about these eschatological realities, providing spiritual sustenance and divine illumination. The prophet Zechariah also links Sukkot to the future universal worship of God by all nations ([[Zechariah 14:16-19]]).
4. **The Temporary Nature of Earthly Life:** Living in temporary dwellings also served as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and the pilgrimage toward an eternal, heavenly dwelling. Believers are "sojourners and pilgrims" ([[1 Peter 2:11]]) in this world, awaiting their permanent home with God.
### Summary
The term `{{G4634}}` (skēnopēgía) precisely denotes the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles, a pivotal annual commemoration rooted in Israel's wilderness experience. Its etymology, "the pitching of tents/booths," directly reflects the festival's central custom. Biblically, its sparse but significant appearances in John's Gospel ([[John 7:2]], [[John 7:37]]) provide the essential context for Jesus' profound declarations about Himself as the source of "living water" and the "light of the world," directly engaging with the festival's symbolic rites. Theologically, `{{G4634}}` encapsulates themes of God's faithful provision, His desire to dwell among humanity (culminating in the incarnation of Christ, `{{G4637}}`), and the eschatological hope for a future age where God's presence will fully transform the world. It serves as a powerful reminder of both God's historical faithfulness and His ultimate redemptive plan.
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