Tabernacled Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Religious Significance

• In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was a portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their wanderings in the desert.
• The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates this temporary dwelling in remembrance of when the Israelites lived in booths.
• Many Christian interpretations view the tabernacle as a symbol of God's presence among people and the sacredness of worship.

Cultural References

• In literature, tabernacled is often used metaphorically to describe an embodiment of transcendent ideas or spiritual presence.
• The concept has appeared in various art forms, suggesting the temporary nature of human life and the divine.
• Musical compositions sometimes reference tabernacled as a way to evoke feelings of sanctuary or spiritual shelter.

Philosophy

• Philosophically, the idea of tabernacling speaks to the relationship between the ephemeral and the eternal.
• It prompts reflection on how physical places (like a tent) can hold deep spiritual significance.
• The metaphor of tabernacling is often used in discussions about one's physical body being a temporary vessel for the soul.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Latin 'tabernaculum', which means 'little tent.'
• In ancient Rome, 'tabernacula' referred to temporary booths or huts used by soldiers during campaigns.
• The Hebrew term associated with this word refers specifically to the 'Mishkan', a dwelling place for the divine.

The word 'tabernacled' derives from the Latin 'tabernaculum', which means 'a little tent' or 'a hut'. This term is connected to the Hebrew word 'mishkan', which referred to the portable sanctuary that was constructed by the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The tabernacle served as a dwelling place for God among His people, and it was a central symbol of God's presence and guidance. Over time, 'tabernacle' evolved to denote any place of worship or spiritual dwelling, particularly in Christian traditions where the term is used to refer to the altar or sanctuary within a church. Thus, to 'tabernacle' signifies not only a physical dwelling but also a metaphorical sense of living within a sacred space.