The term most commonly translated “tent” is “ohel,” which is often translated “tabernacle.” Other terms are "sukkah" (2 Sam. 11:11) and "kubbah," which only occurs in Num. 25:8.
It was a portable shelter used by nomads, shepherds, and soldiers (Gen. 4:20; 25:27; Judges 8:11).
Often the tent was made of black cloth made of goats' hair (Song 1:5). They were fixed to the ground by ropes attached to stakes (Ex. 35:18; Is. 54:2). The tent, round or elongated, could be divided into several rooms using curtains.
The term tent has, on some occasions, the general sense of dwelling place (Gen. 9:27; 1 Kings 8:66; 2 Kings 13:5; Jb. 8:22; Ps. 84:10 (lit. " tents of wickedness"); Jer. 30:18; Lam. 2:4; Zech. 12:7; Mal. 2:12). Our very body is compared to a tent (2 Cor. 5:1-8).
The tents were made of many different materials, from skins and hair to linen for the little ones. Paul and Aquila were tentmakers (Acts 18:3).
Tarsus, the hometown of the apostle Paul, was known for the manufacture of tents, which were commonly made of sackcloth, a strong fabric of long goat hair from the province of Cilicia, and from which sacks were also made.
Meaning of TENT
The term most commonly translated “tent” is “ohel,” which is often translated “tabernacle.” Other terms are "sukkah" (2 Sam. 11:11) and "kubbah," which only occurs in Num. 25:8.
