In the biblical context, dwelling-places refer to the various types of habitation or residence where individuals, families, or communities reside. These can range from temporary shelters to permanent homes and are often symbolic of spiritual truths and divine promises.

Old Testament

1. Tents and Tabernacles: In the patriarchal period, tents were the primary dwelling-places for the nomadic tribes of Israel. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents as they sojourned in the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:8; 26:25; 33:18). The tent also served as a symbol of God's presence among His people, as seen in the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary used during the wilderness wanderings (Exodus 25:8-9). The Tabernacle was a dwelling-place for God, where He met with Moses and the Israelites.

2. Houses and Cities: As the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, they transitioned from tents to more permanent structures. Houses made of stone and wood became common, and cities were established. The construction of the Temple in Jerusalem by Solomon marked a significant shift, as it became the central dwelling-place of God's presence (1 Kings 6:1-14). The Temple was a house of prayer and worship, symbolizing God's covenant with Israel.

3. Symbolic Dwelling-places: The Old Testament also uses dwelling-places metaphorically. For instance, Psalm 91:1 states, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." Here, dwelling in God's presence is depicted as a place of refuge and safety.

New Testament

1. Earthly and Heavenly Homes: In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of dwelling-places in both earthly and heavenly contexts. In John 14:2, Jesus assures His disciples, "In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?" This promise of heavenly dwelling-places offers hope of eternal life with God.

2. The Body as a Temple: The concept of dwelling-places is further expanded in the New Testament with the idea that believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul writes, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God?" This signifies that God dwells within believers, making their bodies sacred spaces.

3. The Church as a Spiritual House: The New Testament also describes the Church as a spiritual house. In 1 Peter 2:5, believers are called "living stones" being built into a spiritual house. This imagery emphasizes the communal aspect of faith, where the Church collectively becomes a dwelling-place for God's presence.

Eschatological Dwelling-places

The Bible concludes with a vision of the ultimate dwelling-place of God with His people. Revelation 21:3 declares, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.'" This eschatological promise points to the new heaven and new earth, where God will dwell eternally with His redeemed people.

Throughout Scripture, dwelling-places serve as a profound symbol of God's relationship with humanity, reflecting His desire to be present with His people and to provide them with a place of rest, security, and communion.3438. mone -- an abiding, an abode
... Christ). Word Origin from meno Definition an abiding, an abode NASB Word
Usage abode (1), dwelling places (1). abode, mansion. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3438.htm - 6k4908. mishkan -- dwelling place, tabernacle
... Word Origin from shakan Definition dwelling place, tabernacle NASB Word Usage dwelling
(1), dwelling place (8), dwelling places (9), dwellings (9), resting ...
/hebrew/4908.htm - 6k

4186. moshab -- a seat, assembly, dwelling place, dwelling ...
... from yashab Definition a seat, assembly, dwelling place, dwelling, dwellers NASB
Word Usage dwelling (3), dwelling place (1), dwelling places (5), dwellings (9 ...
/hebrew/4186.htm - 6k

Habakkuk-On his Watch-Tower
... Lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through
the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling-places that are not ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/ix habakkuk-on his watch-tower.htm

Psalm XLIX.
... Their dwelling places are from generation to generation." "Dwelling places" are
wherein they abode for a season: "house" is wherein they will abide as it were ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlix.htm

The Habitation of the Soul
... dwelling.'. Did you ever notice that there are two dwelling-places spoken of
in this verse? 'Thou ... spent. We have two dwelling-places. By ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the habitation of the soul.htm

The Millennium in Relation to Israel.
... with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their
transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/4 the millennium in relation.htm

The Doom of the Antichrist
... hath forborne to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed;
they became as women: they have burned their dwelling places; her bars are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the doom of the antichrist.htm

Power "In" and "Upon. "
... is another thing. Now there are only three places we find in Scripture
that are dwelling-places for the Holy Ghost. In the 40th ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/secret power/chapter ii power in and.htm

Appendix A: Alleged Perfidy of Mary of Guise
... till further advisement. Which, being gladly granted of us, some of the
brethren returned to their dwelling- places. But the Queen ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/appendix a alleged perfidy of.htm

I am Thine, oh save me.
... nor mere animals, but persons, living souls, though our bodies are like the bodies
of animals, only more perfect, that they may be fit dwelling-places for more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xv i.htm

To Follow Out My Plan in Regard to Places...
... Why, even the streets and the market-place, and the baths, and the taverns, and
our very dwelling-places, are not altogether free from idols. ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter viii to follow out.htm

Habakkuk's Rhapsody of the Chaldeans
... For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation; which march through
the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. ...
/.../habakkuks rhapsody of the chaldeans.htm

Dwellingplaces (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Dwellingplaces (5 Occurrences). Jeremiah 30:18 Thus
saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity ...
/d/dwellingplaces.htm - 8k

Dwelling-places (11 Occurrences)
Dwelling-places. Dwellingplaces, Dwelling-places. Dwellings . Multi-Version
Concordance ... Dwellingplaces, Dwelling-places. Dwellings . Reference Bible.
/d/dwelling-places.htm - 10k

Dwellings (54 Occurrences)
... Psalms 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever,
and their dwelling-places to all generations; they call their lands after ...
/d/dwellings.htm - 25k

Dwelling-place (38 Occurrences)
Dwelling-place. Dwellingplace, Dwelling-place. Dwellingplaces . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (ASV JPS). Dwellingplace, Dwelling-place. Dwellingplaces . ...
/d/dwelling-place.htm - 17k

Images (158 Occurrences)
... They may be (1) themselves objects of worship, (2) pictures, embodiments or
dwelling-places (temple, ark, pillar, priests) of deities worshipped, (3) empowered ...
/i/images.htm - 70k

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 6:54 Now these are their dwellingplaces according to their encampments
in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites ...
/k/ko'hathites.htm - 11k

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 6:54 Now these are their dwellingplaces according to their encampments
in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites ...
/k/kohathite.htm - 12k

Offenses (23 Occurrences)
... more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their
transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, in which ...
/o/offenses.htm - 12k

Gazah (16 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 7:28 And their possession and dwelling-places were Bethel and its
dependent villages, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer and its dependent ...
/g/gazah.htm - 11k

Garden (68 Occurrences)
... and herbs (compare Songs 6:11 Isaiah 1:8 1 Kings 21:2) and shade (compare Songs
6:11 Luke 13:19), but they are planned to serve as dwelling-places during the ...
/g/garden.htm - 38k

What was the tent of meeting? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about the value of a secret place? | GotQuestions.org

Is the idea of seven heavens / the seventh heaven biblical? | GotQuestions.org

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