In the biblical context, the concept of residence encompasses both the physical dwelling places of individuals and the spiritual significance of where God chooses to dwell among His people. Throughout Scripture, the idea of residence is closely tied to themes of belonging, divine presence, and covenant relationship.

Old Testament

1. Patriarchal Dwellings: The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, often lived as nomads, residing in tents as they journeyed through the land promised to them by God. Genesis 12:8 describes Abraham's practice of building altars to the LORD near his places of residence, signifying his worship and acknowledgment of God's presence: "From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD" .

2. The Tabernacle and the Temple: The Tabernacle, and later the Temple, served as the central place of worship and the dwelling place of God's presence among the Israelites. Exodus 25:8 states, "Then have them make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them" . The construction of the Temple by Solomon marked a significant moment in Israel's history, as it became the permanent residence of God's presence in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:10-13).

3. Exile and Return: The Babylonian exile was a period when the Israelites were removed from their homeland and the Temple was destroyed. This displacement was seen as a consequence of their disobedience. However, the promise of return and restoration included the rebuilding of the Temple, symbolizing God's renewed residence among His people (Ezra 1:2-3).

New Testament

1. Jesus Christ: In the New Testament, the concept of residence takes on a profound spiritual dimension with the incarnation of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" . Jesus' earthly ministry was marked by His presence among the people, teaching, healing, and ultimately providing the way for reconciliation with God.

2. The Church as God's Dwelling: With the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, believers collectively became the temple of God. Ephesians 2:19-22 explains, "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit" .

3. Heavenly Residence: The ultimate residence for believers is in the presence of God in heaven. Jesus assures His followers of this eternal dwelling in John 14:2-3: "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? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am" .

Theological Significance

The theme of residence in the Bible underscores the relationship between God and His people. It highlights God's desire to dwell among His creation and the importance of holiness and obedience in maintaining that divine presence. From the temporary dwellings of the patriarchs to the eternal home promised in heaven, residence reflects both the physical and spiritual journey of faith.1. (n.) The act or fact of residing, abiding, or dwelling in a place for some continuance of time; as, the residence of an American in France or Italy for a year.

2. (n.) The place where one resides; an abode; a dwelling or habitation; esp., a settled or permanent home or domicile.

3. (n.) The residing of an incumbent on his benefice; -- opposed to nonresidence.

4. (n.) The place where anything rests permanently.

5. (n.) Subsidence, as of a sediment.

6. (n.) That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum.

4232. praitorion -- Praetorium (official residence of a governor) ...
... Praetorium (official residence of a governor), praetorian guard. Part of Speech:
Noun, Neuter Transliteration: praitorion Phonetic Spelling: (prahee-to'-ree-on ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4232.htm - 7k

1774. enoikeo -- to dwell in
... 1774 (from 1722 "in," intensifying 3611 , "dwell" at home, one's personal residence) --
properly, dwelling a state (condition), ie ; to ("in-habit") as one's ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1774.htm - 7k

4636. skenos -- a tent, fig. for the body
... tabernacle. From skene; a hut or temporary residence, ie (figuratively) the human
body (as the abode of the spirit) -- tabernacle. see GREEK skene. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4636.htm - 6k

4638. skenoma -- a tent
... tabernacle. From skenoo; an encampment, ie (figuratively) the Temple (as God's
residence), the body (as a tenement for the soul) -- tabernacle. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4638.htm - 7k

3614. oikia -- a house, dwelling
... From oikos; properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode
(literally or figuratively); by implication, a family (especially domestics ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3614.htm - 6k

1739. endomesis -- building, structure
... building, structure From a compound of en and a derivative of the base of demos;
a housing in (residence), ie Structure -- building. see GREEK en. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1739.htm - 6k

3438. mone -- an abiding, an abode
... abode, mansion. From meno; a staying, ie Residence (the act or the place) -- abode,
mansion. see GREEK meno. (monai) -- 1 Occurrence. 3437, 3438. mone. 3439 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3438.htm - 6k

3350. metoikesia -- change of abode
... Word Origin from metoikeo (to change one's abode) Definition change of abode NASB
Word Usage deportation (4). change of residence, deportation. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3350.htm - 6k

2730. katoikeo -- to inhabit, to settle
... intensifying 3611 , "dwell, reside") -- properly, settle as a permanent resident,
ie in a () dwelling place as one's personal residence; (figuratively) "to be ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2730.htm - 8k

2731. katoikesis -- dwelling
... dwelling. From katoikeo; residence (properly, the act; but by implication,
concretely, the mansion) -- dwelling. see GREEK katoikeo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2731.htm - 6k

7800. Shushan -- residence of Pers. kings
... 7799, 7800. Shushan. 7801 . residence of Pers. ... Word Origin from the same as
shushan Definition residence of Pers. kings NASB Word Usage Susa (21). Shushan. ...
/hebrew/7800.htm - 6k

7871. shibah -- a sojourn
... Word Origin from yashab Definition a sojourn NASB Word Usage stayed (1). residence.
From yashab; residence -- while...lay. see HEBREW yashab. 7870, 7871. ...
/hebrew/7871.htm - 6k

1657. Goshen -- a district in Egypt, also a city in S. Judah
... Goshen. Probably of Egyptian origin; Goshen, the residence of the Israelites in
Egypt; also a place in Palestine -- Goshen. 1656, 1657. Goshen. 1658 . ...
/hebrew/1657.htm - 6k

4908. mishkan -- dwelling place, tabernacle
... From shakan; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively,
the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly ...
/hebrew/4908.htm - 6k

5116. naveh -- abode of shepherd or flocks, habitation
... vaw'}; from navah; (adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction)
lovely; also (noun) a home, of God (temple), men (residence), flocks (pasture ...
/hebrew/5116.htm - 6k

4033. magor -- a sojourning place, dwelling place, a sojourning
... Or magur {maw-goor'}; from guwr in the sense of lodging; a temporary abode; by
extension, a permanent residence -- dwelling, pilgrimage, where sojourn, be a ...
/hebrew/4033.htm - 6k

1628. Geruth -- "lodging place," a place near Bethlehem
... Geruth (1). habitation. From guwr; a (temporary) residence -- habitation. see
HEBREW guwr. 1627, 1628. Geruth. 1629 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1628.htm - 6k

2073. zebul -- elevation, height, lofty abode
... dwell in, dwelling, habitation. Or zbul {zeb-ool'}; from zabal; a residence --
dwell in, dwelling, habitation. see HEBREW zabal. 2072, 2073. ...
/hebrew/2073.htm - 6k

5121. Navith -- an abode of prophets
... Naioth. From navah; residence; Navith, a place in Palestine -- Naioth (from the
margin). see HEBREW navah. 5120, 5121. Navith. 5122 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5121.htm - 6k

1004. bayith -- a house
... 6), jailer* (3), large enough to hold (1), palace (22), palace and the houses (1),
perfume* (1), place (2), places (1), prison* (15), residence (1), room (6 ...
/hebrew/1004.htm - 7k

His First Residence in Germany.
... CHAPTER IV. HIS FIRST RESIDENCE IN GERMANY. 1822-24. ... John Yeardley's residence was
at Friedensthal, a hamlet about a mile from the town of Pyrmont. ...
/.../chapter iv his first residence.htm

Pelagius' Long Residence at Rome.
... Book II. On Original Sin. Chapter 24."Pelagius' Long Residence at Rome.
The truth indeed is, that in the book of his faith which ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 pelagius long residence at.htm

Jesus' First Residence at Capernaum.
... Part Third. Beginning of Our Lord's Ministry. XXIII. Jesus' First Residence
at Capernaum. ^D John 2:12. ^d 12 After this he went ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxiii jesus first residence at.htm

Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum.
... Part Fourth. From the First to the Second Passover. (Time: One Year.) XXIX.
Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum. ^A Matthew 4:13-16. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxix jesus temporary residence at.htm

1861-1869. Prayer of Hon. And Rev. Baptist Noel --Residence in ...
... CHAPTER I. 1861-1869. Prayer of Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel"Residence in Cambridgeshire"
Visit to London in 1861. CHAPTER I.1861-1869. Prayer of Hon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter i 1861-1869 prayer of.htm

Next Morning, However, Archelaus Suddenly Made his Appearance at ...
... 46 Next morning, however, Archelaus suddenly made his appearance at this
residence in which Diodorus was? Next morning, however ...
/.../46 next morning however archelaus.htm

No Disparagement of Our Doctrine in St. Paul's Phrase, which Calls ...
... Chapter XLIII."No Disparagement of Our Doctrine in St. Paul's Phrase, Which
Calls Our Residence in the Flesh Absence from the Lord. ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xliii no disparagement of our.htm

Perversity of Theophilus. St. Epiphanius: his Residence at ...
... Book VIII. Chapter XIV."Perversity of Theophilus. St. Epiphanius: his Residence
at Constantinople and Preparation to excite the People against John. ...
/.../chapter xiv perversity of theophilus st.htm

At the Foot of the Bamboos
... the harbor from Quemoy and other islands, near the mouth of the harbor or from the
cities and villages on the seacoast, the first foreign residence at Amoy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/v at the foot of.htm

The Civil Trial
... The residence of the governor was not in Jerusalem, in which no one accustomed to
the pleasures of Rome"its theatres, baths, games, literature and society ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter iv the civil trial.htm

Residence (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act or fact of residing, abiding, or dwelling in a place for some
continuance of time; as, the residence of an American in France or Italy for a ...
/r/residence.htm - 8k

Innocents (2 Occurrences)
... ANALYSIS OF NARRATIVE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MOTIVE 1. Focus of Narrative-Residence
at Nazareth 2. Corollaries from Above Facts 3. Marks of Historicity I ...
/i/innocents.htm - 20k

Massacre (1 Occurrence)
... ANALYSIS OF NARRATIVE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MOTIVE 1. Focus of Narrative-Residence
at Nazareth 2. Corollaries from Above Facts 3. Marks of Historicity I ...
/m/massacre.htm - 20k

Judgment (430 Occurrences)
... the Revised Version renders "palace." In Mark 15:16 the word is rendered "Praetorium"
(qv), which is a Latin word, meaning literally the residence of the ...
/j/judgment.htm - 52k

Palace (194 Occurrences)
... Version there are many different words so rendered, presenting different ideas,
such as that of citadel or lofty fortress or royal residence (Nehemiah 1:1; Dan ...
/p/palace.htm - 40k

Praetorium (8 Occurrences)
... It denotes (1) the general's tent or headquarters; (2) the governor's residence,
as in Acts 23:35 (RV, "palace"); and (3) the praetorian guard (see PALACE), or ...
/p/praetorium.htm - 14k

Journey (214 Occurrences)
... one on his journey, the traveler might select some tree or some stone wall at a
distance of 2,000 paces and mentally declare this to be his residence for the ...
/j/journey.htm - 42k

Day's (19 Occurrences)
... one on his journey, the traveler might select some tree or some stone wall at a
distance of 2,000 paces and mentally declare this to be his residence for the ...
/d/day's.htm - 17k

Settlement (4 Occurrences)
... 12. (n.) Fractures or dislocations caused by settlement. 13. (n.) A settled place
of abode; residence; a right growing out of residence; legal residence or ...
/s/settlement.htm - 9k

Quarter (33 Occurrences)
... 17. (vt) Place of lodging or temporary residence; shelter; entertainment; -- usually
in the plural. 18. ... 21. (vi) To lodge; to have a temporary residence. 22. ...
/q/quarter.htm - 21k

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Residence: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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