Tabernacle of Testimony Witness
Jump to: ISBEGreekLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The Tabernacle of Testimony, also known as the Tent of Meeting, holds a significant place in the religious and cultural history of the Israelites as described in the Old Testament. It served as the portable earthly dwelling place of Yahweh (God) among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. The term "Tabernacle of Testimony" emphasizes its role as a witness to the covenant between God and His people, housing the Ark of the Covenant which contained the tablets of the Law.

Biblical Description and Construction

The instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle are detailed in the Book of Exodus, chapters 25 through 31, and its actual construction is described in chapters 35 through 40. God commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle according to the pattern shown to him on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:9: "You must make it according to all that I show you—the design of the tabernacle and the design of all its furnishings."). The Tabernacle was to be a sacred space where God would dwell among His people and where they could offer sacrifices and worship.

The structure of the Tabernacle included the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). The Most Holy Place housed the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, and a jar of manna (Hebrews 9:4). The Ark was considered the earthly throne of God, and the mercy seat atop the Ark was where God's presence would appear.

Function and Significance

The Tabernacle served multiple functions: it was a place of worship, a center for sacrificial offerings, and a symbol of God's presence and guidance. It was also a place where Moses and the priests would communicate with God. The cloud of God's glory, known as the Shekinah, would rest upon the Tabernacle, signifying His presence (Exodus 40:34-35: "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.").

The Tabernacle was a constant reminder to the Israelites of God's covenant and His faithfulness. It was a place where the Israelites could seek atonement for their sins through the sacrificial system, which foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the Tabernacle of Testimony is seen as a precursor to the Temple in Jerusalem and ultimately to the coming of Jesus Christ, who is described in the New Testament as the true Tabernacle (John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."). The Tabernacle's design and function pointed to the holiness of God and the need for a mediator between God and humanity, a role fulfilled by Christ.

The Tabernacle also illustrates the concept of God dwelling among His people, a theme that is carried throughout the Bible and culminates in the New Testament with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers. The presence of God with His people is a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing His desire for a relationship with humanity.

Historical Context

Historically, the Tabernacle was used throughout the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness and during their conquest of Canaan. It was eventually replaced by Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, which became the permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant and the center of Jewish worship.

The Tabernacle of Testimony remains a profound symbol of God's covenant, His holiness, and His desire to dwell among His people, serving as a testament to His enduring faithfulness and love.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Tabernacle of Testimony Witness

TABERNACLE OF TESTIMONY (WITNESS)

(Numbers 9:15 2 Chronicles 24:6, the Revised Version (British and American) "the tent of the testimony").

See TABERNACLE.

Greek
3142. marturion -- a testimony, a witness
... something evidential, ie (genitive case) evidence given or (specially), the Decalogue
(in the sacred Tabernacle) -- to be testified, testimony, witness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3142.htm - 6k
Library

The Testimony of Jesus Christ
... 15:5), where it is used of a thing, "the tabernacle of the ... In every other place
(nine times) we have marturia, ie, the testimony given or witness borne (i ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the testimony of jesus christ.htm

The Levites Ought to be Utterly Free from all Earthly Desires. ...
... For it is right that the witness to our acts and works should be ... of Israel, but thou
shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter l the levites ought.htm

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
... of the law, which were called the testimony, as bearing ... provision of, a means whereby
the witness of the ... The two divisions of the Tabernacle, thus separated by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the copies of things in.htm

John Chapter v. 19-40
... it was God and none other that bore witness to His ... But yet in another way God bears
testimony to His Son ... down the soul, and the earthly tabernacle depresses the ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxiii john chapter v.htm

The Sixth vision "In Heaven"
... stage of the Apocalyptic visions and judgments, the witness and testimony ... looked,
and [315] the Temple (Naos) of the tabernacle of the testimony was opened ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision in heaven.htm

Of the Times of Moses and Joshua the Son of Nun, of the Judges ...
... desert, under the leadership of Moses, when the tabernacle of testimony was dedicated ...
on most prosperously and wonderfully, God calling to witness that they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 43 of the times of.htm

The Story of the Baptist, from his Last Testimony to Jesus to his ...
... The last recorded testimony of the Baptist had ... to a marriage, but the Tabernacle
and Temple ... afford evidence of truthful, independent witness, and irrefragable ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxviii the story of.htm

Were Christ and the Apostles Mistaken?
... he was about to make the tabernacle," and received ... proclaimed "Christ and him crucified."
Christ's testimony here is ... of me," of Christ, the witness of these ...
/.../concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism/iv were christ and the.htm

1 John i. 1-ii. 11
... them who had seen, that, while their testimony itself displeased ... men also may have
God to be their witness. ... in the sun He hath set His tabernacle; and Himself ...
/.../ten homilies on the epistle of john to the parthians/homily i 1 john i.htm

The Tabernacle of the Most High
... DAY TO LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW TABERNACLE. ... heart would so freely acknowledge,
as that testimony to himself ... The witness of our church must be one and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the tabernacle of the most.htm

Resources
What was the brazen altar? | GotQuestions.org

What was the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30)? | GotQuestions.org

What did the Law mean when it referred to a lasting ordinance? | GotQuestions.org

Tabernacle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Tabernacle

Tabernacle of Christ

Tabernacle of Testimony Witness

Tabernacle of the Body

Tabernacle of the Church

Tabernacle was a Moveable Tent Suited to the Unsettled Condition of

Tabernacle was Set up by Moses at Mount Sinai

Tabernacle was Set up in Nob

Tabernacle was Set up in Shiloh

Tabernacle was Set Up: At Gilgal

Tabernacle was Set Up: Finally at Gibeon

Tabernacle: (The Holy of Holies) Heaven

Tabernacle: (The Vail) Christ's Body

Tabernacle: (The Vail) the Obscurity of the Mosaic Age

Tabernacle: A Permanent House Substituted For, when the Kingdom Was

Tabernacle: All Males Required to Appear Before, Three Times Each Year

Tabernacle: All offerings to be Made At

Tabernacle: Anointed and Consecrated With Oil

Tabernacle: Anointed With Holy Oil

Tabernacle: Brought to the Temple by Solomon

Tabernacle: Called The: House of the Lord

Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of Joseph

Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of Shiloh

Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of Testimony or Witness

Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of the Congregation

Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of the Lord

Tabernacle: Called The: Temple of the Lord

Tabernacle: Carried in Front of the People of Israel in the Line of March

Tabernacle: Causes Tried At

Tabernacle: Completed

Tabernacle: Court of all the Pillars of, Filleted With Silver

Tabernacle: Court of all the Vessels of, Made of Brass

Tabernacle: Court of Contained the Brazen Altar and Laver of Brass

Tabernacle: Court of One Hundred Cubits Long and Fifty Cubits Wide

Tabernacle: Court of Surrounded by Curtains of Fine Line Suspended from Pillars

Tabernacle: Court of The Gate of, a Hanging of Blue, Purple Twenty Cubits

Tabernacle: Coverings of The First or Inner, Ten Curtains of Blue, Purple Joined

Tabernacle: Coverings of The Fourth or Outward of Badgers' Skins

Tabernacle: Coverings of The Second, Eleven Curtains of Goats' Hair

Tabernacle: Coverings of The Third of Rams' Skins Dyed Red

Tabernacle: Dedicated

Tabernacle: Defilement of, Punished

Tabernacle: Description of The Frame

Tabernacle: Designed for Manifestation of God's Presence and for His

Tabernacle: Divided by a Vail of Blue, Purple, Suspended from Four

Tabernacle: Divided Into: The Holy Place

Tabernacle: Divided Into: The Most Holy Place

Tabernacle: Divine Wisdom Given to Bezaleel to Make

Tabernacle: Filled With the Cloud of Glory

Tabernacle: First Reared, on the First Day of the Second Year After The

Tabernacle: Free-Will offerings Made at the Dedication of the Altar of

Tabernacle: Free-Will offerings Made at the First Rearing of

Tabernacle: had a Court Round About

Tabernacle: How and by Whom Carried

Tabernacle: How Prepared for Removal During the Travels of the Israelites

Tabernacle: Israelites Worship At

Tabernacle: Made of the Free-Will offerings of the People

Tabernacle: Materials For, Voluntarily offered

Tabernacle: Moses Was Commanded to Make After a Divine Pattern

Tabernacle: Offerings Brought To

Tabernacle: One Existed Before Moses Received the Pattern Authorized on Mount Sinai

Tabernacle: Pattern of, Revealed to Moses

Tabernacle: Pitched: At Gibeon

Tabernacle: Pitched: At Gilgal

Tabernacle: Pitched: At Nob

Tabernacle: Pitched: At Shiloh

Tabernacle: Punishment for Defiling

Tabernacle: Renewed by David, and Pitched Upon Mount Zion

Tabernacle: Sanctified

Tabernacle: Sanctified by the Glory of the Lord

Tabernacle: Solomon offers Sacrifice At

Tabernacle: Sprinkled and Purified With Blood

Tabernacle: Sprinkled With Blood

Tabernacle: Strangers (Foreigners) Forbidden to Enter

Tabernacle: Symbol of Spiritual Things

Tabernacle: Tabernacle Tax

Tabernacle: The Ark and Mercy-Seat Put in the Most Holy Place

Tabernacle: The Boards of had Each Two Tenons Fitted Into Sockets of Silver

Tabernacle: The Boards of Made of Shittim Wood

Tabernacle: The Boards of Six, and Two Corner Boards for West Side

Tabernacle: The Boards of Supported by Bars of Shittim Wood Resting in Rings of Gold

Tabernacle: The Boards of Ten Cubits High by One and a Half Broad

Tabernacle: The Boards of Twenty on North Side

Tabernacle: The Boards of Twenty on South Side

Tabernacle: The Boards of With the Bars, Covered With Gold

Tabernacle: The Cloud of Glory Rested On, by Night and Day During Its

Tabernacle: The Courtyard of

Tabernacle: The Curtains of

Tabernacle: The Door of, a Curtain of Blue and Purple Suspended by Gold

Tabernacle: The Furniture of

Tabernacle: The Holy Place of

Tabernacle: The Journeys of Israel Regulated by the Cloud On

Tabernacle: The Levites: Appointed Over, and had Charge of

Tabernacle: The Levites: Carried

Tabernacle: The Levites: did the Inferior Service of

Tabernacle: The Levites: Pitched Their Tents Around

Tabernacle: The Levites: Took Down, and Put Up

Tabernacle: The Lord Appeared In, Over the Mercy-Seat

Tabernacle: The Lord Reveals Himself At

Tabernacle: The Most Holy Place

Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called of Testimony

Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: House of the Lord

Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Sanctuary

Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Tabernacle (A. V.), Tent (R. V.)

Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Tabernacle (A. V.), Tent of Meeting (R. V.)

Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Temple of the Lord

Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Tent of Testimony (R. V.)

Tabernacle: The Outer Covering

Tabernacle: The Priests were the Ministers of

Tabernacle: The Priests: Alone Could Enter

Tabernacle: The Priests: Performed all Services In

Tabernacle: The Second Covering

Tabernacle: The Table of Show-Bread, the Golden Candlestick, and The

Tabernacle: Tribes Encamped Around, While in the Wilderness

Tabernacle: Value of the Substance Contributed For

Tabernacle: Workmen Who Constructed It Were Inspired

Related Terms

Tabernacle's (2 Occurrences)

Tabernacle-door (2 Occurrences)

Frames (47 Occurrences)

Boards (50 Occurrences)

Rear (46 Occurrences)

Bars (50 Occurrences)

Furnishings (22 Occurrences)

Laver (13 Occurrences)

Curtains (34 Occurrences)

Pitched (101 Occurrences)

Clasps (7 Occurrences)

Screen (26 Occurrences)

Westward (35 Occurrences)

Encamp (108 Occurrences)

Encamped (115 Occurrences)

Socket (5 Occurrences)

Bullock (95 Occurrences)

Courtyard (59 Occurrences)

Instruments (136 Occurrences)

Furniture (24 Occurrences)

Reared (22 Occurrences)

Erected (26 Occurrences)

Southward (42 Occurrences)

Merari (38 Occurrences)

Journeyed (111 Occurrences)

Sides (170 Occurrences)

Duties (46 Occurrences)

Hinder (47 Occurrences)

Hanging (82 Occurrences)

Taches (7 Occurrences)

Tenon

Tabernacled (6 Occurrences)

Merarites (7 Occurrences)

Pegs (22 Occurrences)

Pins (12 Occurrences)

Crossbars (8 Occurrences)

Holies (23 Occurrences)

Gershonites (17 Occurrences)

Badger (9 Occurrences)

Pitch (25 Occurrences)

Sockets (44 Occurrences)

Acacia (28 Occurrences)

Posts (68 Occurrences)

West (110 Occurrences)

Vail (44 Occurrences)

Skins (27 Occurrences)

Kohathites (18 Occurrences)

Ithamar (20 Occurrences)

Ropes (32 Occurrences)

Entereth (40 Occurrences)

Candlestick (34 Occurrences)

Buttons (7 Occurrences)

Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences)

Utensils (72 Occurrences)

Pillars (132 Occurrences)

Hangings (23 Occurrences)

Surrounding (78 Occurrences)

Gershon (23 Occurrences)

Curtain (60 Occurrences)

North (164 Occurrences)

Setteth (116 Occurrences)

Cords (80 Occurrences)

Veil (67 Occurrences)

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)

Staves (50 Occurrences)

Shittim (34 Occurrences)

Material (61 Occurrences)

Pattern (28 Occurrences)

Entrance (190 Occurrences)

Loop

Layman (9 Occurrences)

Levite (43 Occurrences)

Goats'

Finely (27 Occurrences)

Twined (25 Occurrences)

Tent-door (6 Occurrences)

Raising (29 Occurrences)

Requirements (26 Occurrences)

Encamping (24 Occurrences)

Tabernacle of Shiloh
Top of Page
Top of Page