Original Word: אֹהֶל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ohel
Pronunciation: OH-hel
Phonetic Spelling: (o'-hel)
KJV: covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle, tent
NASB: tent, tents, home, owned, side pillar
Word Origin: [from H166 (אָהַל - has brightness)]

1. a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)

covering, dwelling-place, home, tabernacle, tent

From 'ahal; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) -- covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle, tent.

see HEBREW 'ahal

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a tent
NASB Translation
home (1), owned (1), side pillar (1), tent (285), tents (56).

אֹ֫הֶל₃₄₃ noun masculine^{Genesis 13:3} tent (compare Assyrian âlu, above, Arabic , fellow-dwellers, family, Sabean אהל DHM^{ZMG 1883, 341} and others, also in proper names Sabean & Phoenician see אהליאב) — absolute ׳א Genesis 4:20 +; construct id. Exodus 28:43 +; אֹ֫הֱלָה (ה locative) Genesis 18:6 +; suffix אָהֳלִי Job 29:4 +; אָֽהָלִךָ Psalm 61:5; אָֽהֳלֹה Genesis 9:21 3t. (see Dr^{Sm xxxv}); plural אֹהָלִים Genesis 13:5 + (Ges^{§ 23}. 3); בָֽאֳהָלִים Judges 8:11 +; construct אָהֳלֵי Numbers 16:26 +; suffix אֹהָלַי Jeremiah 4:20; אֹהָלֶיךָ Numbers 24:5 +; אָהֳלֵיכֶם Joshua 22:8 +, etc. —

1 tent of nomad Songs 1:5; Jeremiah 6:3; Jeremiah 49:29; ׳ישֵׁב א dweller in tents Genesis 4:20; Genesis 25:27 (J); אָהֳלֵי מִקְנֶה tents of cattle2Chron 14:14; of soldier 1 Samuel 17:54 compare Dr, Jeremiah 37:10; 1 Kings 8:66 לְאֹהָלֶיךָ, ישׂראל, exclamation, to thy tents, Israel ! 1 Kings 12:16 (twice in verse) compare 2Chronicles 10:16; 2 Samuel 20:1 (but compare Dr, 1 Samuel 17:54); of pleasure-tent on house-top 2 Samuel 16:22 (= bridal-tent, bridal pavilion, compare חֻמָּה Psalm 19:5; Joel 2:16 see RS^{Kinship 168}).

2 dwelling, habitation; Psalm 91:10 לְאֹהָלֶ֑ךָ home (literally to thy tents, plural) Judges 19:9 (after הלך); ׳א בֵּיתִי habitation of my house Psalm 132:3 compare Daniel 11:45; דוד ׳א habitation or palace of David where throne erected Isaiah 16:5; בַת צִיּוֺן ׳א h. of daughter of Zion (= Jerusalem) Lamentations 2:4; אָהֲלֵי יַעֲקֹב Jeremiah 30:18; Malachi 2:12 ("" מִשְׁכָּן); יְהוּדָה ׳א Zechariah 12:7 ("" בית דוד); רְשָׁעִים ׳א h. of wicked Job 8:22, compare רֶשַׁע ׳א Psalm 84:11, יְשָׁרִים ׳א Proverbs 14:11; שֹׁחַד ׳א Job 15:34; צַדִּיקִים ׳א Psalm 118:15; אֱדוֺם ׳א = Edom itself, Psalm 83:7 compare קְדָר ׳א Psalm 120:5 כוּשָׁן ׳א Habakkuk 3:7.

3 the sacred tent used in worship of God; הָאֹהֶל the tent; מוֺעֵד ׳א tent of meeting of God with his people (tent of congregation or assembly Ges MV and others) According to E Moses so called the tent which he used to pitch without the camp, afar off, into which he used to enter, & where God spake with him face to face, Exodus 33:7-11 Numbers 12:5,10; Deuteronomy 31:14,15; J seems to have same conception of an ׳מ ׳א outside the camp, Numbers 11:24,26; D has no allusion to such a tent; P mentions it 131 t. as ׳מ ׳א; 19 t. as הָאֹהֶל (compare Ezekiel 41:1) & הָעֵדוּת ׳א, tent of the testimony Numbers 9:15; Numbers 17:22; Numbers 17:23; Numbers 18:2 (as containing ark & tables of the testimony) compare 2 Chronicles 24:6; this tent sometimes confounded with the מִשְׁכָּן but distinguished in ׳מ ׳מִשְׁכַּן א Exodus 39:32; Exodus 40:2,6,29, compare 1 Chronicles 6:17; הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְהָאֹהֶל Numbers 3:25; אֶתהַֿמִּשְׁכָּן וְאֶתאָֿהֳלוֺ Exodus 35:11; tent was of three layers of skins, goatskins, ramskins, & tachash skins, each layer of eleven pieces stretched in form of a tent, covering & protecting the מִשְׁכָּן, which was in form of parallelopip. (Exodus 26). An אֹהֶל מוֺעֵד was at Shilo 1 Samuel 2:22 (omitted ᵐ5; see Dr) compare Psalm 78:60, called יוֺסֵף ׳א Psalm 78:67. The Mosaic ׳מ ׳א was later at Gibeon 2 Chronicles 1:3,6,13; courses of ministry arranged for service at ׳מ ׳א 1 Chronicles 6:17; 1 Chronicles 23:32 compare 1 Chronicles 9:19 (׳הָא), 1 Chronicles 9:21; 1 Chronicles 9:23 (׳בֵּית הָא); David erected an אֹהֶל for ark on Mt. Zion 2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Chronicles 15:1; 1 Chronicles 16:1; 2Chronicles 1:4; Joab fled for refuge to יהוה ׳א 1 Kings 2:28-30; sacred oil brought from ׳הָא 1 Kings 1:39; the מוֺעֵד ׳א was taken up into temple 1 Kings 8:4 2Chronicles 5:5; ׳י had not previously dwelt in a בַּיִת, but had gone מֵאֹהֶל אֶלאֹֿהֶל from tent to tent, from one to another, 1 Chronicles 17:5, compare 2 Samuel 7:6; יהוה ׳א ("" בַּיִת & הַר קֹדֶשׁ) is refuge & dwelling-place of righteous, Psalm 15:1; Psalm 27:5; Psalm 27:6; Psalm 61:5 (compare Psalm 90:1).

Foundational Concept

Ohel designates the movable dwelling made of fabric or animal skins that characterized the life of the Ancient Near East nomad. In Scripture it ranges from the simplest shepherd’s shelter to the majestic Tent of Meeting that housed the Ark of the Covenant. With roughly 345 occurrences, the word provides a wide‐angle lens on worship, family, war, prophecy and eschatology.

Patriarchal Nomadism

• Genesis anchors the tent in the earliest history of redemption. Jabal is called “the father of those who dwell in tents” (Genesis 4:20).
• Abraham journeys from Shechem to Bethel and on to the Negev, pitching his tent and building an altar wherever he receives fresh covenant assurances (Genesis 12:8; 13:3).
• Isaac is comforted after Sarah’s death when Rebekah “became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” in the shelter of his mother’s tent (Genesis 24:67).
• Jacob dwells “in tents” (Genesis 25:27), a phrase that portrays the quiet communal life which ultimately stands in stark contrast to Esau’s worldliness.

The tent thus embodies covenantal pilgrimage—transience on earth while holding title‐deed to promises from heaven (Hebrews 11:9–10).

Hospitality and Covenant Fellowship

• Abraham’s tent door becomes the open threshold of divine visitation: “While he was sitting at the entrance of his tent…he looked up and saw three men standing nearby” (Genesis 18:1–2). Hospitality flows naturally from a life lived in portable dwellings; the covenant family extends mercy because it lives by mercy.
• Tents provide the setting for oaths and treaties (Genesis 21:31–32) and for the reconciliation of estranged brothers (Genesis 31:25–54).

Domestic Order and Moral Warnings

• Blessing is promised on “the tents of Shem” (Genesis 9:27) and peace withheld from the tents of the wicked (Job 21:28).
• Sin crouches even at the flap of godly households: from Ham’s dishonor of Noah (Genesis 9:21) to the tragic saga of Achan who hides forbidden plunder “in the ground beneath his tent” (Joshua 7:21). These narratives preach vigilance lest covenant tents become dens of compromise.

Military Headquarters and Battle

• Israel’s armies are counted “by their divisions, each man in his own camp, and each under his own standard, with the Levites camping around the tabernacle” (Numbers 2:17).
• Enemy kings plot from their tents—Sisera is slain with a tent peg in the hand of Jael (Judges 4:21), and Holofernes (in later Jewish tradition) is likewise destroyed. Warfare scenes repeatedly mention tents to stress both the vulnerability and organization of ancient forces (1 Samuel 17:20; 2 Samuel 11:11).

The Tent of Meeting: Center of Worship

• Exodus 33:7 introduces the ohel moʿed, “the Tent of Meeting, set up outside the camp.” Though simple in form, it serves as the thunderous epicenter of revelation: “The LORD would speak with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exodus 33:11).
• When the completed tabernacle replaces the provisional tent (Exodus 40:2–34), ohel remains the preferred term for the holy sanctuary in priestly legislation (Leviticus 1:1; Numbers 1:1).
• God’s indwelling presence confers holiness on the entire camp: “You must have a place outside the camp to go and relieve yourself…for the LORD your God moves about in your camp” (Deuteronomy 23:12–14). Transgression defiles what worship sanctifies.

Covenant Structure and Tribal Identity

Tribal banners and positions are fixed in relation to the sacred tent (Numbers 2). Judah camps on the east, signaling both royal primacy and messianic promise. Every subsequent mention of “tents of Judah” or “tents of Jacob” (e.g., Zechariah 12:7) echoes this arrangement, pointing to God’s protective rule over His covenant people.

Prophetic Imagery of Fragility and Restoration

• Isaiah likens Zion to “a tent that will not be moved” (Isaiah 33:20) in spite of Assyrian threat.
• Jeremiah laments, “My tent is destroyed, all its ropes are snapped” (Jeremiah 10:20), a vivid portrait of the exile.
• Conversely, God pledges to “tabernacle” anew with His remnant: “I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob” (Jeremiah 30:18).

Poetic Theology of Transience

• Job, Psalms and Proverbs employ ohel to depict the brevity of life—“My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good. They pass like the swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey” (Job 9:25–26), then, “Like a shepherd’s tent I have rolled up my life” (Isaiah 38:12).
• This transience sets up the yearning for an unshakable dwelling (Psalm 61:4; Psalm 91:10).

Christological Foreshadowing

The Tent of Meeting prefigures the incarnation: “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” (John 1:14, literal). Jesus is the greater tent where glory, sacrifice and mediation permanently converge (Hebrews 8–9). The transient ohel reaches its telos in the risen Christ.

Eschatological Consummation

• Zechariah foresees final rescue: “The LORD will save the tents of Judah first” (Zechariah 12:7).
• Revelation takes up the thread: “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men, and He will tabernacle with them” (Revelation 21:3). Earthly fabric gives way to an eternal, cosmic ohel in the new creation.

Practical and Ministerial Applications

1. Pilgrim Identity: Believers are “strangers and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11). The tent motif calls the church to hold possessions loosely and the promises tightly.
2. Hospitality: The open flap of Abraham’s tent models gospel welcome—mission fields frequently begin at the threshold of a Christian home.
3. Holiness in Community: As impurity excluded one from Israel’s camp, so church discipline and personal integrity safeguard the present dwelling of God among His people (1 Corinthians 5:6–8).
4. Worship and Mobility: Modern ministry—whether church planting, disaster relief or missionary movement—echoes the portable nature of Israel’s sanctuary: God’s presence goes before His servants.

Summary

Ohel threads through Scripture as a symbol of mobility, vulnerability, communion and divine presence. It begins with nomadic patriarchs, rises in splendor as the locus of revelation, warns in prophetic judgment, and culminates in God’s eternal habitation with redeemed humanity.

אָֽהֳלֵי־ אָֽהֳלֵיהֶ֔ם אָֽהֳלֵיכֶם֙ אָֽהֳלֹ֔ה אָהֳל֑וֹ אָהֳל֔וֹ אָהֳל֖וֹ אָהֳלִ֑י אָהֳלִ֔י אָהֳלִ֣י אָהֳלִֽי׃ אָהֳלֵ֗ךְ אָהֳלֵ֣י אָהֳלֵ֥י אָהֳלֵ֨י אָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם אָהֳלֵיהֶ֖ם אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם אָהֳלֵיהֶ֜ם אָהֳלֵיהֶ֤ם אָהֳלֵיהֶֽם׃ אָהֳלֶ֑ךָ אָהֳלֶ֣י אָהֳלֹ֑ה אָהֳלֹֽה׃ אָהֳלֽוֹ׃ אָהֳלוֹ֙ אֹ֖הֶל אֹ֝֗הֶל אֹ֣הֶל אֹ֤הֶל אֹ֤הֶל ׀ אֹ֥הֶל אֹ֧הֶל אֹ֨הֶל אֹֽהֶל־ אֹֽהֶל׃ אֹֽהָלִ֨ים ׀ אֹהָלִֽים׃ אֹהָלִים֙ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ אֹהָלַ֔י אָֽהֳלֹו֙ אהל אהל־ אהל׃ אהלה אהלו אהלו׃ אהלי אהלי־ אהלי׃ אהליהם אהליהם׃ אהליך אהליכם אהלים אהלים׃ אהלך בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ בְ֭אָהָלְךָ בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם בְּ֭אָהֳלוֹ בְּאָ֣הֳלֵיהֶ֔ם בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־ בְּאָהֳל֑וֹ בְּאָהֳל֖וֹ בְּאָהֳלֵ֥י בְּאָהֳלֵי־ בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶ֖ם בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶֽם׃ בְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָ בְּאָהֳלֶֽךָ׃ בְּאָהֳלֽוֹ׃ בְּאָהֳלוֹ֙ בְּאֹ֑הֶל בְּאֹ֖הֶל בְּאֹ֙הֶל֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל בְּאֹ֤הֶל בְּאֹ֥הֶל בְּאֹהָלֶ֣יךָ בְּאֹהָלֶֽיךָ׃ בְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם בְאָהֳלֵיכֶם֙ בָּֽאֳהָלִ֑ים בָּאֳהָלִ֤ים בָּאֹ֑הֶל בָּאֹ֔הֶל בָּאֹ֖הֶל בָֽאֳהָלִ֔ים בָאֳהָלִ֖ים בָאֹֽהֶל׃ באהל באהל׃ באהלו באהלו׃ באהלי באהלי־ באהליהם באהליהם׃ באהליך באהליך׃ באהליכם באהלים באהלך באהלך׃ הָ֠אֹהֶל הָאָֽהֳלִ֖י הָאֹ֑הֱלָה הָאֹ֑הֶל הָאֹ֔הֱלָה הָאֹ֔הֶל הָאֹ֖הֱלָה הָאֹ֖הֶל הָאֹ֙הֱלָה֙ הָאֹ֙הֶל֙ הָאֹ֛הֶל הָאֹ֜הֶל הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃ הָאֹֽהֶל׃ האהל האהל׃ האהלה האהלה׃ האהלי וְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם וְאֹ֖הֶל וְאֹהָלִ֖ים וְאֹהָלִֽים׃ וְהָאֹ֑הֶל וּבְאֹ֛הֶל וּבְאֹ֣הֶל ואהל ואהליהם ואהלים ואהלים׃ ובאהל והאהל כְּאָהֳלֵ֣י כְּאֹ֣הֶל כָּאֹ֖הֶל כאהל כאהלי לְאָהֳל֔וֹ לְאָהֳל֖וֹ לְאָהֳלִֽי׃ לְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם לְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם לְאָהֳלֵיכֶ֗ם לְאָהֳלֵיכֶֽם׃ לְאֹ֖הֶל לְאֹ֣הֶל לְאֹ֥הֶל לְאֹֽהֶל־ לְאֹֽהָלָ֔יו לְאֹהָלֶ֙יךָ֙ לְאֹהָלֶֽיךָ׃ לְאֹהָלֶֽךָ׃ לְאֹהָלָ֑יו לְאֹהָלָ֔יו לְאֹהָלָ֖יו לְאֹהָלָֽיו׃ לָאֹ֑הֶל לָאֹ֔הֶל לאהל לאהל־ לאהלו לאהלי׃ לאהליהם לאהליו לאהליו׃ לאהליך לאהליך׃ לאהליכם לאהליכם׃ לאהלך׃ מֵ֭אָהֳלוֹ מֵאָ֣הֳלֵיהֶ֔ם מֵאָהֳלֵ֖י מֵאָהֳלֶֽךָ׃ מֵאֹ֑הֶל מֵאֹ֣הֶל מֵאֹ֥הֶל מאהל מאהלו מאהלי מאהליהם מאהלך׃ ’ā·ho·le ’ā·ho·lê ’ā·ho·lê- ’ā·ho·lê·hem ’ā·ho·le·ḵā ’ā·ho·lê·ḵem ’ā·ho·lêḵ ’ā·ho·lî ’ā·ho·lōh ’ā·ho·lōw ’āhole ’āholê ’āholê- ’āholêhem ’āholêḵ ’āholeḵā ’āholêḵem ’āholî ’āholōh ’āholōw ’ō·hā·lay ’ō·hā·le·ḵā ’ō·hā·lîm ’ō·hel ’ō·hel- ’ōhālay ’ōhāleḵā ’ōhālîm ’ōhel ’ōhel- bā’ohālîm ḇā’ohālîm bā’ōhel ḇā’ōhel bā·’o·hā·lîm ḇā·’o·hā·lîm bā·’ō·hel ḇā·’ō·hel baOhel ḇə’āhāləḵā bə’āholê bə’āholê- bə’āholêhem ḇə’āholêhem bə’āholeḵā ḇə’āholêḵem bə’āholōw ḇə’āholōw bə’ōhāleḵā bə’ōhel ḇə·’ā·hā·lə·ḵā bə·’ā·ho·lê bə·’ā·ho·lê- bə·’ā·ho·lê·hem ḇə·’ā·ho·lê·hem bə·’ā·ho·le·ḵā ḇə·’ā·ho·lê·ḵem bə·’ā·ho·lōw ḇə·’ā·ho·lōw bə·’ō·hā·le·ḵā bə·’ō·hel beohaLeicha beOhel beohoLecha beoholei beoholeiHem beohoLo boohaLim hā’āholî hā’ōhel hā’ōhĕlāh hā·’ā·ho·lî hā·’ō·hĕ·lāh hā·’ō·hel haOhel haOhelah haohoLi kā’ōhel kā·’ō·hel kaOhel kə’āholê kə’ōhel kə·’ā·ho·lê kə·’ō·hel keOhel keohoLei lā’ōhel lā·’ō·hel laOhel lə’āholêhem lə’āholêḵem lə’āholî lə’āholōw lə’ōhālāw lə’ōhāleḵā lə’ōhel lə’ōhel- lə·’ā·ho·lê·hem lə·’ā·ho·lê·ḵem lə·’ā·ho·lî lə·’ā·ho·lōw lə·’ō·hā·lāw lə·’ō·hā·le·ḵā lə·’ō·hel lə·’ō·hel- leohaLav leohaLecha leohaLeicha leOhel leoholeiChem leoholeiHem leohoLi leohoLo mê’āholê mê’āholêhem mê’āholeḵā mê’āholōw mê’ōhel mê·’ā·ho·lê mê·’ā·ho·lê·hem mê·’ā·ho·le·ḵā mê·’ā·ho·lōw mê·’ō·hel meOhel meohoLecha meohoLei meOholeiHem meoholo ohaLai ohaLeicha ohaLim Ohel ohoLech ohoLecha ohoLei oholeiChem oholeiHem ohoLi ohoLo ohoLoh ū·ḇə·’ō·hel ūḇə’ōhel uveOhel vaOhel Veahalcha vehaOhel veohaLim veOhel veoholeiChem veoholeiHem veoholo voohaLim wə’āholêhem wə’ōhālîm wə’ōhel wə·’ā·ho·lê·hem wə·’ō·hā·lîm wə·’ō·hel wə·hā·’ō·hel wəhā’ōhelInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts