Quick Definition
σκηνή, ῆς, ἡ n.f. a tent, tabernacle
Strong's Definition
apparently akin to 4632 and 4639; a tent or cloth hut (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: habitation, tabernacle
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ῆς | σκηνόω
7.9 · Constructions · Buildings
tent a portable dwelling of cloth and/or skins, held up by poles and fastened by cords to stakes In a number of languages ‘tent’ is simply ‘a house made of cloth.’ One should avoid terms which would imply a military tent or a temporary shelter used only on vacations or holidays. In OT times such tents were permanent dwellings of nomadic groups and were moved from place to place as livestock were transferred from one pasture area to another.
MAT 17:4 · MRK 9:5 · LUK 9:33 · LUK 16:9 · ACT 7:43 · HEB 11:9
7.17 · Constructions · Buildings
tent, tabernacle tent the relatively large tent used as a central place of worship by the Jews prior to the building of the Temple In a number of languages σκηνή[b] may be rendered as ‘the largest tent in which God lived’ or ‘the large tent for worshiping God’ or ‘the holy tent.’ In selecting a proper designation for σκηνή[b], it is important to indicate that the function of σκηνή[b] was essentially the same as that of the Temple; it was only a different type of construction and not a difference of use or of religious relevance.
Since σκηνή[b] refers to one unique object, it is essentially equivalent to a title.
ACT 7:44 · ACT 15:16 · HEB 8:2 · HEB 8:5 · HEB 9:2 · HEB 9:3 · HEB 9:6 · HEB 9:8 · HEB 9:11 · HEB 9:21 · HEB 13:10 · REV 13:6 · REV 15:5 · REV 21:3
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
σκηνή, -ῆς, ἡ, (fr. τ. ska ‘to cover’ ete.; cf. σκιά, σκόTos, etc.; Lat. casa, cassis, castrum; Eng. shade, ete.; Curtius §112; Wanitek p. 1054 sq.], fr. [Aeschy].], Soph. and Thue. down; Sept. chiefly for ni, often also for jaw, also for 71203 α lent, tabernacle, (made of green boughs, or skins, or other materials): Mt. xvii.4; Mk. ix.5; Lk. ix. 33; Heb. xi. 9; ai αἰώνιοι σκηναί (see αἰώ»mos, 3), Lk. xvi. 9 (et dabo iis tabernacula aeterna quae praeparaveram illis, 4 (5) Esdr. ii. 11); of that well known movable temple of God after the pattern οἵ which the temple at Jerusalem was subsequently built [ef. B.D. 5. v. Temple]: Heb. viii. 5; ix. 1 Rec.", 21; with τοῦ μαρτυρίου added (see μαρτύριον, ο. fin.), Acts vil. 44; the temple is called σκηνή in Heb. xiii. 10; σκηνὴ ἡ πρώτη, the front part of the tabernacle (and afterwards of the temple), the Holy place, Heb. ix. 2, 6, 8; of the Holy of holies, Heb. ix. 3; the name is transferred to heaven, as the true dwelling-place of God and the prototype of the earthly ‘tabernacle’ or sanctuary, Heb. ix. 11; Rev. xiii. 6; hence ἡ σκηνὴ ἡ ἀληθινή, heaven, Heb. viii. 2; with a reference to this use of the word, it is declared that when the kingdom of God is perfectly established ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ θεοῦ will be pera τῶν ἀνθρώπων (after the analogy of σκηνοῦν μετά τινος), Rev. xxi. 3; 6 ναὺς τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου (see μαρτύριον, ὁ. fin.), the heavenly temple, in which was the tabernacle of the covenant, i. e. the inmost sanctuary or adytum, Rev. xv. 5. ἡ σκ. τοῦ Μολόχ, the tabernacle i.e. portable shrine of Moloch, Acts vii. 43 (for the Orientals on their journeys and military expeditions used to carry with them their deities, together with shrines for them ; hence ἡ ἱερὰ σκηνή of the Carthaginians in Diod. 20, 65, where see Wesseling [but ef. 0330 in Miihlau and Volck’s Gesenius, or the recent Comm. on Am. v. 26]). ἡ σκηνὴ Aavid (fr. Am. ix. 11 for 730), the hut (tabernacle) of David, seems to be employed, in contempt, of his house, i. 6. family reduced to decay and obscurity, Acts xv. 16 (otherwise Ἢ Orkin Is. xvi. 5).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
σκηνή skēnē 20x
a tent, tabernacle; genr. any temporary dwelling; a tent, booth, Mt. 17:4; Heb. 11:9; the tabernacle of the covenant, Heb. 8:5; 9:1, 21; 13:10; allegor. the celestial or true tabernacle, Heb. 8:2; 9:11; a division or compartment of the tabernacle, Heb. 9:2, 3, 6; a small portable tent or shrine, Acts 7:43; an abode or seat of a lineage, Acts 15:16; a mansion, habitation, abode, dwelling, Lk. 16:9; Rev. 13:6
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
σκηνή, -ῆς, ἡ
[in LXX chiefly for אֹהֶל, also for מִשְׁכָּן, סֻכָּה, etc. ;]
a tent, booth, tabernacle: Mt 17:4, Mk 9:5, Lk 9:33, He 11:9; αἱ αἰώνιοι σ., Lk 16:9; of the Mosaic tabernacle, He 8:5 9:2, 3, 6, 8, 21; σ. τ. μαρτυρίου, Ac 7:44; of its heavenly prototype, He 8:2 9:11, Re 13:6 15:5 21:3; of the temple, He 13:10; ἡ σ. τοῦ Μολόχ, Ac 7:43 (LXX); metaph., ἡ σ. Δαυείδ Ac 15:16 (LXX).†
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
σκηνή (skēnē) — tent. σκην-ή, Doric dialect σκᾱνά, ἡ (not in [Refs 8th c.BC+].
I. tent, booth, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σκηνῆς ὕπαυλος[Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰς σ. καταλύειν, διαλύειν, strike camp, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; but also σ. μάλα ἰσχυρῶν ξύλων hut, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; booth in the marketplace, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: plural, camp, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.2. σκηνὰς ἐς ἱεράς to the holy tabernacle, [LXX+5th c.BC+]
II. stage-building as background for plays, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τραγικὴ σ. a sort of πῆγμα, such as that from which the prologue of [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς σ. [ἥρωες] heroes represented on the stage, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; οἱ ἀπὸ σκηνῆς actors, players, opposed to χορός, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.3. τὸ ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς μέρος that which is actually represented on the stage, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὰ ἀπὸ τῆς σκηνῆς (i.e. ᾄσματα), songs or odes sung by one of the actors standing on the stage (not by the chorus),[Refs]
II.4. metaphorically, stage-effect, acting, unreality, σκηνὴ πᾶς ὁ βίος 'all the world's a stage', [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; theatrical trick, deception, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
III. tented cover, tilt of a wagon or carriage, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also, bed-tester, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III. b metaphorically, τὸν ὑπὸ (probably conjecture for ἐπὶ) σκηνῆς βίον the hidden life, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III.2. in large ships, state-cabin on the poop, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
IV. entertainment given in tents, banquet, [Refs 5th c.BC+]