tabernacle (noun)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “tabernacle” in English is translated in San Blas Kuna as “house of prayer that can be carried.” (Source: Ronald Ross)

In Bandi it is translated as “holy sitting place.” The “sitting place for the Bandi is where you live.” Therefore the tabernacle is the place where God lived. (Source: Becky Grossmann in this newsletter )

In Vidunda it is translated as “God’s tent” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Tibetan as gur mchog (གུར་​མཆོག) or “perfect tent” (source: gSungrab website )

In American Sign Language it is translated with with a sign for “tent” combined with a sign referring to the outer court surrounding the tent (see Exodus 27:9 and following). (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Tabernacle” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

See also tabernacle (verb) / dwell, festival of Tabernacles and ark of the covenant.

Translation commentary on Exod 35:17 - 35:18

The hangings of the court were “the curtains for the enclosure” (Good News Translation) that marked off the open “courtyard” around the tent. The same words are used in 27.9. (See the comment there.) Its pillars and its bases refers to the “posts” (Good News Translation) to which the hangings were fastened and the bronze “sockets” on which these “posts” were placed. These are described in 27.9-15. And the screen for the gate of the court is discussed at 27.16.

The pegs of the tabernacle … of the court were the bronze “Tent pegs” (Good News Translation) mentioned in 27.19. (See the comment there.) And their cords were the “ropes” that were tied to the pegs.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .