King James Bible Dictionary

1. Heb. ohel (Genesis 9:21, 27). This word is used also of a dwelling or habitation (1 Kings 8:66; Isaiah 16:5; Jeremiah 4:20), and of the temple (Ezekiel 41:1). When used of the tabernacle, as in 1 Kings 1:39, it denotes the covering of goat's hair which was placed over the mishcan.

2. Heb. mishcan (Song of Solomon 1:8), used also of a dwelling (Job 18:21; Psalms 87:2), the grave (Isaiah 22:16; comp. 14:18), the temple (Psalms 46:4; 84:2; 132:5), and of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:9; 26:1; 40:9; Numbers 1:50, 53; 10:11). When distinguished from 'ohel, it denotes the twelve interior curtains which lay upon the framework of the tabernacle (q.v.).

3. Heb. kubbah (Numbers 25:8), a dome-like tent devoted to the impure worship of Baal-peor.

4. Heb. succah (2 Samuel 11:11), a tent or booth made of green boughs or branches (see Genesis 33:17; Leviticus 23:34, 42; Psalms 18:11; Jonah 4:5; Isaiah 4:6; Nehemiah 8:15-17, where the word is variously rendered).

Jubal was "the father of such as dwell in tents" (Genesis 4:20). The patriarchs were "dwellers in tents" (Genesis 9:21, 27; 12:8; 13:12; 26:17); and during their wilderness wanderings all Israel dwelt in tents (Exodus 16:16; Deuteronomy 33:18; Joshua 7:24). Tents have always occupied a prominent place in Eastern life (1 Samuel 17:54; 2 Kings 7:7; Psalms 120:5; Song of Solomon 1:5). Paul the apostle's occupation was that of a tent-maker (Acts 18:3); i.e., perhaps a maker of tent cloth.

Used for dwelling:

General references
Genesis 4:20

By Noah
Genesis 9:21

By Abraham
Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:18; Genesis 18:1

By Lot
Genesis 13:5

By Moses
Exodus 18:7

By children of Israel
Numbers 24:5-6; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16

By the Midianites
Judges 6:5

By Cushites
Habakkuk 3:7

By Arabians
Isaiah 13:20

By shepherds
Isaiah 38:12; Jeremiah 6:3

Women had tents apart from men
Genesis 24:67; Genesis 31:33

Used for cattle
2 Chronicles 14:15

Manufacture of
Acts 18:3

Used as a place of worship
Tabernacle

Among the leading characteristics of the nomad races, those two have always been numbered whose origin has been ascribed to Jabal the son of Lameth, (Genesis 4:20) viz., to be tent-dwellers and keepers of cattle. The same may be said of the forefathers of the Hebrew race; nor was it until the return into Canaan from Egypt that the Hebrews became inhabitants of cities. An Arab tent is called beit , "house;" its covering consists of stuff, about three quarters of a yard broad, made of black goat's-hair, (Solomon 1:5) laid parallel with the tent's length. This is sufficient to resist the heaviest rain. The tent-poles or columns are usually nine in number, placed in three groups; but many tents have only one pole, others two or three. The ropes which hold the tent in its place are fastened, not to the tent-cover itself, but to loops consisting of a leathern thong tied to the ends of a stick, round which is twisted a piece of old cloth, which is itself sewed to the tent-cover. The ends of the tent-ropes are fastened to short sticks or pins, which are driven into the ground with a mallet. (Judges 4:21) Round the back and sides of the tent runs a piece of stuff removable at pleasure to admit air. The tent is divided into two apartments, separated by a carpet partition drawn across the middle of the tent and fastened to the three middle posts. When the pasture near an encampment is exhausted, the tents are taken down, packed on camels and removed. (Genesis 26:17,22,25; Isaiah 38:12) In choosing places for encampment, Arabs prefer the neighborhood of trees, for the sake of the shade and coolness which they afford. (Genesis 18:4,8)

TENT, noun [Latin tentorium, from tendo, to stretch.]

1. A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of canvas or other coarse cloth, stretched and sustained by poles; used for sheltering persons from the weather, particularly soldiers in camp. The wandering Arabs and Tartars lodge in tents. The Israelites lodged in tents forty years, while they were in the desert.

2. In surgery, a roll of lint or linen, used to dilate an opening in the flesh, or to prevent the healing of an opening from which matter or other fluid is discharged.

TENT, noun [Latin tinctus.] A kind of wine of a deep red color, chiefly from Galicia or Malaga in Spain.

TENT, verb intransitive To lodge as in a tent; to tabernacle.

TENT, verb transitive To probe; to search as with a tent; as, to tent a wound.

I'll tent him to the quick.

1. To keep open with a tent

TEN'TACLE, noun [Latin tentacula.] A filiform process or organ, simple or branched, on the bodies of various animals of the Linnean class Vermes, and of Cuvier's Mollusca, Annelides, Echinodermata, Actinia, Medusae, Polypi, etc. either an organ of feeling, prehension or motion, sometimes round the mouth, sometimes on other parts of the body.

TENT'AGE, noun An encampment. [Unusual.]

TENTA'TION, noun [Latin tentatio; tento, to try.]

Trial; temptation. [Little used.]

TENT'ATIVE, adjective Trying; essaying.

TENT'ATIVE, noun An essay; trial.

TENT'ED, adjective Covered or furnished with tents; as soldiers.

1. Covered with tents; as a tented field.

TENT'ER, noun [Latin tendo, tentus, to stretch.]

A hook for stretching cloth on a frame.

To be on the tenters, to be on the stretch; to be in distress, uneasiness or suspense.

TENT'ER, verb transitive To hang or stretch on tenters.

TENT'ER, verb intransitive To admit extension.

Woolen cloths will tenter

TENT'ERED, participle passive Stretched or hung on tenters.

TEN'TER-GROUND, noun Ground on which tenters are erected.

TEN'TERING, participle present tense Stretching or hanging on tenters.

TENTH, adjective [from ten.] The ordinal of ten; the first after the ninth.

TENTH, noun The tenth part.

1. Tithe; the tenth part of annual produce or increase. The tenth of income is payable to the clergy in England, as it was to the priests among the Israelites.

2. In music, the octave of the third; an interval comprehending nine conjoint degrees, or ten sounds, diatonically divided.

I.e., the tenth part of an ephah (as in the R.V.), equal to an omer or six pints. The recovered leper, to complete his purification, was required to bring a trespass, a sin, and a burnt offering, and to present a meal offering, a tenth deal or an omer of flour for each, with oil to make it into bread or cakes (Leviticus 14:10, 21; comp. Exodus 16:36; 29:40).

TENTH'LY, adverb In the tenth place.

TENTIG'INOUS, adjective [Latin tentigo, a stretching.]

Stiff; stretched. [Not in use.]

TENT'ORY, noun [Latin tentorium.] The awning of a tent.

TENT'WORT, noun [tent and wort.] A plant of the genus Asplenium.