Tabernacle in the Old Testament and Its Symbolism Research Paper

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Introduction

The same as in the past, these days, one needs to study the Bible thoroughly to understand it better. One of the aspects of the Bible that should be paid more attention to is the tabernacle, which plays a significant role in the Old Testament. People need to analyze the study about the tabernacle and its symbolism to gather more insight into the Word of God.

The Tabernacle

First, to understand the study about the tabernacle, one should look at its meaning. The tabernacle was intended for God to be able to live among people (Arnold & Bryant, 2015). His followers were supposed to make “a sanctuary” for God to “dwell,” and the word “tabernacle” can be translated as “dwelling place” (Holy Bible, 1975, Exod. 25:8; Arnold & Bryant, 2015, p. 81). The tabernacle’s description is provided in chapters 25-31 of Exodus with details on its construction, including the colors that were meant to be used, such as blue, purple, and scarlet (Holy Bible, 1975; Arnold & Bryant, 2015). Chapters 35-39 of Exodus exhibit people’s obedience in following God’s instructions and creating the tabernacle with all the details, including “its tent” and “hooks” (Holy Bible, 1975, Exod. 35:11; Arnold & Bryant, 2015, p. 82). Finally, chapter 40 describes the rise of the tabernacle, which was filled with “the glory of the Lord,” meaning that people created a movable place of God (Holy Bible, 1975, Exod. 40:35; Arnold & Bryant, 2015). The tabernacle represents a transportable tent constructed for God to dwell among people.

The Symbolism of the Tabernacle

Next, the study about the tabernacle can be explained through its symbolism. The tabernacle was meant for God to be amidst the people of Israel on their journey across the desert, so they would be able to worship the Lord (Arnold & Bryant, 2015). With that being said, the earthly tabernacle symbolizes a miniature copy of the heavenly tabernacle where God originally dwells (Caneday, 2020). Before, God communicated with people in the form of “pillars of fire and smoke,” but with the tabernacle, He was able to join them in the desert (Arnold & Bryant, 2015, p. 81). While it did not encompass God’s true presence on earth, the tabernacle served as a manifestation of his appearance (Caneday, 2020). Moreover, as the insides of the tabernacle were divided, it can be seen to indicate people’s restricted access to God even on earth (Caneday, 2020). Furthermore, the tabernacle symbolizes a place for the Messiah to arrive from heaven and end sacrifices (Caneday, 2020). The symbolism of the tabernacle can be seen as a rather simple representation of God’s dwelling place in heaven and as an expectation of good things to come.

Conclusion

To summarize, the study about the tabernacle explains its significance for the people of Israel in their journey across the desert. The tabernacle was created to indicate that God was among people who acquired a place of worshiping the Lord. The symbolism of the tabernacle signifies God’s presence in a tent that reflects His original sanctuary in heaven and represents an expectation of something good and holy. In Exodus, God gave people detailed instructions on the construction of the tabernacle, so He could dwell in a setting appropriate for Him, and people obeyed, so they could feel His presence. As the tabernacle made God closer to people, it also provided them with a sense of protection and comfort.

References

Arnold, B. R. & Bryant E. B. (2015). Encountering the Old Testament: A christian survey. Baker Academic.

Caneday, A. B. (2020). God’s parabolic design for Israel’s tabernacle: A cluster of earthly shadows of heavenly realities. The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 24(1), 103-124.

(1975). Thomas Nelson Publishers. Web.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, November 18). Tabernacle in the Old Testament and Its Symbolism. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tabernacle-in-the-old-testament-and-its-symbolism/

Work Cited

"Tabernacle in the Old Testament and Its Symbolism." IvyPanda, 18 Nov. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/tabernacle-in-the-old-testament-and-its-symbolism/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Tabernacle in the Old Testament and Its Symbolism'. 18 November.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Tabernacle in the Old Testament and Its Symbolism." November 18, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tabernacle-in-the-old-testament-and-its-symbolism/.

1. IvyPanda. "Tabernacle in the Old Testament and Its Symbolism." November 18, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tabernacle-in-the-old-testament-and-its-symbolism/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Tabernacle in the Old Testament and Its Symbolism." November 18, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tabernacle-in-the-old-testament-and-its-symbolism/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1