tabernacle

Tabernacle is a term with several related meanings in religion and architecture. In the Hebrew Bible, the Tabernacle, also called the Mishkan, was the portable sanctuary constructed by the Israelites during the Exodus. It was described as a dwelling place for the divine presence and was assembled according to precise instructions given to Moses. The structure consisted of a fenced courtyard, an outer tent known as the Holy Place, and an inner sanctuary called the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. Priests performed rituals and sacrifices there as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, until the construction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.

In Judaism, the Mishkan is a central symbol of sacred space and divine presence. The term Tabernacle is also associated with the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), an annual festival commemorating the Israelites’ temporary dwellings during the desert years.

In Christian usage, a tabernacle is a fixed, often ornate, container in a church that houses the consecrated Eucharist for reservation and prayer. It may be placed on or behind the altar, and in some traditions is opened during certain liturgical times. The word can also refer more generally to a canopy, shrine, or decorative architectural feature over altars or shrines.

The term Tabernacle appears in architectural and secular contexts to denote a portable or fixed shrine, and it has been used as a place name or organization name. The different uses share a common notion of enclosure, sacred space, or dwelling.