Bet ב -House of God

Beyt House of the Lord ב (Bēt-as in mate)  (V) 

Pictograph:	Floorplan of a Tent
Meanings:	Family, House, In
Sound:	B, Bh (v)

The meanings of this letter are house, tent, and family as well as in, with, inside or within as the family resides within the house or tent.   After pondering and studying this letter, Nephi's phrase "And my father dwelt in a tent", has taken on such significant meaning to me.  I will lay out in the remainder of these blog posts about the Hebrew Aleph-Bet my "learning of the Jews" and all that the Hebrew Tabernacle included.  

I love to find Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon.  A recent scripture I found was Mosiah 3:5.  

"For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord (YHWH)  Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

 6 

And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men."

This is Hebrew wordplay on the word dwell.  
To dwell is שכנ.
A tabernacle is משכנ, and shechina (a favorite word and concept of mine) is  שכינה.

They are all from the same root, to dwell.

The construction of the tent you will learn, is also very symbolic.

The tent had a feminine side and the masculine side was on the opening.

Other words with Bet:

BETHEL - House of God

also "House of Israel"

Bet, Beth is a daughter

Ben is a son

The tent was divided into two parts. The main section, behind the tent door, is the men's section. The other section is the women's section, with a wall dividing the two parts. The only person allowed into the women's section, is the father of the tent. Notice the similarity to the pictographic Hebrew letter "beyt" - . The word "beyt" is not only the name of a letter but is also a common Hebrew word meaning, "home". This letter is a representation of the floor plan of the tent, the "home" of the nomadic Hebrews.

The tent is usually oblong in shape, and is divided into two, and sometimes three apartments by goat's hair curtains. The entrance leads into the apartment for the men, which also serves as the reception apartment. Beyond this is the apartment for the women and children. And sometimes there is a third apartment for servants or for cattle.8 The women in the inner apartment are screened from the view of those in the reception room, but they can hear what goes on in that room.9 Thus Sarah in her apartment overheard what the angel guest said in the reception apartment of Abraham's tent (Genesis 18:10-15). In some cases there is a separate tent for the women. It took several tents to care for the large family of Jacob. Reference is made to Jacob's tent, to Leah's tent, to Rachel's tent, and to the tent of the two maidservants (Genesis 31:33)

 Tent Dwellings IN THE BIBLE, living in tents is of ancient origin. It goes back before the days of Abraham. The first reference in the Scriptures to tent life is concerning the man Jabal, of whom it is said, "he was the father of such as dwell in tents" (Genesis 4:20). Following the Flood the Sacred Record says, "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem" (Genesis 9:27). The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived most of their lives in tents, in and around the land of Canaan. It was said of Abraham that he "pitched his tent" in the vicinity of Bethel (Genesis 12:8), that Isaac "pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar" (Genesis 26:17), and Jacob "pitched his tent before the city (of Shechem)" (Genesis 33:18). The Children of Israel lived in tents during their forty years in the wilderness. Moses said of them, "The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp" (Numbers 1:52). And Balaam "lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes" (Numbers 24:2). For many years after the entering of the Promised Land, Israel still lived in tents. In the days of David it was said to the king, "The ark and Israel and Judah, abide in tents" (II Samuel 11:11), indicating that many of the people at that time were tent-dwellers. Even at the time of the revolt of the ten tribes under Jeroboam and their separation from Judah, the cry went forth, "To your tents, O Israel" (I Kings 12:16). When the tribes gathered together at such small places as Gilgal, and Shiloh, they undoubtedly brought their tents with them. And after the temple was built at Jerusalem the people would make their pilgrimages there to celebrate the feasts of the LORD, and many thousands of them would sleep in tents on the mountains surrounding the city. A study of these tent structures of Bible lands of today will throw much light on how the men of early Bible times actually lived. By such a study one can build the proper background for understanding the life and contributions of our patriarch fathers. 



The entrance to the tent is covered by a curtain which hung down from the top of the entrance. The Hebrew word "dal" means "hang down" and is the root for the word "dalet" meaning "door". This word is also the name of another Hebrew letter - , a representation of the tent door. The door of the tent is the most important part of the tent, not because of its appearance, but its function as the entrance into the tent. "He [Abraham] was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot" (Genesis 18:1).. The door of the tent can be equated with the throne of a king. In the Hebrew culture, the father of the family is the "king", the one who holds full authority over the family. The father will often sit at his door much like a king will sit on a throne. All family legal matters were performed at the tent. Here he will watch over his household as well as watch for passing travelers. The nomadic rules of hospitality are very strict and complex.

Tents are constructed of black goat hair. "Dark am I....dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon." (SS 1:5). The hair is spun into strands which are then woven together forming panels approximately 2 feet wide and the length of the tent. Over time, the panels begin to bleach from exposure to the sun and are periodically replaced. Very little is discarded as much work is invested in their materials including the tent. The pieces of the tent which are removed are recycled into walls or mats.  



Covering of the tent. The black goat hair fabric used for the roof of the tent allows some light through giving the appearance of stars overhead. When it rains the hair fibres swell thus sealing all the holes.

New tents are very seldom made.   About the only time this happens is when a young groom and bride set up housekeeping for themselves in a different location from that of the groom's parents, and this rarely happens. The usual procedure is to accumulate the goat clippings of a year or so, and with these make a new strip with which to repair the old tent. The women do this work. The section of the tent roof that is most worn is ripped out, and a new piece of the cloth replaces it. The old piece is then used for a side curtain. Each year new strips of cloth replace old ones and the "house of hair" is handed down from father to son without its being completely new or completely old at any one time. As the tent-dweller's family grows larger, or as he becomes richer and wishes to enlarge his tent, he does so by simply adding another section to his old tent. Isaiah had this process in mind when he said:  "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes." Isaiah 54:2

Another Hebrew letter derived from the tent itself is the letter "chet", a word meaning "wall". This letter in the ancient pictographic script is shown up above , a picture of a wall as can be seen in the above picture.

The size of the tent will depend on the size and wealth of the family. The wealthier families will have separate tents for the wife, such as Abraham had for Sarah. As the family grows, additional panels are added to increase the size of the tent. "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes" (Isaiah 54:2). 

The goat hair tent is unique in that it is perfectly suited for the desert regions of the Near East.

Heat: A tent provided shade from the sun. During the strong heat of the day, the father would often sit at his door watching his family, livestock and the road for travelers (Genesis 18:1,2) The walls of the tent could be lifted to allow the breeze to pass through the tent. 

Cold: The black tent absorbs heat keeping the tent warm. A fire is also built just inside the door for warmth. 

Rain: Like any other cloth, there is space between the hair fabric. Light coming through the black roof appear as stars in the night sky. "He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in" (Isaiah 40:22). When the hair fibers get wet from the rains, the fibers expand, forming a watertight roof. 

The Tabernacle covering represented the heavens.  Psalm 104:2 reads..."who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:" 

Wind: Strong ropes, secured by pegs driven into the ground, supported the poles which held up the tent. "I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father" (Isaiah 22:23). The word "firm" in the previous passage is the Hebrew word "aman" and is often translated as "believe". The walls of the tent are laid on the top of the ropes allowing the wind to pass over the tent. The Hebrew letter "vav" (or waw) - is a representation of the pegs used to secure the tent. The word "vav" is also a word in the Hebrew language meaning "peg".

The Nomadic family consisted of the beyt (house, family), mishpechah (clan) and matteh (tribe). The family, children, parents and grandparents, all resided in one tent. The clan consisted of the extended family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc, all residing in one camp and may contain as many as 50 to 100 tents laid out in a circular pattern. When the clan becomes too large for one area to support, the tribe splits into two clans (see Genesis 13). All the clans (all being descended from one ancestor) may cover hundreds of square miles making up the tribe. As an example, the house of Moses, of the clan of Levi, of the tribe of Israel.

Chanan is a Hebrew word often translated as "grace" but is Hebraicly understood as a "camp". The camp, as seen above, is a place of beauty, love, warmth and comfort.

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us
Testimony of Christ
HE will come in a body - tabernacle   Dwell with us   As the Bridegroom prepares a house for his bride, he prepares a house for us to come and abide in.

Aleph-Bet  = AB  Father   
Aleph - strength
Bet = tent, house   Combined these mean the strength of the house.  אב can also mean Pole
 This can also be the tent poles which hold up the tent, the house, as well as the father who holds up the family

The COVERINGS of the Tabernacle held symbolic meaning as well.

Exodus 26:14 (KJV) - And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.

It was so interesting when I found that the translation for "dyed red" was the word
Adam.  אָדַם

The KJV translates Strongs H119 in the following manner: dyed red (5x), red 4 ruddy (1x).


There is obvious symbolism in the ram and a dyed red skin.  Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, God called out for him to stop. Abraham saw a ram with his horns caught in a thicket.  The ram became the substitute sacrifice.   And our dear Savior, Jesus Christ is our ram in the thicket. 

"Covering" - (Strong's #3680 kacah (kaw-saw'); a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy).

One of the coverings of the temple was made from badger skins.

"Badger" - (Strong's #8476 tachash (takh'-ash); probably of foreign derivation; a (clean) animal with fur, probably a species of antelope.

Tachash means a clean animal with fur. Literally speaking, badgers' skins were used in the Old Testament not only as a covering for the tabernacle tent, but also disassembled parts during transporting to new geographical locations. Badgers' skins were also used for the shodding of the feet of the Israelites while in the desert. The badger hide was durable for protecting all tabernacle articles from environmental elements in the wildernes

"Rams' Skins Dyed Red" Covering

"Rams' Skins Dyed Red" -  Most likely, the natural color of the rams skins would be sufficient. But, the pattern of the tabernacle is symbolic. God had a specific purpose for the skins to be dyed red. The color red foreshadows the blood covering of God's Sacrificial Lamb. 

Matthew 23:37 (KJV) - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings (coverings), and ye would not!

Christ desires to gather Israel under His covering of the "ram's skin dyed red". The covenant is the covering under which God blesses HIs children.

The Linen Curtain

Exodus 26:1-2  Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. (2) The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.

"Twined" - (Strong's Hebrew) - #7806 shazar (shaw-zar'); a primitive root; to twist

"Linen" - (Strong's Hebrew) - #8336  shesh (shaysh); bleached stuff, i.e. white linen 

Man's life is stressed (twisted) by the trials of faith in his life. Faith in God results in a transforming work under the power of the Holy Spirit through those trials. 

Cotton in its natural form is not useful for making garments. When spun and twisted into the shape of a thread, it is useful. Linen is made white by a bleaching process, representing the purity of refinement.

It is as though God draws out our old nature through our faith in His spoken word,

 Blue, purple and scarlet - These colors represent the colors of royalty and the royal priesthood 

Some final "Bet" words to consider, along this theme, has to do with the building of the house.
In Exodus 25:9, Moses is instructed to build the sanctuary or Tabernacle/Tent that the LORD may dwell among them.  "According to all that I shew thee, after the PATTERN of the tabernacle.

The word used here in verse 9 for Pattern is תַּבְנִית Tabniyth
The definition includes a structure, a model, resemblance, figure, form and likeness.   A lovely word also is similitude.
The pattern is the blueprint of the house.  The LORD gave the instructions.

The Root of תַּבְנִית is  בני a form of the word son and makes

the verbal root  בנה banah, which means to build or make (a house).   When Sarah gives Hagar to Abraham she says "I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. (Gen 16:2)  The Hebrew translation for "obtain children" is also the verb בנה banah.   This metaphor means, to get children, to build a Family.  Sarah is building a house.   The House of Israel.  A House of God.



buʕd   shoulder, support