What Does Matthew 17:4 Mean in the King James?

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Matthew 17:4 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Peter reaches to build a dwelling for the glory before him, while Scripture’s tent-word later names God’s presence dwelling among people.

THE MEANING

When glory feels too large to leave as an encounter, you reach for a place to house it. Peter’s word for “tabernacles” is tent-language: he imagines making a dwelling for what he sees. The verse holds that impulse in the open before the answer arrives.

THE ROOT

σκηνάς

skēnas

GROWS FROM

σκην-

Greek word family

Tent, booth, or temporary dwelling; the word family carries the image of a place where someone stays.

The English “tabernacles” can sound like formal religious structures, but the Greek keeps the concrete image of tents. This same word family later describes the Word dwelling among people, connecting a shelter Peter proposes to God’s own nearness.

ALSO GROWS

skēnoō: to dwell, pitch a tent, or tabernacle

σκηνόω

John uses this same word family for the Word dwelling among us, turning the tent image toward presence among people.

skēnopoios: tentmaker

σκηνοποιός

The word keeps the root’s ordinary, tangible sense: a tent is made as a shelter, not as a container for all that is present.

THE PATTERN

A shelter may mark where presence is encountered, but it cannot contain the one who dwells among people.

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25:8 · KJVThe sanctuary is made as a place for God to dwell among the people, much as Peter proposes dwellings in response to what he sees.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

1 Kings 8:27 · KJVSolomon names the limit of a human-built house: it may mark a place of encounter, but cannot contain God.

Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Acts 7:48 · KJVThe verse carries the same tension as Peter’s proposal: a structure can be made, yet the Most High is not confined to it.

THE THREAD

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 · KJV

The Greek verb behind “dwelt” is ⁨σκηνόω⁩ (skēnoō), from the same ⁨σκην-⁩ word family as Peter’s ⁨σκηνή⁩ (skēnē), “tent” or “tabernacle.” Peter imagines making tents for the glory he sees; John uses the same tent-language for the Word’s dwelling among us.

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