Dwell
Dwell
(expressed by various Hebrews and Gr. words often differently rendered, e.g. , , , , ; , , , ). It has been thought, both from Scripture and from profane authors, that the first abodes of men were caves and clefts in the rock; these abound to a remarkable degree in those countries which we know to have been the earliest peopled, and still serve as ordinary habitations. SEE CAVE. In succeeding ages they abode generally in tents, as the Arabs of the desert do to this day. The invention of these is ascribed to Jabal, the son of Lamech, who is termed “the father of such as dwell in tents” (Gen 4:20); though, from comparing this verse with the 17th, we may be led to suppose that men lived in houses of some kind before they lived in tents. SEE TENT.
The art of multiplying stories in a building is very ancient, as we may gather from the construction of Noah’s ark and the tower of Babel. The houses in Babylon, according to Herodotus, were three or four stories high, and those in Thebes, or Diospolis, in Egypt, four or five stories. They appear to have been low in Palestine in the time of Joshua; an upper story, although it may have existed, is not mentioned till a more recent age. Buckingham states that the houses at Mousul “are mostly constructed of small unhewn stones, cemented by mortar, and plastered over with mud, though some are built of burnt and unburnt bricks.” Our Lord alludes to houses built of mud at the close of his sermon on the mount (Mat 7:26-27), which were ill calculated to resist the effects of the impetuous torrents that descended from the mountains of Palestine. In India, nothing is more common than for thieves to dig or break through these mud walls while the unsuspecting inhabitants are asleep, so as to plunder them. To similar depredations our Savior appears to allude when he exhorts his disciples not to lay up their treasure where thieves break through and steal (Mat 6:19-20). Job also seems to refer to the same practice (Mat 24:16). In the holes of these walls serpents sometimes conceal themselves, which is alluded to by the prophet Amos (Amo 5:19). It appears from Exo 5:7, that in Egypt straw anciently entered into the composition of bricks; they were a mixture of clay, mud, and straw, slightly blended and kneaded together, and afterwards baked in the sun. Philo, in his Life of Moses, says that they used straw to bind their bricks. In the remains of Egyptian edifices, the straw still preserves its original color and is a clear proof that they were never burnt in stacks or kilns. Dr. Richardson found near the ruins of Tentyra huts built of sun- dried brick made of straw and clay. SEE DWELLING.
God, it is said, “dwells in light,” in respect to his independent possession of his own glorious attributes (1Ti 6:16; 1Jn 1:7). He dwells in heaven in respect to his more immediate presence there (Psa 123:1). He dwells in his Church in the continued bestowal of his ordinances, and of his gracious supporting and comforting influences (Psa 9:11; 1Jn 4:12). Christ dwelt among men in his state of humiliation on earth (Joh 1:14). He dwells in our hearts by faith, he is united to us as our head; his righteousness is imputed to us, and applied to our consciences; his spirit and grace are fixed in our hearts; he loves and delights in us (Eph 3:17-19). The Holy Spirit dwells in us, and sheds abroad his gracious influence (Romans 8, 9; 1Co 3:16; 2Ti 1:14). The Word of God dwells in us richly, when it is carefully studied, firmly believed, and diligently practiced (Psa 119:11; Col 3:16). Wickedness, vengeance, or judgment is said to dwell in or upon a person or land when it long continues there (Job 11:14; Job 18:15; Isa 32:16).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Dwell
Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men. Houses were afterwards built, the walls of which were frequently of mud (Job 24:16; Matt. 6:19, 20) or of sun-dried bricks.
God “dwells in light” (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Ps. 123:1), in his church (Ps. 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Eph. 3:17-19). The Holy Spirit dwells in believers (1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14). We are exhorted to “let the word of God dwell in us richly” (Col. 3:16; Ps. 119:11).
Dwell deep occurs only in Jer. 49:8, and refers to the custom of See king refuge from impending danger, in retiring to the recesses of rocks and caverns, or to remote places in the desert.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Dwell
dwel:
(1) In the Old Testament dwell is a translation of 9 words, of which by far the most frequent is , yashabh, to sit down, translated dwell over 400 times (Gen 4:20; Jos 20:4; 1Ch 17:1, 1Ch 17:4, 1Ch 17:5, etc.); also very frequently sit, and sometimes abide, inhabit, remain. Another word often rendered dwell is , shakhan or , shakhen (to settle down), from which is derived the rabbinic word , shekhnah (literally, that which dwells), the light on the mercy-seat which symbolized the Divine presence (Exo 25:8, etc.). In order to avoid appearing to localize the Divine Being, wherever God is said to dwell in a place, the Targum renders that He causes His Shekinah to dwell there.
(2) In the New Testament dwell most frequently stands for , oikeo, or one of its compounds; also , skenoo, and (chiefly in the Johannine writings) , meno, which, however, is always translated abide in the Revised Version (British and American), and generally in the King James Version. Mention may be made of the mystical significance of the word in some New Testament passages, of the indwelling of the Father or of the Godhead in Christ (Joh 14:10; Col 1:19; Col 2:9), of the believer in Christ (Joh 6:56 the King James Version; Eph 3:17), and in God (1Jo 4:15 the King James Version; compare Psa 90:1; Psa 91:1), and of the Holy Spirit or God in the believer (Joh 14:17; the King James Version 1Jo 3:24; 1Jo 4:15 f).
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Dwell
Psa 91:1 (a) The word here indicates the manner of life of the believer who walks with GOD.