juHHom - Tent

Daq chaH ghaH ghajtaH cher a juHHom vaD the pemHov... Daj ghoS vo' ghaH vo' the pItlh vo' the chal, Daj circuit Daq its ends

In them he has set a tent for the sun... His going forth is from the end of the heavens,
his circuit to its ends;
Psalm 19:4,6

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Tents move.

That is, no one thinks a tent - no matter how big or sturdy - is permanent. Tents are made to be temporary. They are homes for people ON THE MOVE.

I don't know if Klingons go camping - at least not the sort of recreational camping we humans partake of on earth. There is a word in Klingon (raQ) for 'camp,' but as it is considered a military term, so I suspect it refers to a military encampment. Likewise, I don't know of a term for "tent" so I've used juHHom - juH, house, plus the diminutive suffix -Hom. juHHom, little house, or cottage. That isn't entirely inconsistent with the Hebrew 'ohel used here, which is translated as home, tabernacle, AND tent.

Daq chaH ghaH ghajtaH cher a juHHom vaD the pemHov... Daj ghoS vo' ghaH vo' the pItlh vo' the chal, Daj circuit Daq its ends

In them he has set a tent for the sun... His going forth is from the end of the heavens,
his circuit to its ends;
Psalm 19:4,6

This verse from Psalm 19 conjures up a picture: the sun in the sky bursts from its temporary home, its tent, and it runs its course like an eager bridegroom on his way to his wedding. The sun sweeps across the sky - the tent, the tabernacle containing the sun does not nail it down in one place, as it were.

This verse follows the Psalmist's exalting over how creation - the stars and heavens - tell us of God. I'd suggest that the imagery here continues to tell us that just as the sun explodes from out of its tent, God's Word, his message needs to not be shut up in any tent or tabernacle.

Daq chaH ghaH ghajtaH cher a juHHom vaD the pemHov... Daj ghoS vo' ghaH vo' the pItlh vo' the chal, Daj circuit Daq its ends

In them he has set a tent for the sun... His going forth is from the end of the heavens,
his circuit to its ends;
Psalm 19:4,6

The "tent" is a familar part of the middle eastern culture from which we get the Bible. The Hebrew word here ('ohel) is used hundreds of times across Scripture - so of course the word juHHom that I've used in the KLV is seen over and over again. Usually it is fairly literal, describing homes, encampments and other dwelling places.

I'm familiar with these too, since, when I go camping, I use a tent. BUT - I don't stay in the tent. I move, I explore, I experience the wonder and I rejoice that God has shared his creation with us. I think we're being reminded that God's word is intended to MOVE, to be shared, to get on with things - and to MOVE us believers to make a difference. It doesn't stay still - we shouldn't expect it to. Likewise, we can make sure it doesn't stay "in the tent" when we share it with our actions and our words.

The sun doesn't stay "in the tent" - it moves out and gives light to the world. We who have the gift of faith need to see that we do the same.