Tabernacle vs. Temple — What's the Difference?

A portable sanctuary carried by the Israelites.

A building dedicated to religious or spiritual activities.

A receptacle or cabinet in a church.

The flat region on either side of the forehead in humans.

A temporary dwelling or shelter.

An organization or place for Freemasonry.

In Mormonism, a building for community gatherings.

In Judaism, the ancient holy place in Jerusalem.

A place of worship in some Christian denominations.

A structure dedicated to a specific deity in many religions.

According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tabernacle (Hebrew: מִשְׁכַּן‎, mishkān, meaning "residence" or "dwelling place"), also known as the Tent of the Congregation (אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵד֩ ’ōhel mō‘êḏ, also Tent of Meeting, etc.), was the portable earthly dwelling place of Yahweh (the God of Israel) used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. Moses was instructed at Mount Sinai to construct and transport the tabernacle with the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness and their subsequent conquest of the Promised Land.

A temple (from the Latin templum) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Islam (whose temples are called mosques), Judaism (whose temples are called synagogues), and ancient religions such as the Ancient Egyptian religion.

Often Tabernacle(Bible) The portable sanctuary in which the Jews housed the Ark of the Covenant during their years in the desert.

A building devoted to the worship of a god or gods.

Often Tabernacle A case or box on a church altar containing the consecrated host and wine of the Eucharist.

A group of buildings in Fleet Street, London, which stand on land formerly occupied by the headquarters of the Knights Templar. Located there are the Inner and Outer Temple, two of the Inns of Court.

A place of worship.

The flat part of either side of the head between the forehead and the ear

A niche for a statue or relic.

A device in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched.

(Nautical) A boxlike support in which the heel of a mast is stepped.

A building dedicated to religious ceremonies or worship.

Any temporary dwelling; a hut, tent, or booth.

Temple Either of two successive buildings in ancient Jerusalem serving as the primary center for Jewish worship.

(Bible) The portable tent used before the construction of the temple, where the shekinah (presence of God) was believed to dwell.

(Judaism) A synagogue, especially of a Reform congregation.

(by extension) The Jewish Temple at Jerusalem (as continuing the functions of the earlier tabernacle).

Mormon Church A building in which the sacred ordinances are administered.

Any portable shrine used in heathen or idolatrous worship.

Something regarded as having within it a divine presence.

A sukkah, the booth or 'tabernacle' used during the Jewish Feast of Sukkot.

A building used for meetings by any of several fraternal orders, such as the Freemasons.

(Roman Catholicism) A small ornamented cupboard or box used for the reserved sacrament of the Eucharist, normally located in an especially prominent place in a church.

A building reserved for a highly valued function

A temporary place of worship, especially a tent, for a tent meeting, as with a venue for revival meetings.

Temple Either of two groups of buildings in London, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, that house two of the four Inns of Court and that occupy the site of a complex used by the medieval Knights Templars.

(by extension) Any house of worship, especially a Mormon church.

The flat region on either side of the forehead.

(figuratively) Any abode or dwelling place, or especially the human body as the temporary dwelling place of the soul, or life.

Either of the sidepieces of a frame for eyeglasses that extends along the temple and over the ear.

(nautical) A hinged device allowing for the easy folding of a mast 90 degrees from perpendicular, as for transporting the boat on a trailer, or passing under a bridge.

A device in a loom that keeps the cloth stretched to the correct width during weaving.

(intransitive) To dwell; to abide for a time.

A house of worship, especially:

A slightly built or temporary habitation; especially, a tent.

A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith.

A portable structure of wooden framework covered with curtains, which was carried through the wilderness in the Israelitish exodus, as a place of sacrifice and worship.

(Judaism) synagogue, especially a non-Orthodox synagogue.

Hence, the Jewish temple; sometimes, any other place for worship.

(Mormonism) As opposed to an LDS meetinghouse, a church closed to non-Mormons and necessary for particular rituals.

Figuratively: The human body, as the temporary abode of the soul.

(in Japan) A Buddhist monastery, as opposed to a Shinto shrine.

Any small cell, or like place, in which some holy or precious things was deposited or kept.

A meeting house of the Oddfellows fraternity; its members.

The ornamental receptacle for the pyx, or for the consecrated elements, whether a part of a building or movable.

(figurative) Any place regarded as holding a religious presence.

A boxlike step for a mast with the after side open, so that the mast can be lowered to pass under bridges, etc.

(figurative) Any place seen as an important centre for some activity.

A niche for the image of a saint, or for any sacred painting or sculpture.

(figurative) Anything regarded as important or minutely cared for.

Hence, a work of art of sacred subject, having a partially architectural character, as a solid frame resting on a bracket, or the like.

(figurative) A gesture wherein the forefingers are outstretched and touch pad to pad while the other fingers are clasped together.

A tryptich for sacred imagery.

(anatomy) The slightly flatter region, on either side of the human head, behind of the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch, and forward of the ear.

A seat or stall in a choir, with its canopy.

(ophthalmology) Either of the sidepieces on a set of spectacles, extending backwards from the hinge toward the ears and, usually, turning down around them.

To dwell or reside for a time; to be temporary housed.

(weaving) A contrivance used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.

The Mormon temple

(transitive) To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; to temple a god

(Judaism) a portable sanctuary in which the Jews carried the Ark of the Covenant on their exodus

A contrivence used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.

(Judaism) the place of worship for a Jewish congregation

The space, on either side of the head, back of the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch and in front of the ear.

One of the side bars of a pair of spectacles, jointed to the bows, and passing one on either side of the head to hold the spectacles in place.

A place or edifice dedicated to the worship of some deity; as, the temple of Jupiter at Athens, or of Juggernaut in India.

The edifice erected at Jerusalem for the worship of Jehovah.

Hence, among Christians, an edifice erected as a place of public worship; a church.

Fig.: Any place in which the divine presence specially resides.

A building dedicated to the administration of ordinances.

A local organization of Odd Fellows.

To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; as, to temple a god.

Place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity

The flat area on either side of the forehead;

An edifice devoted to special or exalted purposes

(Judaism) the place of worship for a Jewish congregation

The tabernacle is a portable sanctuary used by the Israelites, whereas a temple is a permanent structure dedicated to worship.

No, temples are found in many religions worldwide, serving as places of worship, ritual, and community gathering.

While the primary function of temples is for worship and rituals, their specific roles can vary widely across different religions and cultures.

The Ark of the Covenant, among other sacred items, was housed within the tabernacle.

Tabernacles were made from specific, symbolic materials like acacia wood and fine linens, while temples can be constructed from a variety of materials, reflecting their cultural context.

Temples often symbolize a permanent, sacred space for worship and community, reflecting the architectural and spiritual aspirations of a culture or religion.

The tabernacle served as a central symbol of God's presence and guidance, playing a crucial role in the religious and social life of the Israelites.

While originally a Jewish concept, the term "tabernacle" has been adopted in some Christian contexts to refer to a place of worship or specific sacred objects.

In Judaism, the historical concept of the tabernacle is still significant, and in Christianity, the term can refer to specific sacred objects or places of worship.

In its historical context, the tabernacle was disassembled and carried with the Israelites during their travels. In modern contexts, the term might refer to objects or spaces that are always considered sacred.

Temples often serve as community centers, places of learning, and spiritual hubs, significantly impacting the social and cultural life of the surrounding community.

Access to temples and tabernacles varies according to religious laws and cultural practices, with some being more restrictive than others.

Most major religions have some concept of a sacred space for worship, though the form, name, and function of these spaces can vary widely.

Temples often reflect the wealth, artistic skill, and religious devotion of the societies that build them, serving as a testament to their values and beliefs.

Beyond their religious functions, temples can play roles in cultural preservation, community service, and education, serving as important landmarks and community centers.