κατασκην-όω G2681
To settle down, nest, take up lodging; of birds nesting in branches, or figuratively dwelling securely.
Literally means to pitch one's tent or take up quarters, but in the NT it appears most memorably in the mustard seed parables where birds come and nest in the branches of the great shrub (Matt 13:32; Mark 4:32; Luke 13:19). The image echoes Old Testament passages about great trees sheltering birds -- a symbol of a kingdom providing refuge. In Acts 2:26, Peter quotes Psalm 16 where the psalmist's flesh will 'dwell securely,' extending the metaphor from birds finding shelter to the believer resting in God's protection. The French 'dresser la tente' beautifully preserves the tent-dwelling etymology of the Greek skēnē root.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To settle, nest, or take up lodging in a place, often said of birds finding shelter in tree branches. The Synoptic mustard seed parables (Matt 13:32; Mark 4:32; Luke 13:19) use this verb to depict birds nesting in the grown shrub, echoing Ezekiel 17:23 and Daniel 4:12 where a great tree sheltering birds symbolizes a kingdom offering refuge. In Acts 2:26, it shifts to human experience as Peter quotes the psalmist's confidence that his flesh will 'dwell securely.' The Spanish 'anidar' (to nest) captures the ornithological sense, while French 'dresser la tente' preserves the etymological connection to skēnē (tent/tabernacle). 4×
AR["تَسكُنُ", "تَسْكُنَ", "سَكَنَتْ", "سَيَسْكُنُ"]·ben["বাস-করিবে", "বাসা-বাঁধতে।", "বাসা-বাঁধল", "বাসা-বাঁধে"]·DE["nisten", "κατασκηνοῦν", "κατασκηνώσει", "κατεσκήνωσεν"]·EN["nested", "to-nest", "will-dwell"]·FR["demeurer", "dresser-la-tente"]·heb["יִשְׁכֹּן", "לִשְׁכֹּן", "שָׁכְנוּ"]·HI["बसेरा-किया", "बस्तेए-करते-हैन"]·ID["akan-tinggal", "bersarang", "bersarang."]·IT["abitare", "kataskenoun", "kateskenosen"]·jav["badhé-dedalem", "manggèn", "nusuh.", "nyusuh"]·KO["깃들었다", "깃들이게", "깃들인다", "아니-하려함"]·PT["aninhar.", "aninharam-se", "fazerem-ninho", "habitará"]·RU["гнездиться", "гнездятся", "угнездились", "упокоится"]·ES["anidar", "anidaron", "habitará"]·SW["hujenga-viota", "itakaa", "kuishi.", "walikaa"]·TR["umut", "yuva-yapar", "yuva-yapması.", "yuva-yaptı"]·urd["بسیرا-کریں", "بسیرا-کیا", "بسیں", "بسے-گا"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατασκην-όω, take up one's quarters, encamp, εἰς.. LXX+6th c.BC+: generally, rest, LXX; settle, of birds, NT: metaphorically, Refs 3rd c.AD+.