Shekinah Glory

Ever use this term in your sermons or bible study groups? A friend I respect suggested I should be mindful that is not mentioned in the Bible and (implied I might) be careful about using the term - even say as some men gather and I thought of using it when describing a chapter involving Solomon's prayer and 1st Kings, the ark, the temple, and where God chose to temporarily reside, etc.

I would welcome any comments and if you ever carefully use or avoid the term altogether as you serve the Lord.

I also studied this link https://www.gotquestions.org/shekinah-glory.html and would welcome any easily located Logos references too.

Joshua in Rhode Island

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David Paul

Although it's not in the Bible, it is an actual word describing an actual thing. The root word is in the Bible. Most of the direct references to it are rabbinic, though. So reasonable caution is wise: the word isn't in the Bible, but it refers to a Biblical thing/idea. Avoid making over-reaching claims and such, and you should be okay.

Justin Gatlin

The topic guide for Shekinah is instructive. All of the major dictionaries except Anchor-Yale include an article, it looks like. The term, like "trinity" can be a useful category, although the language itself is extrabiblical.

[quote]

Shekinah
Transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “the one who dwells” or “that which dwells.” The term enters Christian theology from its use in the Targums and rabbinic literature to describe the immanent presence in the world of the transcendent Deity. Although the word is not itself used in either Testament, it clearly originates in OT passages which describe God as dwelling among a people or in a particular place (Gn 9:27; Ex 25:8; 29:45, 46; Nm 5:3; 1 Kgs 6:13; Ps 68:16, 18; 74:2; Is 8:18; Ez 43:7–9; Jl 3:17, 21; Zec 2:10, 11); God, whose dwelling is in heaven, also dwells on earth. In its narrower uses the term is applied to the “shekinah glory,” the visible pillar of fire and smoke that dwelled in the midst of Israel at Sinai (Ex 19:16–18), in the wilderness (40:34–38), and in the temple (1 Kgs 6:13; 8:10–13; 2 Chr 6:1, 2).
The rabbinic sources used the term more widely than with specific reference to this OT phenomenon alone. In the Targums “shekinah,” “glory of God,” and “word of God” are used synonymously. Shekinah became a comprehensive term for any form of the presence of God; it could be used as a designation for God or as a circumlocution for references to the face or hand of God. Only in the later rabbinic sources does the Shekinah become a separate entity created by God as an intermediary between God and man.
The NT frequently alludes to the concept of the Shekinah, even though the term itself is not used. God’s presence in the NT is frequently associated with light and glory (Lk 2:9; 9:29; Acts 9:3–6; 22:6–11; 26:12–16; 2 Pt 1:16–18). John’s Gospel emphasizes both the concept of glory and of dwelling. When the word became flesh, he dwelled among men who beheld his glory (Jn 1:14). The Spirit of God remained on him (v 32) and would be with his followers forever (14:16). He would abide in those who abide in Jesus (15:4–10). The same themes of dwelling in Christ and of his dwelling in his people occur repeatedly also in John’s letters (1 Jn 2:6, 14, 24, 27, 28; 3:6, 14, 15, 24; 2 Jn 9).
Paul also identifies Christ as the Shekinah of God. All the fullness of the godhead dwells in him bodily (Col 1:19; 2:9). The dwelling of Christ in the church constitutes the saints as the people of God (1:15–23). Paul’s message was the “gospel of the glory of Christ,” for God had caused light to shine to give “knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:4–6 NIV). Finally, the writer of Hebrews sees Christ as “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his nature” (Heb 1:3 NIV).

See GLORY; THEOPHANY; PILLAR OF FIRE AND CLOUD.

Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Shekinah,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1943–1944.

Gordon Jones

Hi Joshua,

The word Shekinah is not in the Bible but the concept is clearly biblical. It's the same situation for other biblical concepts such as monotheism, atheism, trinity and incarnation. A non-biblical word can point to a biblical concept.

That said, I tend not to use the word Shekinah because most average people have never heard of it and I want my preaching and teaching to be as intelligible as possible.

Justin Gatlin

That said, I tend not to use the word Shekinah because most average people have never heard of it and I want my preaching and teaching to be as intelligible as possible.

I think Shekinah is, like "trinity" and "inerrancy," a technical term that is common enough that it is worth teaching your people, so they can be part of the broader Christian conversation.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

... would welcome any easily located Logos references too

Keep Smiling [:)]

David Paul

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

Logos resource links (for screen shots)

=> A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels (2 vols.)

=> New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (13 vols.)

=> The Glory of Israel

Keep Smiling [:)]

Paul

That said, I tend not to use the word Shekinah because most average people have never heard of it and I want my preaching and teaching to be as intelligible as possible.

I think Shekinah is, like "trinity" and "inerrancy," a technical term that is common enough that it is worth teaching your people, so they can be part of the broader Christian conversation.

I would agree it is worth teaching people about the Shekinah and useful for people to be taught so they can be part of a broader Christian conversation on such issues. For many years, I moved among Charismatic and Pentecostal groups and there were occasions when it was difficult not to regard certain manifestations of God as an appearance of Shekinah glory in a place. For many Christians this concept is not theoretical or technical, but practical and experiential.

The OP has raised a topic that would be important to many charismatic and Pentecostal believers seeking resources from that perspective within Logos. Keep well Paul

Wild Eagle

Isn't it the same root? I see this one in OT.

"7931. שָׁכַן šāḵan: A verb meaning to settle down, to dwell. In its most simple form, three slight variations of meaning are found for this verb. First, it simply means to settle down (Ex. 24:16; Num. 24:2; Ps. 102:28[29]). Second, it can mean to lie down or rest. When used this way, it can refer to objects (Num. 9:17; Job 3:5); animals (Isa. 13:21); and people (Jer. 23:6; 33:16). When people are the object of the verb, it means that they are resting in peace and security. Third, it may mean to dwell or abide. Again, this can have several referents such as people (Ps. 37:27; Prov. 2:21); the dead (Job 26:5); God (1 Kgs. 8:12; Isa. 8:18); or objects such as the Tabernacle (Josh. 22:19). In the intensive form, it means to establish. The word is used in this way in Deuteronomy 12:11 and Psalm 78:60 to describe how God set up a dwelling place for His name, establishing Himself in Israel. Finally, the causative form means to lay, to place, to set (Gen. 3:24; Josh. 18:1); or to cause to dwell (Job 11:14; Ps. 78:55)."

Warren Baker and Eugene E. Carpenter, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003), 1140.