The term "Shechinah" is derived from the Hebrew root "shakan," meaning "to dwell" or "to settle." Although the word "Shechinah" itself does not appear in the biblical text, it is a post-biblical term used in Jewish and Christian theology to describe the manifest presence of God dwelling among His people. The concept of Shechinah is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of God's presence with Israel.

Biblical Foundations

The Shechinah is often associated with the visible and tangible manifestations of God's presence. One of the earliest instances is found in the account of the Exodus, where God leads the Israelites out of Egypt. In Exodus 13:21-22 , it is written: "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people." This pillar of cloud and fire is understood as a manifestation of the Shechinah, guiding and protecting the Israelites.

The Shechinah is also closely associated with the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. In Exodus 40:34-35 , the completion of the Tabernacle is marked by a significant event: "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." This divine presence signified God's dwelling among His people, a theme reiterated when Solomon dedicated the Temple in 1 Kings 8:10-11 : "And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD."

Theological Significance

The Shechinah represents God's immanence, His willingness to dwell among His people and be intimately involved in their lives. It is a symbol of His covenantal faithfulness and His desire for relationship with humanity. The presence of the Shechinah was a source of comfort, guidance, and assurance for the Israelites, affirming that God was with them in their journey and struggles.

In the New Testament, the concept of Shechinah finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 states, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." The Greek word for "dwelling" here is "skenoo," which echoes the Hebrew "shakan," indicating that Jesus is the embodiment of God's presence among His people.

Shechinah in Christian Thought

In Christian theology, the Shechinah is often associated with the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers and the Church. The presence of the Holy Spirit is seen as a continuation of God's dwelling with His people, empowering them for service and sanctifying them in their walk with Christ. The Shechinah thus serves as a reminder of God's ongoing presence and activity in the world, both in the past and in the present.

The Shechinah remains a profound symbol of hope and divine presence, reflecting the biblical truth that God is not distant but actively involved in the lives of His people, guiding, protecting, and dwelling among them.Shechinah

(dwelling). This term is not found in the Bible. It was used by the later Jews, and borrowed by Christians from them, to express the visible majesty of the divine Presence especially when resting or dwelling between the cherubim on the mercyseat. In the tabernacle and in the temple of Solomon, but not in the second temple. The use of the term is first found in the Targums, where it forms a frequent periphrasis for God, considered its dwelling among the children of Israel. The idea which the different accounts in Scripture convey is that of a most brilliant and glorious light, enveloped in a cloud, and usually concealed by the cloud, so that the cloud itself was for the most part alone visible but on particular occasions the glory appeared. The allusions in the New Testament to the shechinah are not unfrequent. (Luke 2:9; John 1:14; Romans 9:4) and we are distinctly taught to connect it with the incarnation and future coming of the Messiah as type with antitype.

A Chaldee word meaning resting-place, not found in Scripture, but used by the later Jews to designate the visible symbol of God's presence in the tabernacle, and afterwards in Solomon's temple. When the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he went before them "in a pillar of a cloud." This was the symbol of his presence with his people. For references made to it during the wilderness wanderings, see Exodus 14:20; 40:34-38; Leviticus 9:23, 24; Numbers 14:10; 16:19, 42.

It is probable that after the entrance into Canaan this glory-cloud settled in the tabernacle upon the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. We have, however, no special reference to it till the consecration of the temple by Solomon, when it filled the whole house with its glory, so that the priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings 8:10-13; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14; 7:1-3). Probably it remained in the first temple in the holy of holies as the symbol of Jehovah's presence so long as that temple stood. It afterwards disappeared. (see CLOUD.)

(n.) See Shekinah.

The Altar of Incense
... the outermost court, which was accessible to all the people; the second, which was
trodden by the priests alone; and the third, where the Shechinah dwelt in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the altar of incense.htm

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... "Only in Palestine does the Shechinah manifest itself," taught the Rabbis. Outside
its sacred boundaries no such revelation was possible. ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

Was, Is, is to Come
... 'And a cloud received Him out of their sight'"the Shechinah cloud, the bright symbol
of the Divine Presence which had shone round the shepherds on the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/was is is to come.htm

Appendix xvi. On the Jewish views About Demons' and the Demonised ...
... xviii.12, and reads thus: He who joins himself (cleaves) to uncleanness, on him
rests the spirit of uncleaness; but he who cleaves to the Shechinah, it is meet ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvi on the jewish.htm

Christ Has not Received the Holy Spirit on Account of Poverty.
... Footnotes: [2297] [The Shechinah probably attended the descent of the Holy Spirit,
and what follows in the note seems a gratuitous explanation. ...
/.../chapter lxxxviii christ has not received.htm

The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds.
... Acts 1:10 ], and the glory of the Lord shone round about them [The Shechinah, or
bright cloud, which symbolizes the divine presence (Exodus 24:16; I. Kings viii ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xi the birth of jesus.htm

The Manifestation of the Messiah
... The Shechinah cloud was gathering up its fleecy folds, and poising itself above
Him, and moving slowly towards the scene of the Baptist's ministry; and He had ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/vii the manifestation of the.htm

He Division of the Land.
... the limits of that land. For "Shechinah (say they) dwells not upon any
out of the land." Compare Acts 10:45. The land, which the ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 1 he division of.htm

The Servant of the Lord
... on the hypothesis that the men who composed it were witnesses of His Resurrection,
and saw Him floating upwards and received into the Shechinah cloud and lost ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the servant of the lord.htm

Go into Peace
... Although Moses and Elias were there, and the voice from God was there, and the
Shechinah cloud was there, all were to be left, to go down and do the work of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/go into peace.htm

Shechinah

/s/shechinah.htm - 7k

Shechem's (5 Occurrences)

/s/shechem's.htm - 8k

Cloud (119 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:10; 2 Chronicles 5:14; Ezek. 43:4), and was called the Shechinah
(qv). Jehovah came down upon Sinai in a cloud (Exodus ...
/c/cloud.htm - 51k

Cherub (21 Occurrences)
... number of "living creatures" is mentioned in Revelation 4:6. Those on the ark are
called the "cherubim of glory" (Hebrews 9:5), ie, of the Shechinah, or cloud ...
/c/cherub.htm - 18k

Shed (73 Occurrences)

/s/shed.htm - 32k

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