Definition and Usage:
In biblical terms, "visitation" refers to the act of God intervening in the affairs of humanity, either for judgment or blessing. The concept is rooted in the understanding that God is actively involved in His creation, overseeing and directing the course of human history according to His divine will and purpose.

Old Testament Context:
In the Old Testament, visitation often implies a divine inspection or intervention, which can result in either judgment or deliverance. For instance, in Exodus 32:34, God speaks of a future time of visitation for the Israelites' sin: "Now go, lead the people to the place I told you. Behold, My angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin." Here, visitation is associated with divine retribution.

Conversely, visitation can also signify God's mercy and deliverance. In Genesis 21:1, the Lord's visitation results in the fulfillment of His promise to Sarah: "Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised." This visitation brings about the birth of Isaac, demonstrating God's faithfulness and blessing.

New Testament Context:
In the New Testament, the concept of visitation is often linked to the coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His kingdom. In Luke 1:68, Zechariah praises God for visiting His people: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people." This visitation is seen as a fulfillment of God's promises and a manifestation of His salvation.

Furthermore, Jesus Himself speaks of a time of visitation in Luke 19:44, warning Jerusalem of the consequences of not recognizing the time of God's coming: "They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God." Here, visitation is associated with both the opportunity for salvation and the impending judgment for those who reject it.

Theological Significance:
Theologically, visitation underscores the sovereignty and providence of God. It affirms that God is not distant or detached but is intimately involved in the world He created. Visitation serves as a reminder of God's justice, as He holds individuals and nations accountable for their actions. At the same time, it highlights His grace and mercy, as He provides opportunities for repentance and redemption.

Practical Implications:
For believers, the concept of visitation encourages vigilance and readiness. It calls for an awareness of God's presence and activity in the world and in one's personal life. Christians are urged to recognize and respond to God's visitation, whether it comes in the form of conviction, blessing, or guidance. The awareness of divine visitation fosters a life of faithfulness, obedience, and hope, as believers anticipate the ultimate visitation of Christ's return.

Related Biblical Themes:
· Divine Judgment
· Redemption and Salvation
· God's Sovereignty
· Prophetic Fulfillment
· Christ's Second Coming

Key Verses:
· Exodus 32:34
· Genesis 21:1
· Luke 1:68
· Luke 19:44 1. (n.) The act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination.

2. (n.) Specifically: The act of a superior or superintending officer who, in the discharge of his office, visits a corporation, college, etc., to examine into the manner in which it is conducted, and see that its laws and regulations are duly observed and executed; as, the visitation of a diocese by a bishop.

3. (n.) The object of a visit.

4. (n.) The act of a naval commander who visits, or enters on board, a vessel belonging to another nation, for the purpose of ascertaining her character and object, but without claiming or exercising a right of searching the vessel. It is, however, usually coupled with the right of search (see under Search), visitation being used for the purpose of search.

5. (n.) Special dispensation; communication of divine favor and goodness, or, more usually, of divine wrath and vengeance; retributive calamity; retribution; judgment.

6. (n.) A festival in honor of the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist, celebrated on the second of July.

VISITATION

viz-i-ta'-shun, vis-(pequddah; episkope): In Biblical writings, the divine investigation or inspection of men's character and deeds with a view to apportioning to them their due lot, whether of reward or of chastisement; divine dispensation of mercy or of punishment.

(1) In a general sense: "Visited after the visitation of all men" (Numbers 16:29), i.e. in natural death, the usual lot of men, as opposed to a calamitous death; "She shall have fruit in the visitation of souls" (The Wisdom of Solomon 3:13 the King James Version), i.e. in the time of divine judgment. So Sirach 18:20 and perhaps 1 Peter 2:12.

(2) In a good sense, of God's care, providence and mercy: "Thy visitation (the Revised Version margin "care") hath preserved my spirit" (Job 10:12). So Luke 19:44, and, according to some, 1 Peter 2:12 (see above).

(3) Most frequently in an evil sense, of calamity or distress viewed as divine punishment: "What will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far?" (Isaiah 10:3). So Jeremiah 8:12; Jeremiah 10:15; Jeremiah 11:23; Jeremiah 23:12; Jeremiah 46:21; Jeremiah 48:44; Jeremiah 50:27; Jeremiah 51:18 Hosea 9:7 Micah 7:4; The Wisdom of Solomon 14:11.

D. Miall Edwards

DIVINE VISITATION

See PUNISHMENTS

1984. episkope -- a visiting, an overseeing
... a visiting, an overseeing. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: episkope
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-is-kop-ay') Short Definition: visitation of judgment ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1984.htm - 7k6486. pequddah -- oversight, mustering, visitation, store
... 6485, 6486. pequddah. 6487 . oversight, mustering, visitation, store.
Transliteration: pequddah Phonetic Spelling: (pek-ood-daw') Short Definition: ...
/hebrew/6486.htm - 6k

Visitation
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation. [1451]384 My God, I thank thee, who
hast made [1452]385 I do not ask, O Lord, that life may ...
/.../various/the hymnal of the protestant episcopal church in the usa/visitation.htm

The visitation
... IX. THE VISITATION. 1. MARY AND JOSEPH TRAVEL TO VISIT ELIZABETH. Some days
after the Annunciation, St. Joseph returned to Nazareth ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ix the visitation.htm

The Saxon visitation Articles, 1592.
... CHURCH. 48. The Saxon Visitation Articles, 1592. Literature. Articuli ... places.
A great feast of thanksgiving closed the visitation. The ...
/.../ 48 the saxon visitation.htm

at Even, when the Sun was Set
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation 399. At even, when the sun was set. LM
[1532]Angelus: Georg Joseph, 1657. Henry Twells, 1868. At even, when the sun was ...
/.../visitation 399 at even when.htm

I Sought the Lord, and Afterward I Knew
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation 398. I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew.
10.10.10.6 [1530]Artavia: Edward J. Hopkins, 1887. Anonymous, c.1878. ...
/.../visitation 398 i sought the.htm

Hark, My Soul! it is the Lord
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation 389. Hark, my soul! it is the Lord. Four 7's
[1510]St. Bees: John Bacchus Dykes, 1862. William Cowper, 1768. Hark, my soul! ...
/.../visitation 389 hark my soul.htm

Far from My Heavenly Home
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation 408. Far from my heavenly home. SM [1553]Lyte:
John B. Wilkes, 1861. Henry F. Lyte, 1834. Far from my heavenly home,. ...
/.../visitation 408 far from my.htm

I Look to Thee in Every Need
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation 397. I look to thee in every need.
8.6.8.6.8.8 [1528]Bryant: Walter G. Alcock, 1861. Samuel Longfellow, 1864. ...
/.../visitation 397 i look to.htm

O Love Divine, that Stooped to Share
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation 400. O Love divine, that stooped to share.
LM [1534]Abends: Herbert S. Oakeley, 1874. Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1859. ...
/.../visitation 400 o love divine.htm

Lord, it Belongs not to My Care
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Visitation 392. Lord, it belongs not to my care. CM
[1518]Holy Trinity: Joseph Barnby, 1861. Richard Baxter, 1681; cento. ...
/.../visitation 392 lord it belongs.htm

Visitation (17 Occurrences)
... etc., to examine into the manner in which it is conducted, and see that its laws
and regulations are duly observed and executed; as, the visitation of a ...
/v/visitation.htm - 15k

Plague (142 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew name of this insect, arbeh, points to the "multitudinous" character
of this visitation. Warning was given before this plague came. ...
/p/plague.htm - 49k

Visits (4 Occurrences)
... among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they
may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. ...
/v/visits.htm - 7k

Errors (15 Occurrences)
... armies. (BBE). Jeremiah 10:15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in
the time of their visitation they shall perish. (KJV WBS). ...
/e/errors.htm - 11k

Delusion (12 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Jeremiah 10:15 They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time
of their visitation they shall perish. (WEB JPS ASV DBY RSV). ...
/d/delusion.htm - 11k

Mockery (12 Occurrences)
... iniquity. (See NAS). Jeremiah 10:15 They are vanity, a work of delusion: in
the time of their visitation they shall perish. (See NAS NIV). ...
/m/mockery.htm - 9k

Pekod (2 Occurrences)
... It is the opinion, however, of some that this word signifies "visitation," "punishment,"
and allegorically "designates Babylon as the city which was to be ...
/p/pekod.htm - 7k

Wrath (503 Occurrences)
... One thing only can save the sinner from the outpouring of God's righteous anger
against sin in the day of visitation, namely, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as ...
/w/wrath.htm - 50k

Visited (40 Occurrences)
... Numbers 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited
after the visitation of all men; then Yahweh hasn't sent me. ...
/v/visited.htm - 18k

Objects (30 Occurrences)
... captive. (See NAS). Jeremiah 10:15 They are vanity, a work of delusion: in
the time of their visitation they shall perish. (See NIV). ...
/o/objects.htm - 15k

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