{"id":43807,"date":"2020-11-29T20:33:54","date_gmt":"2020-11-29T17:33:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=43807"},"modified":"2025-05-01T19:55:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T16:55:04","slug":"what-is-shekinah-and-what-does-shekinah-glory-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/11\/29\/what-is-shekinah-and-what-does-shekinah-glory-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Shekinah? And what does Shekinah Glory mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
The <\/span>Shekinah Glory<\/strong>\u00a0refers to the visible, manifest presence of God dwelling among His people. The word\u00a0<\/span>Shekinah<\/em>\u00a0comes from the Hebrew root\u00a0<\/span>\u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05db\u05b7\u05df<\/strong>\u00a0(<\/span>shakan<\/em>), meaning \u201cto dwell\u201d or \u201cto settle.\u201d Though the word\u00a0<\/span>Shekinah<\/em>\u00a0itself does not appear in the canonical text of the Bible, the concept is deeply rooted in Scripture and Jewish theology. The term was developed by ancient Jewish rabbis to describe God’s dwelling presence\u2014especially in moments when He made Himself tangibly known.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Throughout the Bible, God revealed His presence in physical, often awe-inspiring forms\u2014fire, cloud, smoke, wind, and light. These were signs of His holiness, power, and nearness.<\/p>\n

Examples of the Shekinah Glory in Scripture<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0God Leads Israel in the Wilderness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He manifested His presence as a\u00a0pillar of cloud by day<\/strong>\u00a0and a\u00a0pillar of fire by night<\/strong>\u00a0to guide them:<\/p>\n

Exodus 13:21\u201322 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

2.\u00a0The Tabernacle and the Holy of Holies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

God\u2019s glory visibly filled the Tabernacle, the mobile sanctuary during Israel\u2019s journey:<\/p>\n

Leviticus 16:2 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

“…for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This referred to the innermost part of the Tabernacle\u2014the\u00a0Holy of Holies<\/strong>\u2014where God\u2019s presence was believed to dwell above the Ark of the Covenant.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Solomon’s Temple Dedication<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When King Solomon dedicated the first Temple, the glory of God filled the sanctuary so powerfully that the priests could not remain inside:<\/p>\n

1 Kings 8:10\u201311 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

4.\u00a0God\u2019s Covenant with Abraham<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Shekinah also appeared during Abraham\u2019s covenant ceremony, symbolized by a smoking fire pot and flaming torch:<\/p>\n

Genesis 15:17 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This moment signified God\u2019s personal and binding commitment to Abraham.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0God Speaks to Job<\/strong><\/h3>\n

God revealed Himself to Job out of a whirlwind, again displaying His power and majesty:<\/p>\n

Job 38:1 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said…<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

6.\u00a0Christ Appears to Saul (Paul)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the New Testament, the Shekinah glory is seen in Christ\u2019s encounter with Saul on the road to Damascus. A blazing light from heaven knocked him to the ground:<\/p>\n

Acts 9:3\u20135 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

…suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying… \u201cI am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

7.\u00a0The New Jerusalem<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In eternity, the Shekinah glory will permanently illuminate the new heavens and earth:<\/p>\n

Revelation 21:23 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Shekinah Glory<\/strong><\/h2>\n

All these appearances, as glorious as they were, pointed to a greater revelation:\u00a0God Himself in human form\u2014Jesus Christ<\/strong>. In Christ, God didn\u2019t just appear temporarily or symbolically\u2014He dwelt among us fully.<\/p>\n

John 1:14 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Greek word translated \u201cdwelt\u201d (\u03c3\u03ba\u03b7\u03bd\u03cc\u03c9<\/em>,\u00a0sken\u00f3\u014d<\/em>) literally means \u201ctabernacled\u201d\u2014indicating that Jesus was the new and greater tabernacle, the dwelling place of God with man.<\/p>\n

Colossians 2:9 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh…<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Through Jesus, the Shekinah glory is no longer limited to a tent, a temple, or a fire. He is the living embodiment of God’s presence.<\/p>\n

Can We Experience the Shekinah Glory Today?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Absolutely. But not through mystical visions or external signs. Today,\u00a0God reveals His glory through a relationship with Jesus Christ<\/strong>, who lives in believers by the Holy Spirit:<\/p>\n

2\u00a0<\/span>Corinthians\u00a0<\/span>4:<\/span>6 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

For\u00a0<\/span>God,\u00a0<\/span>who\u00a0<\/span>said, \u201c<\/span>Let\u00a0<\/span>light\u00a0<\/span>shine\u00a0<\/span>out\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>darkness,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>has\u00a0<\/span>shone\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n