shekinah, shechinah
(ʃɪˈkaɪnə)
Also 7 shecinah, 8 schecina, -chinah, 9 shekina.
[a. late Heb. sh⊇kīnā{suph}, f. shākan to rest, dwell.]
The visible manifestation of the Divine Majesty, esp. when resting between the cherubim over the mercy-seat or in the temple of Solomon; a glory or refulgent light symbolizing the Divine Presence.
In the Targums the word is used as a periphrasis to designate God when He is said to dwell among the cherubim, etc., so as to avoid any approach to anthropomorphic expression.
| 1663 J. Stillingfleet (title) Shecinah: or a Demonstration of the Divine Presence in the places of Religious Worship. 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 530 That fiery Shechinah, or visible Glory of the Lord, in which he descended on Mount Sinai. 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 101. 1/2 This Light, which in part compos'd the Schechinah is suppos'd to have been Accompanied with a Numerous Retinue of Attending Angels. 1741 Watts Improv. Mind (1801) 381 The Schecina, or bright glory, which is a symbol of God's presence. 1833 Tracts for Times No. 13. 4 They murmuring and rebelling with the Shechinah before their eyes. 1858 Geo. Eliot Scenes Clerical Life, Mr. Gilfil's Love Story vii, The golden sun⁓light beamed through the dripping boughs like a Shechinah, or visible divine presence. |
b. transf. (spec. applied to Jesus Christ.)
| 1682 Hickes (title) The Moral Schechinah: Or a Discourse of Gods Glory. a 1684 Leighton Serm. (1 Cor. i. 30) Sel. Wks. 1823 I. 483 The Shechinah, the habitation of the Majesty, is Jesus Christ; there he dwells as between the cherubim over the mercy-seat. 1739 C. Wesley Hymn, ‘Arise, my Soul, arise’ vi, Our Eyes on Earth survey The Dazling Shechinah! Bright in endless Glory bright Now in Flesh He stoops to dwell. 1834 Disraeli Rev. Epick i. xvii. 22 Truth indeed is veiled, But with a Schekinah of dazzling light. |