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Shekhinah, also spelled Shechinah ( Hebrew: שְׁכִינָה ''Šəḵīnā'', Tiberian: ''Šăḵīnā'') is the English transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "dwelling" or "settling" and denotes the presence of God, as it were, in a place. This concept is found in Judaism. The Hebrew Bible mentions several places where the presence of God was felt and experienced as a Shekhinah, including the burning bush and the cloud that rested on
Mount Sinai Mount Sinai ( he , הר סיני ''Har Sinai''; Aramaic: ܛܘܪܐ ܕܣܝܢܝ ''Ṭūrāʾ Dsyny''), traditionally known as Jabal Musa ( ar, جَبَل مُوسَىٰ, translation: Mount Moses), is a mountain on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It is ...
. The Shekhinah was often pictured as a cloud or as a pillar of fire and was referred to as the glory of God. The Shekhinah was also understood to be present in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem, and to be seated at the right hand of God. The word shekhinah is not found in the Bible and is Talmud and Midrash, though not in the Mishnah.


Etymology

The word ''shekhinah'' is not present in the Bible, and is first encountered in the rabbinic literature. S. G. F. Brandon, ed., ''Dictionary of Comparative Religion'' (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons 1970), p. 573: "Shekhinah". The
Semitic root The roots of verbs and most nouns in the Semitic languages are characterized as a sequence of consonants or " radicals" (hence the term consonantal root). Such abstract consonantal roots are used in the formation of actual words by adding the vowe ...
from which ''shekhinah'' is derived, ''š-k-n'', means "to settle, inhabit, or dwell". In the verb form, it is often used to refer to the dwelling of a person or animal in a place, or to the dwelling of God. Nouns derived from the root included ''shachen'' ("neighbor") and ''mishkan'' (a dwelling-place, whether a secular home or a holy site such as the Tabernacle).


In Judaism

In classic Jewish thought, the shekhinah refers to a dwelling or settling in a special sense, a dwelling or settling of
divine presence Divine presence, presence of God, Inner God, or simply presence is a concept in religion, spirituality, and theology that deals with the ability of God to be " present" with human beings. According to some types of monotheism God is omnipresent; ...
, to the effect that, while in proximity to the shekhinah, the connection to God is more readily perceivable. While ''shekhinah'' is a feminine word in Hebrew, it primarily seems to be featured in masculine or androgynous contexts referring to a divine manifestation of the presence of God, based especially on readings of the Talmud.


Manifestation

The prophets made numerous references to visions of the presence of God, particularly in the context of the Tabernacle or Temple, with figures such as thrones or robes filling the Sanctuary. These visions have traditionally been attributed to the presence of the shekhinah. The shekhinah is referred to as manifest in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem throughout rabbinic literature. It is also reported as being present in other contexts: * While a person (or people) study Torah, the Shekhinah is among them. * "Whenever ten are gathered for prayer, there the Shekhinah rests." * "When three sit as judges, the Shekhinah is with them." * Cases of personal need: "The Shekhinah dwells over the headside of the sick man's bed", "Wheresoever they were exiled, the Shekhinah went with them." * "A man and woman - if they merit, the Shekhinah is between them. If not, fire consumes them." According to one interpretation of this source, the Shekhinah is the highest of six types of holy fire. When a married couple is worthy of this manifestation, all other types of fire are consumed by it. The Talmud states that "the Shekhinah rests on man neither through gloom, nor through sloth, nor through frivolity, nor through levity, nor through talk, nor through idle chatter, but only through a matter of joy in connection with a
mitzvah In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word (; he, מִצְוָה, ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment commanded by God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of discus ...
." There is no occurrence of the word "shekhinah" in pre-rabbinic literature such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is only afterwards in the targums and rabbinic literature that the Hebrew term ''shekhinah'', or Aramaic equivalent ''shekinta'', is found, and then becomes extremely common. Martin McNamara (see notes) considers that the absence might lead to the conclusion that the term only originated after the destruction of the temple in 70 CE, but notes
2 Maccabees 2 Maccabees, el, Μακκαβαίων Β´, translit=Makkabaíōn 2 also known as the Second Book of Maccabees, Second Maccabees, and abbreviated as 2 Macc., is a deuterocanonical book which recounts the persecution of Jews under King Antiochus I ...
14:35 "a temple for your habitation", where the Greek text ( grc-koi, ναὸν τῆς σῆς σκηνώσεως) suggests a possible parallel understanding, and where σκήνωσις ''skēnōsis'' "a tent-building", a variation on an early loanword from Phoenician ( grc, ἡ σκηνή ''skēnē'' "tent"), is deliberately used to represent the original Hebrew or Aramaic term.


Targum

In the
Targum A targum ( arc, תרגום 'interpretation, translation, version') was an originally spoken translation of the Hebrew Bible (also called the ''Tanakh'') that a professional translator ( ''mǝturgǝmān'') would give in the common language of the ...
the addition of the noun term shekhinah paraphrases Hebrew verb phrases such as Exodus 34:9 "let the Lord go among us" (a verbal expression of presence) which Targum paraphrases with God's "shekhinah" (a noun form). In the post-temple era usage of the term shekhinah may provide a solution to the problem of God being omnipresent and thus not dwelling in any one place.


Jewish prayers

The 17th blessing of the daily ''
Amidah The ''Amidah Amuhduh'' ( he, תפילת העמידה, ''Tefilat HaAmidah'', 'The Standing Prayer'), also called the ''Shemoneh Esreh'' ( 'eighteen'), is the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy. Observant Jews recite the ''Amidah'' at each o ...
'' prayer concludes with the line " lessed are You, God,who returns His Presence (''shekhinato'') to Zion" (). The Liberal Jewish prayer-book for
Rosh Hashanah Rosh HaShanah ( he, רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, , literally "head of the year") is the Jewish New Year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah (, , lit. "day of shouting/blasting") It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days (, , " ...
and Yom Kippur (''Machzor Ruach Chadashah'') contains a creative prayer based on
Avinu Malkeinu Avinu Malkeinu ( he, אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ; "Our Father, Our King") is a Jewish prayer recited during Jewish services during the Ten Days of Repentance, from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur inclusive. Since the 17th century, most ...
, in which the feminine noun ''shekhinah'' is used in the interests of gender neutrality.


Relationship to the Holy Spirit

The concept of shekhinah is also associated with the concept of the
Holy Spirit in Judaism In Judaism, the Holy Spirit ( he, רוח הקודש, ''ruach ha-kodesh'') refers to the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the universe or over God's creatures, in given contexts.Maimonides, Moses. Part II, Ch. 45: "The various cl ...
(''ruach ha-kodesh'').


Kabbalah


Sabbath Bride

The theme of the shekhinah as the Sabbath Bride recurs in the writings and songs of 16th century Kabbalist, Isaac Luria. The ''Asader Bishvachin'' song, written in Aramaic by Luria (his name appears as an acrostic of each line) and sung at the evening meal of Shabbat is an example of this. The song appears in particular in many
siddur A siddur ( he, סִדּוּר ; plural siddurim ) is a Jewish prayer book containing a set order of daily prayers. The word comes from the Hebrew root , meaning 'order.' Other terms for prayer books are ''tefillot'' () among Sephardi Jews, ' ...
s in the section following Friday night prayers and in some Shabbat song books:
Let us invite the Shechinah with a newly-laid table and with a well-lit menorah that casts light on all heads. Three preceding days to the right, three succeeding days to the left, and amid them the Sabbath bride with adornments she goes, vessels and robes ... May the Shechinah become a crown through the six loaves on each side through the doubled-six may our table be bound with the profound Temple services
A paragraph in the Zohar starts: "One must prepare a comfortable seat with several cushions and embroidered covers, from all that is found in the house, like one who prepares a canopy for a bride. For the Shabbat is a queen and a bride. This is why the masters of the Mishna used to go out on the eve of Shabbat to receive her on the road, and used to say: "'Come, O bride, come, O bride!' And one must sing and rejoice at the table in her honor ... one must receive the Lady with many lighted candles, many enjoyments, beautiful clothes, and a house embellished with many fine appointments ..." The tradition of the shekhinah as the Shabbat Bride, the ''Shabbat Kallah'', continues to this day.


As feminine aspect

Kabbalah associates the shekhinah with the female. According to Gershom Scholem, "The introduction of this idea was one of the most important and lasting innovations of Kabbalism. ...no other element of Kabbalism won such a degree of popular approval." The "feminine Jewish divine presence, the shekhinah, distinguishes Kabbalistic literature from earlier Jewish literature."
"In the imagery of the Kabbalah the shekhinah is the most overtly female ''sefirah'', the last of the ten
sefirot Sefirot (; he, סְפִירוֹת, translit=Səfīrōt, Tiberian: '), meaning '' emanations'', are the 10 attributes/emanations in Kabbalah, through which Ein Sof ( The Infinite) reveals itself and continuously creates both the physical realm a ...
, referred to imaginatively as 'the daughter of God'. ... The harmonious relationship between the female shekhinah and the six sefirot which precede her causes the world itself to be sustained by the flow of divine energy. She is like the moon reflecting the divine light into the world."


Nativity and life of Moses

The '' Zohar'', a foundation book of kabbalah, presents the shekhinah as playing an essential role in the conception and birth of Moses. Later during the
Exodus Exodus or the Exodus may refer to: Religion * Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible * The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan Historical events * E ...
on the "third new moon" in the desert, "''Shekhinah'' revealed Herself and rested upon him before the eyes of all."


The Tenth ''Sefirah''

In Kabbalah, the shekhinah is identified with the tenth '' sefirah'' ( Malkuth), and the source of life for humans on earth below the sefirotic realm. The Shekhinah is seen as the feminine divine presence of God descended in this world, dwelling with the people of Israel and sharing in their struggles. Moses is the only human considered to have risen beyond shekhinah into the sefirotic realm, reaching the level of ''
Tiferet Tiferet ( he, תִּפְאֶרֶת ''Tip̄ʾereṯ,'' in pausa: תִּפְאָרֶת ''Tip̄ʾāreṯ'', lit. 'beauty, glory, adornment') alternatively Tifaret, Tiphareth, Tifereth or Tiphereth, is the sixth sefira in the kabbalistic Tree of Li ...
'', or the bridegroom of the shekhinah.


In Christianity

The concept is similar to that in the Gospel of Matthew 18:20, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in their midst." Some Christian theologians have connected the concept of shekhinah to the Greek term ''
parousia The Second Coming (sometimes called the Second Advent or the Parousia) is a Christian (as well as Islamic and Baha'i) belief that Jesus will return again after his ascension to heaven about two thousand years ago. The idea is based on messia ...
'', "presence" or "arrival," which is used in the New Testament in a similar way for "divine presence".


Shekinah Youth Retreat Training Course, Ireland

Supported by the Roman Catholic Salesian order, ''Shekinah'' was founded to support and provide training for those providing retreats for young people. Initially, it was based in
All Hallows College All Hallows College was a college of higher education in Dublin. It was founded in 1842 and was run by the Vincentians from 1892 until 2016. On 23 May 2014, it was announced that it was closing down, due to decreasing student numbers. The sale o ...
, Dublin, the training programmes gained accreditation from
St. Patrick's College, Maynooth St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland ...
(Pontifical University), first the certificate course was developed in 2014 and in 2016 the Level 7 - Diploma in Spirituality (Applied Youth Ministry and Facilitation) course. The course is delivered online over the course of a year.


Branch Davidians

Lois Roden Lois Irene Scott Roden (August 1, 1916 – November 10, 1986) was a president of the Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Church, an apocalyptic Christian group which her husband, Benjamin Roden founded. The sect began in Texas in 1955 as a se ...
, whom the original Branch Davidian Seventh-Day Adventist Church acknowledged as their teacher/prophet from 1978 to 1986, laid heavy emphasis on women's spirituality and the feminine aspect of God. She published a magazine, ''Shekinah'', often rendered ''SHEkinah'', in which she explored the concept that the shekhinah is the Holy Spirit. Articles from ''Shekinah'' are reprinted online at the Branch Davidian website.


In Islam


In the Quran

'' Sakīnah'' ( ar, سكينة) signifies the "presence or peace of God". As "support and reassurance" it was "sent by God into the hearts" of Muslims and Muhammad, according to
John Esposito John Louis Esposito (born May 19, 1940) is an Italian-American academic, professor of Middle Eastern and religious studies, and scholar of Islamic studies, who serves as Professor of Religion, International Affairs, and Islamic Studies at Geor ...
. "Sakinah The presence or peace of God. As mentioned in the Quran (48:4) and elsewhere, it was sent by God into the hearts of believers and upon His messenger, Muhammad, as support and reassurance. Associated with piety and moments of divine inspiration, sakinah in Islamic mysticism signifies an interior spiritual illumination." A modern translator of the Quran, N. J. Dawood, states that "tranquility" is the English word for the Arabic meaning of ''sakīnah'', yet it could be "an echo of the Hebrew ''shekeenah'' (the Holy Presence)." Another scholar states that the Arabic ''sakīnah'' derives from the Hebrew/Aramaic shekhinah. "Arabic from Hebrew/ Aramaic: spirit of God" "In another sense, also in the Qur'ân, it refers to the spirit of God. This meaning is found in tafsı̂r and isrâ'ı̂liyyât literature, as, for example, when Ibrâhı̂m and Ismâ'ı̂l are looking for the place to build the Ka'bah, the sakı̂nah circles around the right spot, saying, “Build over me; build over me.” It is supposed to be like a wind, but with a face that can talk." In the Quran, the Sakīnah is mentioned six times, in surat ''al-Baqara'', ''at-Tawba'' and ''al-Fath''. Sakīnah means "tranquility", "peace". "calm", from the Arabic root ''sakana'': "to be quiet", "to abate", "to dwell". In Islam, ''Sakīnah'' "designates a special peace, the "Peace of God". Although related to Hebrew ''shekhinah'', the spiritual state is not an "indwelling of the Divine Presence" The ordinary Arabic use of the word's root is "the sense of abiding or dwelling in a place". A story in Tafsir and Isra'iliyyat literature relates how Ibrahim and Isma'il, when looking for the spot to build the Kaaba found sakīnah. Newby writes that it was like a breeze "with a face that could talk", saying "build over me." "Associated with piety and moments of divine inspiration, ''sakinah'' in Islamic mysticism signifies an interior spiritual illumination."


Comments regarding Sakina

''Sakina'' in the Quran can refer to God's blessing of solace and succour upon both the Children of Israel and Muhammad.
Al-Qurtubi Imam Abū ʿAbdullāh Al-Qurṭubī or Abū ʿAbdullāh Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Abī Bakr al-Anṣārī al-Qurṭubī ( ar, أبو عبدالله القرطبي) (121429 April 1273) was an Andalusian jurist, Islamic scholar and muhaddith. H ...
mentions in his exegesis, in explanation of the above-mentioned verse :248 that according to Wahb ibn Munabbih, sakinah is a spirit from God that speaks, and, in the case of the Israelites, where people disagreed on some issue, this spirit came to clarify the situation, and used to be a cause of victory for them in wars. According to
Ali ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam. ...
, "Sakinah is a sweet breeze/wind, whose face is like the face of a human". Mujahid mentions that "when Sakinah glanced at an enemy, they were defeated", and ibn Atiyyah mentions about the
Ark of the Covenant The Ark of the Covenant,; Ge'ez: also known as the Ark of the Testimony or the Ark of God, is an alleged artifact believed to be the most sacred relic of the Israelites, which is described as a wooden chest, covered in pure gold, with an el ...
(''at-Tabut''), to which the sakina was associated, that souls found therein peace, warmth, companionship and strength.


In Gnosticism

''Shekhinah'', often in plural, is also present in some gnostic writings written in Aramaic, such as the writings of the Manichaeans and the
Mandaeans Mandaeans ( ar, المندائيون ), also known as Mandaean Sabians ( ) or simply as Sabians ( ), are an ethnoreligious group who are followers of Mandaeism. They believe that John the Baptist was the final and most important prophet. They ...
, as well as others. In these writings, ''shekinas'' are described as hidden aspects of God, somewhat resembling the '' Amahrāspandan'' of the Zoroastrians. In Mandaeism, a ''škina'' ( myz, ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡀ) is a celestial dwelling where
uthra An uthra or ʿutra ( myz, ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ; plural: ʿutri) is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn J. Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utr ...
, or benevolent celestial beings, live in the
World of Light In Mandaeism, the World of Light or Lightworld ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡍࡄࡅࡓࡀ, translit=alma ḏ-nhūra) is the primeval, transcendental world from which Tibil and the World of Darkness emerged. Description *The Great Life (''Hayyi Rabb ...
(''alma d-nhūra''). In Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies, a ''škina'' refers to an initiation hut where a novice and his initiator stay for seven days without sleeping. The hut is called a ''škina'' since priests are considered to be the earthly manifestations of
uthra An uthra or ʿutra ( myz, ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ; plural: ʿutri) is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn J. Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utr ...
s, and the initiation hut represents the abode of the uthra on earth.


Anthropological views


Raphael Patai

In the work by anthropologist Raphael Patai entitled ''
The Hebrew Goddess ''The Hebrew Goddess'' is a 1967 book by Jewish historian and anthropologist Raphael Patai, in which the author argues that historically, the Jewish religion had elements of polytheism, especially the worship of goddesses and a cult of the mothe ...
'', the author argues that the term ''shekhinah'' refers to a goddess by comparing and contrasting scriptural and medieval Jewish Kabbalistic source materials. Patai draws a historic distinction between the ''shekhinah'' and the Matronit. In his book Patai also discusses the Hebrew goddesses
Asherah Asherah (; he, אֲשֵׁרָה, translit=Ăšērā; uga, 𐎀𐎘𐎗𐎚, translit=ʾAṯiratu; akk, 𒀀𒅆𒋥, translit=Aširat; Qatabanian: ') in ancient Semitic religion, is a fertility goddess who appears in a number of ancient so ...
and Anat-Yahu.


Gustav Davidson

American poet
Gustav Davidson Gustav Davidson (December 25, 1895 in Warsaw, Poland – February 6, 1971 in Santa Cruz, United States) was an American poet, writer, and publisher. He was one time secretary of the Poetry Society of America. Biography Gustav Davidson was bor ...
listed shekhinah as an entry in his reference work ''A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels'' (1967), stating that she is the female incarnation of
Metatron Metatron ( ''Meṭāṭrōn'', ''Məṭaṭrōn'', ''Mēṭaṭrōn'', ''Mīṭaṭrōn'', ''Meṭaṭrōn'', ''Mīṭṭaṭrōn'') or Mattatron ( ''Maṭṭaṭrōn'') is an angel in Judaism mentioned three times in the Talmud in a few br ...
.Davidson, Gustav. ''A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels''. New York, NY, USA. 1967. The Free Press, p. 272. "Shekinah".


See also

*
Andiruna An andiruna ( myz, ࡏࡍࡃࡉࡓࡅࡍࡀ, translit=ʿndiruna, lit=chamber) is a temporary reed hut used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies. Drower, E. S. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint). Ety ...
in Mandaeism * Elohim *
Genius loci In classical Roman religion, a ''genius loci'' (plural ''genii locorum'') was the protective spirit of a place. It was often depicted in religious iconography as a figure holding attributes such as a cornucopia, patera ( libation bowl) or snak ...
* ''
The Hebrew Goddess ''The Hebrew Goddess'' is a 1967 book by Jewish historian and anthropologist Raphael Patai, in which the author argues that historically, the Jewish religion had elements of polytheism, especially the worship of goddesses and a cult of the mothe ...
'' *
Holy Spirit in Judaism In Judaism, the Holy Spirit ( he, רוח הקודש, ''ruach ha-kodesh'') refers to the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the universe or over God's creatures, in given contexts.Maimonides, Moses. Part II, Ch. 45: "The various cl ...
* Numen * Priestly Blessing * Shakti in Hinduism *
Shkinta In Mandaeism, a shkinta ( myz, ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡕࡀ, translit=škinta, lit= shekinah) or shkina (''škina'') is a celestial dwelling inhabited by uthras in the World of Light that is analogous to the shekhinah in Jewish mysticism. In Tibil (the p ...
in Mandaeism * Sophia in Gnosticism * Theophany * Yahweh


References


External links


''Jewish Encyclopedia''
(1906).

Chabad.


The Shekhinah in Judaism


{{Mandaeism footer Hebrew words and phrases Jewish theology Kabbalah Kabbalistic words and phrases