Shekhinah

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The term represents a divine presence that embodies a relationship between the sacred and people, illustrating a feminine aspect of divinity while emphasizing accessibility and communion It denotes a tangible manifestation of a higher power, promoting closeness between the divine and humanity, as well as fostering community and worship This concept illustrates the manifestation of a sacred essence that highlights the intimate connection between God and individuals, reflecting both divine glory and the experience of communal reverence
2. A concept signifying the manifestation of divine glory and presence among people within spiritual or sacred contexts
3. The perceived feminine aspect of a higher power symbolizing closeness and interaction between divinity and the human community

Etymology: The Hebrew noun "shkhiná" literally means "act of dwelling," and it comes from the verb "shakhan," to dwell or settle. In Jewish tradition the word names God's presence as it settles among people, most famously in the tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem, where the divine presence was said to rest above the Ark of the Covenant. Its meaning is therefore less a fixed object than an action: God choosing to make a home in the world. The spelling "shekhinah" is one of several English transliterations of the Hebrew, and "shechinah" is another, reflecting the difficulty of rendering its sounds in the Latin alphabet. The English forms are borrowed directly from Hebrew rather than through another European language.