Shekinah

Definition and Meaning

Shekinah (Hebrew שְׁכִינָה) derives from the Hebrew verb shakan, meaning "to dwell" or "to abide." It denotes the presence of God dwelling among his people, that is, his actually being with them in a particular place. The word is also spelled "Shechinah" or "Shekhinah." Christians often speak of the "Shekinah glory," meaning the glory of God made manifest in visible form, such as cloud or light.

The word itself appears nowhere in the Old Testament or the New Testament. It is a term used in later Jewish rabbinic literature, the body of translations of and commentaries on Scripture produced by Jewish teachers of the law. This literature includes the Targums (Aramaic translations of the Bible), the Talmud, and the Midrash.

Biblical and Historical Background

The concept of the Shekinah is grounded in Old Testament accounts of God's glory appearing in cloud and fire. After the Exodus, a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire guided Israel in the wilderness. When the tabernacle was completed, a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35). When Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, the cloud likewise filled the house, so that the priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings 8:10-11). The book of Ezekiel contains visions of God's glory departing from the temple (Ezekiel 10) and later returning (Ezekiel 43).

Rabbinic literature gathered these manifestations of the divine presence under the term "Shekinah." According to a widely known explanation, the rabbis used the word to avoid language that would portray God directly in human terms. There is also a tradition that the Shekinah was absent from the Second Temple, which was rebuilt after the Babylonian exile.

Some Christians interpret the concept in connection with the Incarnation. The Greek verb rendered "dwelt" in John 1:14 ("And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us") means "to pitch a tent" or "to tabernacle." On this basis, the verse is read as teaching that the glory of God that dwelt in the tabernacle found its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The concept is sometimes also explained alongside passages that call believers and the church the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Usage in the Korean Church

Shekinah is not so much an official doctrinal term as a word used chiefly in sermons, Bible studies, and worship song lyrics to express God's presence and glory. Korean Bible translations such as the New Korean Revised Version do not use the word, rendering the concept instead as "the glory of the LORD." Church worship teams, mission organizations, and prayer groups also commonly include "Shekinah" in their names.

The nuances of usage vary by denomination and tradition.

• In the Reformed tradition, including Presbyterian churches, the word is generally treated as a biblical-theological background term for explaining the tabernacle, the temple, and the Incarnation.
• In Pentecostal and charismatic circles, expressions such as "the Shekinah glory is falling" are sometimes used to describe the presence of God experienced in worship and prayer.

These differences, however, are generally regarded as reflecting the expressive styles of individual churches and ministers rather than official denominational positions.