Shekinah
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Shekinah in the Bible?
The term shekhinah is absent from the Hebrew Bible but appears in later Aramaic Targums and Rabbinic literature to denote the dwelling or resting presence of the Divine.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the concept of the Shekhinah illuminates how ancient Jewish interpreters understood God's tangible presence among the Israelites, thereby bridging the theological gap between a transcendent deity and localized worship.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Shekinah. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Shekinah in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Shekinah clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Shekinah." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/shekinah/