Shekinah Glory

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What does glory mean?

The word glory, in relation to God, has two aspects. First, the Hebrew word transliterated as kabowd or kaw-bode’ (primarily translated as “glory” in the Old Testament) can refer to praise and honor and at times even abundance and riches (Genesis 45:13; Ezekiel 20:6). Secondly, it can also refer to the brilliant splendor of God’s appearance.
 
The Greek word doxa, which is primarily translated as “glory” in the New Testament, also has these two aspects. Doxa is translated as “honor” in John 5:41 and 44. The King James Version translates it as “praise” in John 9:24 and 12:43. It can refer to the glory or praise that is due to God (John 17:4; Revelation 4:9). For more on this important aspect of God’s glory―the praise due to God―please read our article “Praise God.” Doxa is also used to refer to the material abundance of the kings of the earth in Revelation 21:24. But doxa can also refer to the brilliant splendor of God’s appearance. The writer of Hebrews records that Jesus is “the brightness of His glory” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus, who is now at the right hand of God, possesses the glory that He had with the Most High when He was the Word (John 1:1-2, 14; 17:5).

In Revelation 15:8 we read of an effect of God’s glory: “The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” We also read in Revelation 21:23, “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” Therefore, an important attribute of God’s very being is that He is glorious—shining with brilliant splendor.


Shekinah Glory

The word Shekinah is from the Hebrew word “shekinot” and actually is in the Bible where God is said to “settle in” or “dwell with.” This word means where God is dwelling, settling or where His Divine Presence is.

 

Shekinah originally was used in the Jewish Targum (Aramaic translation of Hebrew Bible) and rabbinic literature whenever the Hebrew text would mention the presence of God in a way that implied certain human limitations. The Targum Onkelos for example paraphrases Jehovah's declaration in Ex 25:8 as And they shall make before Me a sanctuary and I shall cause My Shekinah to dwell (shakan) among them. In summary, the term Shekinah as commonly used describes the visible manifestation of God's presence and glory usually in the form of a cloud as discussed below under Past Glory.


The word Shekinah does not occur in the Old or New Testaments in the original languages. However, it entered Christian theology as a term via the targums and rabbinic literature after the Old Testament was completed and before the New Testament period began. It was used to describe the very presence of God. Therefore, it was used by rabbis in reference to the Lord's presence among his people (Exodus 19:16-18; 25:8; 40:34-38; 1 Kings 6:13). The rabbis used the term in reference to the glory of God filling the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1), his presence at the cloud (Exodus 14:19; 1 Kings 8:10–13), and his dwelling in the mountain ( Psalm 68:16-18; 74:2; Isaiah 8:18; Joel 3:17). Another way of describing it would be to use the term "glory of God" since the phrase is used to describe his presence (Psalm 19:1; Ezekiel 43:2; Luke 2:9; Acts 7:55).
 
Phrases used in the Bible that fall under the Shekinah are
  • Cloud, (Exodus 34:5; 40:34-38; Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 11:25; 14:14; 16:42 )
  • Cloud of the Lord, (Exodus 40:38; Numbers 9:15; 1 Kings 8:10–11)
  • Glory of God, (Exodus 16:10; Ezekiel 43:2; Luke 2:9;Acts 7:55)
  • Glory of the Lord, (Exodus 24:15–16; 1 Kings 8:11; Ezekiel 1:28; Luke 2:9)
  • Pillar of Cloud, (Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19–20; Numbers 12:5)
  • Presence of the Lord, (Genesis 3:8; Leviticus 10:2; Numbers 16:7; Judges 5:5; Psalm 97:5)
  • Radiance, (Habakkuk 3:4)
  • Thick cloud (Exodus 19:9, 16; Exodus 20:21)

In the New Testament, the manifestation of God, the manifestation of his presence, occurs in the person of Jesus. Jesus is the Word who became flesh (John 1:1, 14). In him all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). He is called "the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature," (Hebrews 1:3). Ttherefore, to see Jesus was in effect, to seek God (John 14:9). Jesus is the Shekinah presence of God.


We are to inherit the glory of Jesus Christ
 
God created humankind to give us the opportunity to become the very sons and daughters of God (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). If we are to become members of God’s own family, one of the attributes we will receive is the very glory of God.

Paul records that we are to “walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). What does it mean to be called into God’s glory? Paul further writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:14, “He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ now has the very glory of God. He is the “brightness of His glory” (Hebrews 1:3). We are to obtain the same glory (2 Thessalonians 2:14) as sons or daughters of God. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 8:16-18: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (King James Version, emphasis added throughout).

The apostle John further explains in 1 John 3:1-2, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

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