theophany

American  

[thee-of-uh-nee] / θiˈɒf ə ni /

noun

theophanies plural

1. a manifestation or appearance of God or a god to a person.

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theophany British  

/ θɪˈɒfənɪ, θɪəˈfænɪk /

noun

1. theol a manifestation of a deity to man in a form that, though visible, is not necessarily material

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• theophanous
  adjective
• theophanic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• theophanies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of theophany

1625–35; < Late Latin theophania < Late Greek theopháneia. See theo-, -phany

Explanation

When someone believes she has seen a true vision of God, it can be called a theophany. A theophany is an experience that many people hope for but few achieve: seeing an actual deity. Eastern and ancient Greek religions, as well as Christianity and Judaism, describe various types of theophanies. The Greek roots mean "god" and "appearance," and they show up in hundreds of other English words — theology, theocracy, and monotheism all come from theos, or god, and diaphanous, sycophant, and phantom come from phainein, "to show or to appear."

Example Sentences

Robben, perhaps somewhat immodest, seemed to agree that the stadium had just witnessed a kind of theophany: "Everybody was tired in extra-time but I found my second life," he said.

From The Guardian • Mar. 28, 2010

True, 'Freedom' implies the Exodus; 'Revelation,' the Sinaitic theophany; 'Joy,' the harvest merry-makings, and perhaps some connection with the biblical narrative of Israel's wanderings in the wilderness.

From Judaism by Abrahams, Israel

The witchery of the prophetic documents has disappeared; poetry has given place to legislation, theophany to ritual, religion to theology.

From Introduction to the Old Testament by McFadyen, John Edgar

And yet one feels that a theology without a theophany is both dry and difficult to defend.

From The Reconciliation of Races and Religions by Cheyne, Thomas Kelly

In the Priestly Code it almost loses the character of a theophany entirely.

From Prolegomena by Wellhausen, Julius