theophany

American  

[thee-of-uh-nee] / θiˈɒf ə ni /

noun

plural

theophanies

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

• theophanic
  adjective
• theophanous
  adjective

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

Ch. xix. contains two parallel accounts of the theophany on Horeb-Sinai, from E and J respectively, which differ materially from one another.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various

In ch. xix. we have a twofold description of the theophany on Mt.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various

The expression is notable, for the song of the sky is thunder and the theophany that of Sinai.

From The Lords of the Ghostland A History of the Ideal by Saltus, 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