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

• theophanic
  adjective
• theophanous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• 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

See Examples For:

theophany theophanies

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 Israel Abrahams

Why this theophany, or how the gods have got out to perform their various 'stunts' on the flammantia moenia mundi, is not asked by their incurious devotees.

From Letters from America by Rupert Brooke

But there is a higher incarnation, a sublimer theophany.

From Morality as a Religion An exposition of some first principles by W. R. Washington Sullivan

The scene of the theophany, therefore, according to J, is to be placed on the way from Midian to Goshen.

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

But when it is argued that wondrous theophanies are common to all faiths, two replies present themselves.

From The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Exodus by G. A. Chadwick

And by fair implication, He would have us to identify the persons in these two great theophanies.

From Expositions of Holy Scripture Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and First Book of Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, and Second Kings chapters I to VII by Alexander Maclaren

Of theophanies and manifestations of the Godhead there is no lack, but the wonders are such as to make one really wonder.

From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen

Miracles, angels, theophanies, dreams, are never absent from the palette.

From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen

The chapter also shows how the Old Testament theophanies must have given an impetus to the distinction between the Deity as transcendent and the Deity as making himself visible.

From History of Dogma, Volume 2 (of 7) by Neil Buchanan