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

Erigena says finely, "Every visible and invisible creature is a theophany or appearance of God."

From Christian Mysticism by Inge, William Ralph

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

From Prolegomena by Wellhausen, Julius

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

Is it credible that he would not have made mention of a revelation or a theophany, had either fallen to his lot?

From The Silesian Horseherd - Questions of the Hour by Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)