Theophany

God is manifested in nature

God’s presence in storms, thunder and lightning

Ps 18:7–15; Ex 19:16

See also Ex 20:18; Job 37:5; Ps 29:3–9; Ps 77:18; Ps 97:4; Is 30:27–33; Am 1:2; Hab 3:11; Zec 9:14; Re 11:19

God’s presence in volcanic phenomena

Exodus 19:18 NRSV

Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently.

See also Is 30:33

God’s presence in earthquakes

Isaiah 29:5–6 NRSV

But the multitude of your foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of tyrants like flying chaff. And in an instant, suddenly, you will be visited by the Lord of hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.

See also Jdg 5:4–5; Ps 77:18; Hab 3:6

Specific phenomena associated with the presence of God

Fire signifies God’s presence

Ex 3:2 Fire in particular represents the purity, holiness and unapproachability of God.

See also Ex 13:21; Ex 19:18; Ex 24:17; Le 9:24; Nu 14:14; Dt 4:11–12; Dt 5:4; Dt 5:22–26; Jdg 13:20–22; Ps 97:3; Joe 2:30

Smoke signifies God’s presence

Exodus 19:18 NRSV

Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently.

See also Ex 20:18; Ps 144:5; Is 6:4; Is 30:27; Joe 2:30; Re 15:8

Cloud signifies God’s presence

Ex 16:10 Cloud and smoke convey the mystery and transcendence of God.

See also Ex 13:21

God speaks to Moses from the cloud:

Ex 19:9; Ex 24:15–16; Ex 33:9; Ex 34:5; Dt 31:15

Le 16:2; Nu 9:15–22; Nu 14:14; 1 Ki 8:10–11; Eze 1:4; Eze 10:3–4

The transfiguration of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 17:5 NRSV

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”

Revelation 14:14–16 NRSV

Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand! Another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

God is manifested in human or angelic form

Genesis 16:7–13 NRSV

The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her.” The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction. He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin.” So she named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”; for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?”

See also Ge 18:1–22; Ge 32:24–30; Jos 5:13–15

God appears in prophetic visions

God appears on a throne

Is 6:1 John interprets this verse to refer to Jesus Christ (Jn 12:41).

See also Eze 1:26; Eze 10:1; Da 7:9; Re 4:2; Re 20:11

God appears attended by angels and other heavenly beings

Is 6:2; Eze 1:5–18; Eze 10:9–13; Re 4:6–11

God appears like, or with, precious stones

Ex 24:10; Eze 1:26; Re 4:3

Functions and effects of theophanies

Theophanies reveal God’s glory

Ezekiel 10:4 NRSV

Then the glory of the Lord rose up from the cherub to the threshold of the house; the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of the Lord.

See also Ex 16:10; Ex 24:16; Ex 40:34–35; Le 9:23–24; Nu 14:10; 1 Ki 8:11; 2 Ch 7:1–3; Ps 29:3; Ps 29:9; Ps 97:2–6; Eze 11:22–23

Theophanies bring judgment

Isaiah 30:27 NRSV

See, the name of the Lord comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke; his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is like a devouring fire;

See also Nu 12:9–10; Ps 18:13–15

Theophanies arouse the fear of God

Ex 19:16; Ex 20:18–20; Is 6:5

Theophanies commission God’s servants

Is 6:8; Eze 1:28–2:1

Theophanies authenticate God’s servants

Numbers 12:5–8 NRSV

Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words: When there are prophets among you, I the Lord make myself known to them in visions; I speak to them in dreams. Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house. With him I speak face to face—clearly, not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”