SHEKINAH or SHECHINAH (sh6'krna), (Heb. r.4';, shek-ce-naw', resident), a term ap plied by the ancient Jews, especially in the Chaldee Targums, to that visible symbol of of the divine glory which dwelt in the tabernacle and temple. The word, though nowhere met with in this form in the Scriptures, is a direct derivative from the Hebrew root shzikan, 'to dwell,' to dwell in a tent or tabernacle,' which is of frequent occurrence in the sacred writers, and is used mainly to imply the tabernacled presence and residence of the Most High, by a visible symbol among the chosen people.
Though found in several connections, where the sense of secular habitation is obvious, yet there can be no doubt that the dominant idea is that of sacred indwelling, of which the following pas sages afford striking specimens: Exod. xxv :8, 'Let them make me a tabernacle that [ may dwell among them.' Exod. xxix :45, And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.' Num. v:3, 'That they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.' Ps. lxviii :16, 'This is the hill which God delighteth to dwell in, yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.' Ps. lxxix: 2, 'Remember—this Mount Zion wherein thou hast dwelt.' It is more especially employed when the Lord is said to 'cause his name to dwell,' im plying the stated visible manifestation of his presence. Ezra vi :12, 'And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there, literally, halt shakinized his name' (comp. Deut. xii :II ; xiv : 23; xvi :6; xxvi:2). It is emphatically employed in speaking of the cloud of divine glory dwelling upon Mount Sinai : Exod. xxiv :t6, 'And the
glory of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai.' The term shekinah is defined by Buxtorf as meaning primarily habitation, or inhabitation, but as hav ing a dominant reference to the divine glory in its outward visible manifestation. The term is of very frequent occurrence in the Chaldee Tar gums, where it is employed interchangeably with 'Glory; 'Glory of the Lord; 'Angels of the Lord,' and often with 'Lord' (Jehovah) itself. The cita tions that follow will more fully disclose the usage in this respect ; Ps. lxxiv :2, 'Remember thy con gregation which thou hast purchased of old, this Mount Zion wherein thou hast dwelt.' Targ. Exod. xxv :8, 'Let them make me a tabernacle that I may dwell among them.' Chal., 'I will make my shckinah to dwell among them.' Arab., 'I will make my light (or splendor) to dwell among them.' Haggai .i :8, 'Go up to the moun tain, and bring wood, and build the house, and I will take pleasure, and will be glorified, saith the Lord.' Targ. 'I will make my shekimzh to dwell there in glory.' Ps. lxxxv :9, 'His sal vation is nigh them that fear him, that glory dwell in our land.' Thus explained by Alien Ezra, 'That the shekinah may be established in the land.' As to the precise nature of the phenomenon thus exhibited, we can only say, that it appears 2. (Heb. sheh' lakh). The proper form of the name of Salah, the son of Arpliaxad (I Chron. 1:18, 24). (See SELA.)