Theophany

Theophany

Exodus 3:2

Excerpt

‎theophany ... [is a] manifestation of God. The OT contains a number of narratives of or poetic allusions to God revealing himself to men and women. 

Theophanies frequently are associated with particular holy places, representing the foundation legend of a sanctuary (Gen. 12:6-7; 13:18; 18:1; 28:1-17; Exod. 40:34-38) or the call of a prophet within it (Isa. 6:1-8). They tend to follow a literary pattern with Canaanite roots: God appears, frequently as divine warrior or king, surrounded by fire or in splendor (Deut. 33:2; Pss. 18:8; 104:2; Ezek. 1:27-28; Hab. 3:4), and sometimes riding like Baal upon the wind and clouds (Pss. 18:10; 68:33; 104:3); nature trembles (Exod. 19:18; Judg. 5:4-5; Pss. 18:7; 68:8; Hab. 3:6, 10) or the recipient responds with dread (Gen. 15:12; 28:17; Exod. 3:6; Job 42:5-6; Isa. 6:5; Hab. 3:16); and, as a result, nature becomes fertile (Pss. 68:8-10; 104:10-23; Isa. 35:2, 6-7), or God saves and rules (Deut. 33:5; Judges 5; Pss. 18:16-19; 29:10; 68:19-20; Isa. 35:4-6… 

Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. Harper’s Bible Dictionary 1985 : 1062. Print.