Theophany
noun /θiˈɒf.ə.ni/ — A visible manifestation of a divine being
Definition
An appearance or manifestation of a divine being to a human — the moment when the sacred becomes physically perceptible to ordinary sense.
Beyond the definition
The moment the wall between the ordinary and the transcendent becomes transparent. A theophany is not metaphor — it is encounter.
Origin & history
From Greek 'theophania' — 'theos' (god) + 'phainein' (to show, to appear). The showing of god.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The burning bush is the most famous theophany in scripture — direct encounter with the holy in the ordinary world.
The poet used theophany as metaphor: the moment when music became too large for the room it was playing in.
A theophany disturbs. The divine does not appear without consequence.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Theophany” when the meaning fits your context: An appearance or manifestation of a divine being to a human — the moment when the sacred becomes physically perceptible to ordinary sense.
Synonyms
divine manifestation, epiphany, revelation, divine appearance
Antonyms
absence, hiddenness
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Fleeting Manifestation of Brilliance
An adult stands on a city balcony as clouds break, allowing a single, brilliant beam of sunlight to strike a specific, beautiful flower.
A theophany is a divine manifestation that makes the sacred physically perceptible. This moment of a single, brilliant beam of light striking a flower in an otherwise ordinary urban setting acts as a visual analogy for theophanic experience: the sudden, extraordinary breakthrough of light into the mundane world.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Theophany" mean?
Theophany is noun meaning: A visible manifestation of a divine being. An appearance or manifestation of a divine being to a human — the moment when the sacred becomes physically perceptible to ordinary sense.
Where does the word "Theophany" come from?
From Greek 'theophania' — 'theos' (god) + 'phainein' (to show, to appear). The showing of god.