theophany according to Holman Bible Dictionary

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unedited*******From the Holman Bible Dictionary


THEOPHANY (Thee' ah fuh nee) Physical appearance or personal manifestation
of a god to a person.
Need for a theophany. The basic postulate here is that to see God could be
fatal. "He said, 'You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!'
" (Ex. 33:20 NASB; compare Gen. 16:13; Ex. 3:2-6; 19:20-21; Judg. 6:22-23;
13:20-22. Yet the record is unmistakable that people did see God, such as
Moses and others at Sinai (Ex. 24:9-10); the Lord's rebuke of Aaron and
Miriam (Num. 12:4-8); and the majestic vision to Isaiah (Isa. 6:1, 5).
Customarily, God is not revealed to ordinary sight, God at times chooses to
reveal Himself in theophanies.
Kinds of theophanies. There are some five forms of theophanies.
1. In human form Without question the theophany in Exodus 24:10 involved
the appearance of a human being, for the text clearly states that a
pavement of sapphire appeared "under His feet." At Peniel, Jacob testified
that he had seen God face-to-face (Gen. 32:30). On Mount Horeb it was the
experience of Moses to speak to God "face to face, just as a man speaks to
his friend" (Ex. 33:11 NASB). In the same passage when Moses begged God to
show him His glory (v. 18), the Lord graciously granted Moses a vision of
Himself, saying, "I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but
My face shall not be seen" (v. 23 NASB). If it is protested that the
subject is enveloped in mystery, it needs to be remembered that theology
without mystery is sheer nonsense. God in His wisdom does not restrict
Himself to one method of self-revelation. Notice God's pronouncement in
Numbers 12:6-8, which was quite unlike that of Deuteronomy 4:12-15 where
only a voice was granted.
2. In vision Even self-seeking Balaam was allowed of God to see the Lord in
vision (Num. 24:3-4). Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, giants among the
prophets, saw God in visions (Isa. 6; Ezek. 1; Dan. 7:9). Jacob, sent off
by Isaac to Paddan-aram, was granted a dream in which he saw the Lord (Gen.
28:12-13).
3. By the "Angel of the Lord" This is the most usual form of theophany,
called the "Angel of the Lord" or "Angel of God." Observe it is not an
"Angel of God," which could include any of the angelic hosts created by
God. The "Angel of the Lord" is identified in the accounts with Yahweh
Himself. He appears only occasionally in human form. The encounter of the
Angel of the Lord with Hagar is of significance in this connection (Gen.
16:7-13). See Angels.
4. Not in human form In some instances the theophany came as at the burning
bush (Ex. 3:2-4:17) and in the guidance through the wilderness (13:21;
compare Acts 7:30). The glory of the Lord appears to people in numerous
passages. See Glory. God's presence is in a cloud (Ex. 16:10; 33:9-10;
Ezek. 10:4). God was also manifest in nature and history (Isa. 6:3; Ezek.
1:28; 43:2).
5. As the name of the Lord God's sacred name represented His presence
(Deut. 12:5; Psalm 102:15; Isa. 30:27; 59:19).
Contrast with the incarnation The incarnate Christ was not, and indeed is
not, a theophany. The phenomena of theophanies were temporary, for the
occasion that required them and then disappeared. On the other hand, in the
incarnate Christ His deity and humanity were joined, not for time alone,
but for eternity. See Incarnation; Jesus Christ.
The time factor Only in the Old Testament economy did God's people need a
theophany; since the incarnation, there is no such necessity. The New
Testament doctrine of God is final and complete. God is always present in
the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit. Still, at times, God's people are
more aware of that Presence than at others.
Charles Lee Feinberg 

Just to try and explain what is a theophany according to bible scholars I
have and intend to submit some articles  from various christian resources .
God Bless.
Sis. Lynna