Overshadow
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The term "overshadow" in the Bible carries a profound significance, often indicating the divine presence and protection of God. It is used to describe moments when God's power and glory are manifest in a tangible way, providing comfort, guidance, and miraculous intervention.

Biblical References:

1. The Annunciation to Mary: One of the most notable uses of "overshadow" is found in the account of the Annunciation in the Gospel of Luke. The angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will conceive Jesus, the Son of God, through the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35 states, "The angel replied, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.'" Here, "overshadow" signifies the miraculous and divine intervention of God in the conception of Jesus, emphasizing the holy and pure nature of this event.

2. The Transfiguration: Another significant instance is during the Transfiguration of Jesus. In Matthew 17:5 , it is written, "While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!'" The cloud that "overshadowed" them is symbolic of God's presence, reminiscent of the Shekinah glory that filled the tabernacle in the Old Testament. This overshadowing signifies divine approval and the revelation of Jesus' divine nature to His disciples.

3. The Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant: In the Old Testament, the concept of overshadowing is also associated with the presence of God dwelling among His people. Exodus 40:34-35 describes how "the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." The cloud overshadowing the tabernacle was a visible sign of God's presence and His covenant with Israel. Similarly, the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant are described as overshadowing the mercy seat (Exodus 25:20), symbolizing God's throne and His continual presence with His people.

Theological Significance:

The use of "overshadow" in these contexts highlights the intimate and protective nature of God's interaction with humanity. It conveys a sense of divine mystery and awe, as God's presence is both transcendent and immanent. The overshadowing of the Holy Spirit in the conception of Jesus underscores the miraculous and divine origin of Christ, affirming His identity as both fully God and fully man.

In the Transfiguration, the overshadowing cloud serves as a divine endorsement of Jesus' mission and identity, urging the disciples to heed His teachings. This event also foreshadows the glory of the resurrected Christ and the future hope of believers.

In the Old Testament, the overshadowing presence of God in the tabernacle and over the Ark of the Covenant reassures the Israelites of God's faithfulness and His desire to dwell among His people. It serves as a reminder of the holiness required to approach God and the grace He extends to His covenant people.

Overall, the concept of overshadowing in the Bible is a powerful reminder of God's sovereign presence, His protective care, and His active involvement in the redemption and sanctification of His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(v. t.) To throw a shadow over; to surpass; to cover with a superior influence.
Greek
1982. episkiazo -- to overshadow
... to overshadow. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: episkiazo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-skee-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I overshadow, envelop Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1982.htm - 7k

2683. kataskiazo -- to overshadow
... to overshadow. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataskiazo Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-kee-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I overshadow Definition: I overshadow. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2683.htm - 6k

644. aposkiasma -- a shadow
... and life . Word Origin from apo and skiazo (to overshadow, shade) Definition
a shadow NASB Word Usage shadow (1). shadow. From a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/644.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
5526a. sakak -- to overshadow, screen, cover
... 5526, 5526a. sakak or sakak. 5526b . to overshadow, screen, cover. Transliteration:
sakak or sakak Short Definition: covered. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5526a.htm - 5k

5526. cakak -- to overshadow, screen, cover
... 5525, 5526. cakak. 5526a . to overshadow, screen, cover. Transliteration:
cakak Phonetic Spelling: (saw-kak') Short Definition: cover. ...
/hebrew/5526.htm - 5k

6004. amam -- to darken, dim
... become dim, hide. A primitive root; to associate; by implication, to overshadow
(by huddling together) -- become dim, hide. 6003, 6004. amam. 6005 . ...
/hebrew/6004.htm - 6k

Library

Proof that the virgin Mother of God was not Only Christotocos but ...
... "The Holy Ghost," he says, "shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter ii proof that the.htm

Argument. --That These have Therefore Erred, by Thinking that ...
... not what is the truth, but only what they want it to be: "The Holy Spirit shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore ...
/.../chapter xxiv argument that these have.htm

Starting from this Point You May Understand the Majesty of the ...
... this be, seeing I know not a man?" on which the angel said to her, "The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. ...
/.../10 starting from this point.htm

The First Homily. On the Annunciation to the Holy virgin Mary.
... summary of his whole message, and said to the pure virgin, "The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore ...
/.../the first homily on the.htm

A Brief Reference to the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke their ...
... in express terms by the angel himself as the Son of God: "The Spirit of God shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore ...
/.../tertullian/against praxeas/chapter xxvi a brief reference to.htm

B. The Annunciation to Mary. Ch. 1:26-38
... 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/b the annunciation to mary.htm

The Incarnation of the Word.
... which was told her by the angel, the angel answered, "The Holy Ghost shall come
over on to thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 30 the incarnation of the.htm

Under the Apple Tree. "I Sat Down under his Shadow with Great ...
... I am very poor; but He hath all riches, and His riches overshadow my poverty. ...
Let Him overshadow me; I delight that it should be so. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/under the apple tree i sat.htm

Like one of Us.
... For the angel said to Mary: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of
the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvii like one of us.htm

His Past Work.
... in Luke i:35: "And the angel of the Lord said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the work of christ/i his past work.htm

Thesaurus
Overshadow (4 Occurrences)
...Overshadow (4 Occurrences). Luke 1:35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will
come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. ...
/o/overshadow.htm - 7k

Overshadowed (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Overshadow. Multi-Version Concordance
Overshadowed (4 Occurrences). Matthew 17:5 While he ...
/o/overshadowed.htm - 7k

Offspring (186 Occurrences)
... Luke 1:35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power
of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring ...
/o/offspring.htm - 36k

Overseership (1 Occurrence)

/o/overseership.htm - 6k

Insomuch (24 Occurrences)
... that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches,
that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of ...
/i/insomuch.htm - 13k

Extent (15 Occurrences)
... even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses,
so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of ...
/e/extent.htm - 11k

Mulberry (6 Occurrences)
... The aspen, whose long leaf-stalks cause the leaves to tremble with every breath
of wind, unites with the willow and the oak to overshadow the watercourses of ...
/m/mulberry.htm - 11k

Mattresses (1 Occurrence)
... even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses,
so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of ...
/m/mattresses.htm - 6k

Matures (1 Occurrence)
... power matures in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I boast of my infirmities
rather than complain of them--in order that Christ's power may overshadow me. ...
/m/matures.htm - 6k

Peter's (11 Occurrences)
... the broad places to bring forth the ailing, and to lay 'them' upon couches and mats,
that at the coming of Peter, even 'his' shadow might overshadow some one ...
/p/peter's.htm - 9k

Resources
Is Jesus God's Son? How could Allah, being one, have a Son? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Greek word dunamis in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about doubt? | GotQuestions.org

Overshadow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Overshadow (4 Occurrences)

Luke 1:35
The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 9:34
While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Acts 5:15
They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Corinthians 12:9
but His reply has been, "My grace suffices for you, for power matures in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I boast of my infirmities rather than complain of them--in order that Christ's power may overshadow me.
(WEY)

Subtopics

Overshadow

Related Terms

Overshadow (4 Occurrences)

Enveloped (6 Occurrences)

Fasts (3 Occurrences)

Feasts (45 Occurrences)

Spake (704 Occurrences)

Cloud (119 Occurrences)

Ear (670 Occurrences)

Voice (651 Occurrences)

Overshadowing (5 Occurrences)

Levites (267 Occurrences)

Luz (7 Occurrences)

Listen (441 Occurrences)

Loved (249 Occurrences)

Furniture (24 Occurrences)

Formed (91 Occurrences)

Feared (134 Occurrences)

Eleazar (74 Occurrences)

Entering (124 Occurrences)

Pleased (172 Occurrences)

Priests (451 Occurrences)

Beloved (117 Occurrences)

Bright (85 Occurrences)

Cherub (21 Occurrences)

Appeared (137 Occurrences)

Speaking (376 Occurrences)

Eli (36 Occurrences)

Yet (1244 Occurrences)

Concordance

Behold (1513 Occurrences)

Afraid (361 Occurrences)

Thus (1271 Occurrences)

Marriage (74 Occurrences)

Entered (291 Occurrences)

Saying (2162 Occurrences)

Fear (970 Occurrences)

Love (703 Occurrences)

Archaeology

Minor (2 Occurrences)

Asia (22 Occurrences)

Overseership
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