Visitation

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

VISITATION. — 1. The ecclesiastical term applied to the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elisabeth three months before the birth of the Baptist (Luke 1:39-56), commemorated in Western Church Calendars on 2nd July.

2. ἐπισκοπή (Luke 19:44). Occurs only once in the Gospels, but is found also in Acts 1:20, where it = ‘charge,’ ‘office,’ ‘bishopric’ (Authorized Version); cf. 1 Timothy 3:1, where it = ‘oversight,’ ‘office of a bishop’ (Authorized Version). It occurs in a sense more nearly approaching that of Luke 19:44 in 1 Peter 2:12, where, however, ‘the day of visitation’ (ἡμέρα ἐπισκοπῆς) seems to imply trial and affliction, whereas in Luke 19:44 ‘the time of visitation’ (ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς) is suggestive rather of the special care and mercy of God, and the opportunity thereby afforded.

In classical Greek ἐτισκοτή is found only in Lucian, ἐτίσκεψις being the usual form. In LXX Septuagint פְקד, פְק֖דּה are rendered by ἐπισκέπτομαι, ἐπισκοπή (Genesis 50:24-25, Exodus 3:16; Exodus 13:19, Isaiah 10:3 [ἡ ἡμερα τῆς ἐτισκοτῆς, as in 1 Peter 2:12], Jeremiah 10:15 [καιρος ἐτισκοπῆς, as in Luke 19:44], Psalms 8:4). In the Apocrypha the word is used in the sense of inspection or examination, though in Wisdom of Solomon 14:11 there is an implication of Divine wrath, derived, however, mainly from the context. In NT ἐτισκέπτομαι is used to signify visitation in sympathy or compassion (Matthew 25:36; Matthew 25:43, James 1:27); God’s gracious regard (Luke 1:68; Luke 1:78; Luke 7:16, Acts 15:14, Hebrews 2:6); in the sense of ‘going and seeing’ (Acts 7:23); and to imply enquiry for the purpose of selection (Acts 6:3).

To the general use of ἐπισκέπτομαι, ἐπισκοπή, we may find a parallel in the use of the English word ‘regard,’ which, in addition to the sense of ‘observation,’ may imply also a kindly or gracious purpose. ἐπισκοπή may be said generally to signify critical inspection (by God), in which due regard is had to the good and bad features in the characters of the persons inspected. ἐπισκέπτομαι implies also a Divine purpose of blessing. [The technical use of ἐπισκοπή, indicated above, to denote the office of a bishop, is of course secondary]. Thus in Luke 19:44 we may understand the ‘time of visitation’ as being either the time during which Jerusalem was being critically regarded by God, and neglected, through ignorance of this inspection, to display those features of national character which would have redeemed it in God’s eyes; or the time of spiritual opportunity, afforded by the presence of ‘God manifest in the flesh,’ in which it might have known and sought ‘the things which belonged unto its peace.’ In the latter sense, the ‘time of visitation’ would be equivalent to ‘this thy day’ in Luke 19:42.

S. J. Ramsay Sibbald.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) A festival in honor of the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist, celebrated on the second of July.

(2): (n.) The act of a naval commander who visits, or enters on board, a vessel belonging to another nation, for the purpose of ascertaining her character and object, but without claiming or exercising a right of searching the vessel. It is, however, usually coupled with the right of search (see under Search), visitation being used for the purpose of search.

(3): (n.) The act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination.

(4): (n.) Specifically: The act of a superior or superintending officer who, in the discharge of his office, visits a corporation, college, etc., to examine into the manner in which it is conducted, and see that its laws and regulations are duly observed and executed; as, the visitation of a diocese by a bishop.

(5): (n.) The object of a visit.

(6): (n.) Special dispensation; communication of divine favor and goodness, or, more usually, of divine wrath and vengeance; retributive calamity; retribution; judgment.

King James Dictionary

VISITA'TION, n. L. visito.

1. The act of visiting.

Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.

2. Object of visit.

My early visitation and my last. Unusual.

3. In law, the act of a superior or superintending officer, who visits a corporation, college, church or other house, to examine into the manner in which it is conducted, and see that its laws and regulations are duly observed and executed. In England, the visitation of the diocese belongs to the bishop parochial visitation belongs peculiarly to the archdeacons. 4. In Scripture, and in a religious sense, the sending of afflictions and distresses on men to punish them for their sins, or to prove them. Hence afflictions, calamities and judgments are called visitations.

What will ye do in the day of visitation? Isaiah 10 .

5. Communication of divine love exhibition of divine goodness and mercy.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἐπισκοπή (Strong'S #1984 — Noun Feminine — episkope — ep-is-kop-ay' )

for which see Bishop , No. 2, denotes "a visitation," whether in mercy, Luke 19:44 , or in judgment, 1 Peter 2:12 .

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

The survey or inspection performed by a bishop in his diocess, to examine into the state of the church. In a divine or spiritual sense, it is taken either for a communication of divine love, or for any calamity affecting a nation.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

viz - i - tā´shun , vis - ( פּקדּה , peḳuddāh  ; ἐπισκοπή , episkopḗ ): In Biblical writings, the divine investigation or inspection of men's character and deeds with a view to apportioning to them their due lot, whether of reward or of chastisement; divine dispensation of mercy or of punishment. (1) In a general sense: "Visited after the visitation of all men" ( Numbers 16:29 ), i.e. in natural death, the usual lot of men, as opposed to a calamitous death; "She shall have fruit in the visitation of souls" (The Wisdom of Solomon 3:13 the King James Version), i.e. in the time of divine judgment. So Sirach 18:20 and perhaps 1 Peter 2:12 . (2) In a good sense, of God's care, providence and mercy: "Thy visitation (the Revised Version margin "care") hath preserved my spirit" (Job 10:12 ). So Luke 19:44 , and, according to some, 1 Peter 2:12 (see above). (3) Most frequently in an evil sense, of calamity or distress viewed as divine punishment: "What will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far?" ( Isaiah 10:3 ). So Jeremiah 8:12; Jeremiah 10:15; Jeremiah 11:23; Jeremiah 23:12; Jeremiah 46:21; Jeremiah 48:44; Jeremiah 50:27; Jeremiah 51:18; Hosea 9:7; Micah 7:4; The Wisdom of Solomon 14:11.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(פַּקוּדָה, ἐπισκοπή ), in Scripture language, is sometimes taken for a visit of mercy from God (Genesis 1:24; Exodus 13:19; Luke 1:66, etc.), but oftener for a visit of rigor and vengeance. Day of visitation, year of visitation, or time of visitation, generally signifies the time of affliction and vengeance; or of close inspection (Exodus 22:14; Isaiah 23:17; 1 Peter 2:12, etc.).