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The dictionary definition of “glory” often describes it as great praise, splendor, or honor. The glory of God is the splendor that comes from Him. Psalm 19:1 states, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Here the word glory is used in parallel with “handiwork” or His power or greatness.
Psalm 106:20 speaks of the “glory of God” in this way as well, saying, “They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.” Here, the glory of God is the greatness of who He is. Proverbs 25:2 adds, “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” Again, this glory is God’s greatness or splendor.
In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of the glory of God, sharing, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4; also verse 40). In this context, Jesus spoke of resurrecting Lazarus from death. This act would bring glory to God and glorify Jesus.
In Acts 7:55, Stephen looked into heaven just before his death and saw the glory of God. In this context, it referred to the greatness of God in heaven.
In Romans, the phrase “glory of God” is used three times. Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 5:2 speaks of the glory of God in the sense of His greatness. Romans 15:7 shares, “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” In this passage, the glory of God is used in the sense of honoring God.
The glory of God is emphasized in several places throughout Paul’s other writings. In particular, he notes in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Here again, the glory of God refers to honoring God with one’s life.
Hebrews 1:3 uses the phrase in another way, sharing, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” The author notes Jesus as the radiance of God’s glory.
Revelation expresses God’s glory in three clear passages. First, Revelation 15:8 speaks of the sanctuary being filled with the glory of God. Revelation 21:11 notes the glory of God coming from the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:23 adds that the glory of God serves as the light for the city.
Overall, the glory of God is used in a variety of ways in Scripture. It can refer to God’s greatness, His honor, His beauty, His power, and His light. In every case, the glory of God acknowledges the Lord’s supreme strength and our need to both acknowledge and serve Him.
Related Truth: What does holy, holy, holy mean in reference to God?What does the Bible mean when it calls God a consuming fire?The attributes of God, what are they?What does transcendent mean? How is God transcendent?How can I worship the Lord in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24)? What is true worship?
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Glory to God — is a Christmas carol popular among American and Canadian Reformed churches that have Dutch roots. It is translated from the Dutch Ere Zij God and is one of the most beloved carols sung in the Protestant churches in the Netherlands.Whether the… … Wikipedia
glory of God — sanctity of God, holiness of God … English contemporary dictionary
glory of God — Слава Божья … Вестминстерский словарь теологических терминов
Glory — • In the English version of the Bible the word Glory, one of the commonest in the Scripture, is used to translate several Hebrew terms in the Old Testament, and the Greek doxa in the New Testament. Sometimes the Catholic versions employ… … Catholic encyclopedia
Glory — Glo ry (gl r; 111), n. ravas glory, praise, ru to hear. See {Loud}.] 1. Praise, honor, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Glory hole — Glory Glo ry (gl r; 111), n. ravas glory, praise, ru to hear. See {Loud}.] 1. Praise, honor, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Glory pea — Glory Glo ry (gl r; 111), n. ravas glory, praise, ru to hear. See {Loud}.] 1. Praise, honor, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Glory tree — Glory Glo ry (gl r; 111), n. ravas glory, praise, ru to hear. See {Loud}.] 1. Praise, honor, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
glory — glo|ry1 n plural glories 1.) the importance, honour, and praise that people give someone they admire a lot ▪ She dreamt of future glory as an Olympic champion. ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
God Save the Queen — This article is about the anthem. For other uses, see God Save the Queen (disambiguation). God Save the Queen Publication of an early version in The Gentleman s Magazine, 15 October 1745. The title, on the Contents page, is given as God save our… … Wikipedia
glory — 1 noun 1 (U) the importance, honour, and praise that people give someone or something they admire a lot: As a child he dreamt of future glory as an Olympic champion. | covered in/with glory: The team finished the season covered with glory. 2 (C)… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
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ToolsVerse page’>John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
ToolsVerse page’>2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
ToolsVerse page’>Hebrews 1:3
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
ToolsVerse page’>Deuteronomy 28:58
“If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God,
ToolsVerse page’>Nehemiah 9:5
Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said, “Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise!
ToolsVerse page’>Job 37:22
“Out of the north comes golden splendor; Around God is awesome majesty.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 93:1
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 104:1
Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 145:5
On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
ToolsVerse page’>Isaiah 2:10
Enter the rock and hide in the dust From the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty.
ToolsVerse page’>Exodus 15:1
Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.
ToolsVerse page’>Romans 6:4
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 19:1
The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 111:3
Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever.
ToolsVerse page’>Exodus 15:11
“Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 138:5
And they will sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 104:31
Let the glory of the LORD endure forever; Let the LORD be glad in His works;
ToolsVerse page’>Ephesians 3:16
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 8:1
O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 113:4
The LORD is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.
ToolsVerse page’>Exodus 34:5-7
The LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD. Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
ToolsVerse page’>Exodus 33:18-23
Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”read more.
Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
ToolsVerse page’>Acts 7:55
But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
ToolsVerse page’>Deuteronomy 5:24
“You said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 102:16
For the LORD has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
ToolsVerse page’>Isaiah 60:1-2
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. “For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.
ToolsVerse page’>Revelation 21:11
having the glory of God Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 63:2
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 90:16
Let Your work appear to Your servants And Your majesty to their children.
ToolsVerse page’>Isaiah 42:8
“I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.
ToolsVerse page’>Isaiah 59:19
So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west And His glory from the rising of the sun, For He will come like a rushing stream Which the wind of the LORD drives.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 79:9
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake.
ToolsVerse page’>1 Chronicles 16:24
Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
ToolsVerse page’>Psalm 57:5
Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
ToolsVerse page’>Isaiah 6:3
And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
ToolsVerse page’>Habakkuk 2:14
“For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
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“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you” (vv. 1–2).
– Isaiah 60:1–3
Any study of God’s glory would be incomplete without a look at what the term glory actually means. Setting forth a precise definition of the word glory, however, is no easy task. Like many other theological concepts, God’s glory is a concept that we have an awareness of without necessarily being able to describe it in all its fullness.
When we think of the glory of the Lord, the image of brilliant light often comes to our minds. That is certainly appropriate, as Scripture often describes the glory of God in terms of a light that shines brighter than anything that we experience on earth. For example, today’s passage speaks of the glory of our Creator and not the sun being the light that shines forth in this dark world, revealing itself through God’s people that they might point the pagan nations unto the Lord of all (Isa. 60:1–3). Revelation 21:22–25 tells us that in the new heaven and earth, creation will have no need for the sun by day or the moon by night because the glory of the Lord shall illumine all of creation.
Other biblical passages connect God’s glory with his holiness and weightiness, that is, His significance. We see this with particular clarity in Leviticus 10:1–3 and the account of Nadab and Abihu, who offered strange fire before the Lord. Moses does not tell us precisely what “strange fire” means, but it is clear enough that Nadab and Abihu acted irreverently in their actions. In other words, they did not approach God with proper reverence and awareness of His divine dignity. They did not glorify the Lord, and so they were consumed by fire from on high.
Besides helping us see that glorifying God requires us to understand His significance, holiness, and weightiness, Leviticus 10:1–3 also informs us of the seriousness with which the Lord takes His worship. Coming together with God’s people to praise His name is a distinct privilege and not something we should take lightly. Worship is a matter of life and death, and not just under the old covenant. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:29–30 that partaking of the Lord’s Supper without giving due attention to its significance can kill us. We do not worship a God who can be regarded in a flippant or otherwise careless manner.
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Coram Deo
Augustine often spoke of the gravitas of worship, the seriousness of mind that we must have when we enter into God’s presence. We worship a weighty Lord, so we must always consider whether the worship we offer is light or weighty. Does our worship reflect the full significance of all of God’s attributes, or does it treat Him merely as our “best pal”? To glorify God is to give Him the honor He is due, so let us never offer anything less to Him.
Passages for Further Study
Exodus 19:1–20:21
Jeremiah 13:16
Luke 9:28–36
2 Corinthians 4
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