Glory in the Bible refers to
the weighty splendor, majesty, honor,
and radiant excellence of God.
It is the outward display of
His inner worth and beauty.
The word is also used for
the honor and praise due to God,
and for the future share
in Christ’s glory that believers will receive.
In the Old Testament, the primary Hebrew word for glory is kabod, which carries the idea of weight, heaviness, or substance. God’s glory is His substantial, impressive presence and majesty.
In the New Testament, the Greek word doxa is used. It originally meant opinion or reputation, but in Scripture it came to mean brightness, splendor, majesty, and the manifestation of God’s excellence.
The glory of God is central to the entire biblical story:
All things exist for the glory of God, and history is moving toward the day when His glory will be fully displayed.
Scripture also speaks of glory in relation to those who belong to Christ:
The future glory of believers is a participation in the radiant excellence of Christ Himself.
Glory is one of the richest words in Scripture. At its heart it points to the supreme worth and beauty of God Himself. Everything God does is for the display of His glory, and the greatest privilege of His people is to see it, share in it, and give it back to Him in worship. Present trials are light and momentary when measured against the eternal weight of glory that is coming.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.