First of all, hi! Taking the month of July off from scheduled writing was such a helpful break for me, but I also really missed getting into these word studies with y’all. Well, I’m back, and I don’t have any plans of slowing down again soon!
Every time I start to research one of these words in the Hebrew or Greek, I get excited—like a kid on Christmas morning—to open up the gifts that these words offer my soul. That being said, the only change you might see is a little more narrowed-in focus. Instead of trying to uncover all the various uses of the words in Hebrew and Greek, I’m going to give us a little more breathing room to see the uniqueness of it in one language.
Don’t miss your chance to weigh in on what words should be on deck—you’ll see a poll at the end where you can cast your vote!
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (KJV)
I often use the term “glorious” to define things that, well, aren’t really that spectacular. In our modern-day English lingo, we over-exaggerate some words, and glory tends to be one of those words. Then, when we try to understand it in reference to God, its impact and power can get easily lost.
The Word: Glory
In English, as a noun, glory means “high renown or honor.” As a verb, “to take pride or pleasure in.” It was often used religiously, in older days, in a phrase like “Glory be!” It can also refer to someone’s death when they “go to glory” or “return to glory”.
In the New Testament Greek (KJV), glory is translated from doxa 145 times. Doxa is also translated as glorious, honor, praise, dignity, and worship.
Strong’s G1391 | doxa (dox'-ah)
from the base word, dokeō—meaning “to seem, to be very apparent”
something that “excites admiration”
reserved for those of high honor, like kings, magistrates, and judges
wonder, awe, obvious to be above all
There is a variety of usage for the word doxa in the New Testament. My Hebrew Greek Keyword Bible breaks it down in 4 ways:
“Of external conditions: kings, treasures, and wealth”
We witness glory as it’s revealed to us through worldly matters.
“Of external appearance: celestial lights, stars, sun”
We experience glory in incomprehensible ways through things we can’t fully understand ourselves.
“Of internal character: excellence, perfection, holiness”
We interact with glory through our relationship with God because of his character (goodness, holiness, faithfulness, etc).
“Of exalted state of blissful perfection which is the portion of those who dwell with God in heaven.”
One day, we’ll be restored to our full glory through God’s complete redemption of our souls in the New Heaven and New Earth.
So what does it mean when John says “we beheld his glory”? In other translations, it says “have seen his glory”. I like the concept of “behold” because it’s not just seeing and letting the moment pass me by.
To behold God’s glory is to carry it with you wherever you go, witness it throughout your every day, and pay attention to His glorious presence with you always, holding it in high esteem above all else.
What to you has revealed God’s glory most prominently throughout your own story? I imagine we’ve experienced God’s glory in different and unique ways, but that His glory abounds does not change.
Scripture I’m Meditating On
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 (Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3)
P.S. I’m reading through the Gospels this month with Annie F. Downs if you want to join! I love that even if I couldn’t keep up with the reading myself one day, I can listen to her read it on her podcast (she’s reading from the MSG translation which is something I’ve never done through the whole gospels).
Song On Repeat
I gotta be honest, I haven’t been listening to much music lately. I’ve been in the weeds of so many good podcasts, so here’s a recent episode I enjoyed that is relevant to this concept of glory!
Saying I Can’t Stop Thinking About
“We have supposed that the way to help people be holy is to just tell them to ‘stop sinning,’ when in fact, lasting transformation is a spiritual consequence of ‘beholding the glory of the Lord’ (2 Cor. 3:18).” —Jackie Hill Perry, Holier than Thou
As always, you can comment or reply with a different word you would love to see dissected and you can refer back to the previous words here.