What Is the Meaning of Glory in the Bible?
There are 20 different variations of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words commonly translated as "glory" in English Bibles. Depending on the context, "glory" can be used in several different ways. Most of them are associated with ascribing splendor and majesty to God, but glory is also used as a verb, as in "to glory in something."
1 Glory: Something You Do
When used as a verb, "glory" means to put confidence in and boast about or praise something. This may be used in the sense of glorying in God or Christ, which the Bible portrays as a good thing, or to glory in yourself or your nature, which the Bible portrays as sinful.
2 Glory as an Attribute
The most common use of the word "glory" in the Bible is to describe the splendor, holiness and majesty of God. Glory, in this sense, is often associated with a person experiencing God's presence in a tangible way. When used this way, the word glory conveys a sense of heavy dignity. One example of this is recorded in 2 Chronicles 5. According to the biblical account, God's glory filled the newly constructed temple. This was experienced tangibly by those around, who saw a cloud fill the temple. This cloud, which signified God's glory and presence, temporarily prevented the priests from conducting their duties.
Related Articles
