SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT)

I. Its basic meaning

There are over twenty Hebrew words translated "glory" (doxa) by the LXX, but the most significant Hebrew word is kabod (BDB 458-459, KB, 455-458). Its basic meaning is that which is heavy. It was a commercial term used in transacting purchases (i.e., scales). It came to have a wide semantic field where the concept of heavy developed into the weight, worth of persons, places, and things.

II. Used of YHWH

A. It became a way of describing YHWH's personal presence. It combined His power, majesty (i.e., transcendence) with His personhood and presence in physical reality (immanence).

B. It denoted YHWH in creation, cf. Ps. 19:1; 29:3,9; 104:31

C. It was used of His theophanies connected to the formation of His covenant people. He is the "glory of Israel," cf. 1 Sam. 15:29

1. the exodus from Egypt, cf. Num. 14:22 (predicted in Gen. 15:12-21)

2. in the special cloud of glory that led and accompanied the people, cf. Exod 16:7,10

3. the giving of His law on Mt. Sinai, cf. Exod. 24:16,17

4. His acts of provision and judgment during the wilderness wandering period

a. initial rebellion related to the report of the twelve spies, cf. Num. 14:9-10

b. Moses' intercession on their behalf, cf. Num. 14:20-21

c. Korah's rebellion, cf. Num. 16:19

d. crisis over no water, cf. Num. 26:6

D. Moses' request to see YHWH, cf. Exod. 33:18-23

E. It was used of YHWH Himself (i.e., His essence)

1. 1 Chr. 29:11

2. Ps. 106:20; Jer. 2:11; Hos. 4:7; Rom. 1:23

3. Isa. 42:8; 45:7; 48:11; 58:8; 60:1-2,19 (Rev. 21:23; 22:5)

4. Zech. 2:5,10

F. It was used in connection to YHWH's presence at/in the

1. Tabernacle, cf. Exod. 16:7,10; 29:43; 40:34-35; Lev. 9:6,23

2. Temple, cf. 1 Kgs. 811; 2 Chr. 5:14; 7:1-3; Isa. 6:3; Hag. 2:3,9

3. Ark of the Covenant, cf. 1 Sam. 4:22; Ps. 63:2; 78:61

G. It was used of YHWH's kingship, cf. 1 Chr. 29:12-13; Ps. 24:7-10; 45:3

H. It was used of YHWH's ethical nature (i.e., righteousness), cf. Ps. 29:3; 97:6; Isa. 42:8; 48:11; 58:8; Hab. 2:14

III. Used of humans and nations

A. human

1. parallel to "soul" (i.e., nephesh), cf. Gen. 49:6; Ps. 16:9; 108:1

2. wealth, cf. Gen. 31:1; Ps. 49:16,17; Isa. 10:3; 61:6; 66:11-12

3. honor, cf. Gen. 45:13; Ps. 8:6; Hag. 2:7

4. reputation, cf. Job 19:9; 29:20; Ps. 4:2; 49:17

5. splendor, cf. 1 Chr. 29:12,28; 2 Chr. 17:5; 18:13; 32:27

B. nations

1. Egypt,

2. Ephraim, cf. Hos. 9:11

3. Samaria, cf. Hos. 10:5

C. kings

1. Ahasuerus, cf. Esther 1:4

2. Israel, cf. Ps. 21:6

3. Antiochus IV, cf. Dan. 11:39

D. national armies

1. Assyria, cf. Isa. 8:7

2. Israel, cf. Isa. 17:4

3. Kedar, cf. Isa. 21:16

IV. Used in description of the last days (eschatology)

A. YHWH will return to His new temple, cf. Ezek. 43:2,4,5; 44:4

B. YHWH will bring the world to Himself, cf. Isa. 40:5; 59:19; 60:1-3; 66:18-19

C. YHWH will bring the "new" Jerusalem, cf. Isa. 66:10; Zech. 12:7

V. The purpose of creation is to glorify YHWH

A. created for His glory, cf. Isa. 43:7

B. glory is due Him, cf. 1 Chr. 16:29

C. sing/praise His glory, cf. Ps. 66:2; 96:8; 115:1

D. all we do we do unto Him, for His glory, cf. 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 4:15; Eph. 5:22; 6:5; 1 Pet. 2:12

E. first statement of the Westminster Shorter Catechism