ἐνδοξάζομαι

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 1:10

Range of meaning

'To be glorified in or by': to have one's glory (doxa: visible splendour, weight, public honour) shown openly in or through someone or something. It is always passive in use.

Against the English

Modern 'glorify' usually means 'praise'. Here the core idea is display: the Lord's splendour is made visible in his people. Their praise comes out of that display.

How it drifted

English 'glorify' has narrowed in church use to 'give praise to'. The biblical idea of glory as visible splendour and honour has faded from it.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is rare. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) God says 'I will be glorified in Pharaoh' (Exod 14:4, 17–18) and 'in you, Sidon' (Ezek 28:22). In both places God's glory is shown in what he does to a people. Psalm 88:8 LXX (89:7) has 'God, glorified in the council of the holy ones', which is very close to this verse. Isaiah 45:25 LXX uses it of Israel's offspring. In the NT it appears only here and in 2 Thess 1:12.

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 1:12

Range of meaning

"To be glorified in/among," "to have one's honor displayed in." It comes from doxa, which in Greek usage meant reputation, honor or public esteem, and in the Greek Old Testament also stood for the Hebrew kavod: weight, splendor, visible majesty. The prefix en- stresses the place or people in whom the glory shows.

Against the English

"Glorified" in modern English tends to mean either "praised in worship" or, in everyday speech, "made to look grander than it is" ("a glorified waiting room"). The Greek is about public honor being shown and seen: a reputation vindicated in front of others.

How it drifted

"Glory" became a mostly religious and emotional word in English, and its connection to public honor and reputation, central to ancient social life, faded.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the verb appears only at 2 Thess 1:10 and 1:12. In the Greek Old Testament it appears where God says "I will be glorified in Pharaoh" (Exod 14:4, 17, 18), in Ps 88:8 (89:7 in English Bibles: "God glorified in the council of the holy ones") and in Isa 45:25 and 49:3 (related form), among others. Verse 10 echoes these Psalm and Isaiah texts. Verse 12 closely follows Isa 66:5 in its Greek form, "so that the name of the Lord may be glorified" (hina to onoma kyriou doxasthē), spoken to people being hated and cast out by their own kin.