Greek word · G3168

μεγαλειότης

megaleiotēs

majesty

Majesty, grandeur, magnificence, especially the greatness of a deity or monarch.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 23, 2026

What it means

μεγαλειότης, -ητος, ἡ

(μεγαλεῖος) [in LXX: Jeremiah 33:9 (תִּפְאָרָה), Dan LXX 7:27, 1Es.1:5 Est.4:40 * ;]

splendour, magnificence: Luke 9:43, Acts 19:27, 2 Peter 1:16 (frequently in π. as a ceremonial title, MM, xvi).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: Majesty, grandeur, magnificence, especially the greatness of a deity or monarch.
Against the English: 'Majesty' in all major versions; NLT has 'majestic splendor'. The English is accurate.
Used elsewhere in the period: Luke 9:43 uses it of 'the majesty of God' straight after the transfiguration. Acts 19:27 uses it of the goddess Artemis. It also appears in honorific language for rulers.

Range of meaning: Greatness, grandeur, magnificence, majesty. It names the impressive, overwhelming greatness of a god or a ruler, usually as something seen or put on display. It comes from μέγας ('great') through μεγαλεῖος ('magnificent'), and is close to τὰ μεγαλεῖα, 'the mighty deeds'.
Against the English: KJV 'mighty power' shifts the focus to power. BSB, YLT and NIV 'greatness' is accurate but plain. WEB and ESV 'majesty' keep the sense of grandeur, but modern English links 'majesty' mainly with royal titles and ceremony.
How it drifted: In later Greek and in Latin (maiestas), the word grew into a formal title for rulers ('Your Majesty'). That is the main association the English 'majesty' carries today. In Luke it is not a title. It describes God's greatness becoming visible.
Used elsewhere in the period: It occurs only three times in the NT. Here it is God's greatness. In Acts 19:27 the Ephesian silversmith fears Artemis 'will be deposed from her majesty', which shows it was ordinary religious language for a deity's grandeur. In 2 Peter 1:16 the apostles were 'eyewitnesses of his majesty', referring to the Transfiguration. It is rare in the Septuagint (e.g. 1 Esdras 4:40, where majesty is ascribed to the God of truth). Its close relative τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the mighty works of God', appears in Acts 2:11 (BDAG).

Luke · 1

Luke 9:43 μεγαλειότητι majesty

And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,

Here: The overwhelming greatness of God put on display. Here it is seen in the sudden, complete defeat of a demon that the disciples could not drive out (9:40).

Acts · 1

Acts 19:27 μεγαλειότητος majesty

There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.”

2 Peter · 1

2 Peter 1:16 μεγαλειότητος. majesty.

For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

Here: Grandeur that belongs to a god or king. What they saw was a glimpse of divine royal splendour, echoed in 'the Majestic Glory' of verse 17.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.