μεγαλοπρεπής

From the study of 2 Peter 1:17

Range of meaning

Megaloprepēs means 'magnificent, fitting for someone great'. In ordinary Greek it described lavish public generosity, splendid buildings and impressive people. With doxa ('glory'), and the article in front, the phrase becomes a title: 'the Majestic Glory', meaning God himself.

Against the English

KJV 'the excellent glory' (in 1611 'excellent' meant 'surpassing, supreme'). BSB, WEB, NIV and ESV have 'the Majestic Glory'. NLT has 'the majestic glory of God', which makes the reference clear but loses the fact that it is a title. Some readers take 'from the Majestic Glory' to mean a glorious place or cloud. It means the Speaker himself.

How it drifted

'Excellent' in the KJV has weakened over time to mean 'very good'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Jewish writers of the period often avoided naming God directly and used titles of glory and greatness instead. In 1 Enoch 14:20 the seer sees 'the Great Glory' on the throne (Greek hē doxa hē megalē), and the Testament of Levi 3:4 uses the same title. In the Greek Old Testament, Deuteronomy 33:26 calls God 'the magnificent one of the firmament' (megaloprepēs). 1 Clement 9:2 (late 1st century) speaks of God's 'magnificent glory' (megaloprepei doxē), very close to this phrase. Hebrews 1:3 and 8:1 have 'the Majesty on high'. 2 Peter itself has related words: 'majesty' (megaleiotēs) in 1:16 and 'his own glory' in 1:3.