Concept
Theology ProperGlory
The weight of God made visible — כָּבוֹד, literally heaviness — filling a tabernacle, a temple, and finally a body.
#presence#hebrew
- 80passages
- 111original words
- 240cross-references
- 1thread through it


The words behind it
Hebrew and Greek standing in the 18 passages listed below — not a lexicon of "glory" itself. The number on each word is how often it occurs in those passages; the connecting words the languages use everywhere are set aside so the words that carry meaning can be seen.
Hebrew111
101 more hebrew words ▾
The passages
The first 18 of 80 passages this site attaches to the concept, in canon order. Each row says where it came from.
Old Testament18
- Genesis 1:3thread stop
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.(opening verse of the passage)
Commentary on Genesis 1:31 voice
The first word of God created the nature of light; it made darkness vanish, dispelled gloom, illuminated the world, and gave to all beings at the same time a sweet and gracious aspect. The heavens, until then enveloped in darkness, appeared with that beauty which they still present to our eyes. The air was lighted up, or rather made the light circulate mixed with its substance, and, distributing its splendour rapidly in every direction, so dispersed itself to its extreme limits. Up it sprang to the very æther and heaven.
Basil of Caesarea· The Hexaemeron, Homily 2: The Earth Was Invisible and Unfinished, 379Patristic
- Exodus 13:21thread stop
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.
Commentary on Exodus 13:211 voice
It was also fitting that a pillar of fire preceded the Israelites as they progressed through the desert during the night and a pillar of a cloud during the day. There is dread in fire but a gentle soothing quality in the sight of a cloud. "Day" is understood to point toward the life of the righteous and "night" that of the sinner. Hence Paul said to sinners who had been converted, "You were once darkness but are now light in the Lord."
Gregory the Dialogist· Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 21, 604Patristic
- Exodus 15:1topical floor
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
Commentary on Exodus 15:11 voice
Our motive in going over all this, dearly beloved brethren, is that we may be on our guard, for fear that, after coming out from Egypt and hastening through the desert for forty days—for forty years, as it were—to reach the land of promise, we should long for the fleshpots of Egypt and be bitten to death by the serpents. We have left Egypt; what have we to do with the food of Egypt? We who have bread from heaven; why do we go in search of earthly foods?
Jerome· HOMILY 90, 420Patristic
- Exodus 15:6topical floor
Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.
Commentary on Exodus 15:61 voice
Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemies. For the enemies of God, though they prosper in His left hand, are dashed to pieces with His right; since for the most part the present life elevates the bad, but the coming of eternal blessedness condemns them.
Gregory the Dialogist· The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 26, 604Patristic
- Exodus 15:11topical floor
Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
Commentary on Exodus 15:111 voice
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Exodus 33:18listed key text
Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
Commentary on Exodus 33:181 voice
This is why love which longs to see God, even if it lacks judgment, does have the spirit of devotion. This is why Moses dares to say, "If I have found favor in your sight, show me your face." This is why another man says, …
Peter Chrysologus· SERMON 147, 450Patristic
- Exodus 34:5topical floor
And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD.(opening verse of the passage)
Commentary on Exodus 34:51 voice
And the Lord descended in the cloud,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Exodus 40:35listed key text
Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Commentary on Exodus 40:351 voice
And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Deuteronomy 5:24topical floor
and you said, “Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:241 voice
And ye said, behold, the Lord our God hath showed us his glory and his greatness,.... In descending on Mount Sinai in the manner he did, and giving the law from thence with such solemnity; for there was a glory in the ministration of it, as the apostle argues 2Co 3:7, it being delivered with so much majesty, and such a glorious apparatus attending it; see Deu 33:
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Deuteronomy 28:58topical floor
If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God—
Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:581 voice
If thou wilt not observe to do all the words this law, that are written in this book,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- 1 Samuel 2:8topical floor
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:81 voice
20. For dust is the subtle deliberation of illicit thought, which renders foul the mind in which it has settled. For what is designated by dung except the foulness and boldness of committed wickedness? Hence the prophet too, beholding the life of carnal people buried under the filth of foul deeds, says: "The beasts have rotted in their dung" (Joel 1:17). Therefore, the gifts of God are enumerated in fitting order in the conversion of the wicked.
Gregory the Dialogist· Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 2, Chapter 1, 604Patristic
- Nehemiah 9:5topical floor
Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting: Blessed be Your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.
Commentary on Nehemiah 9:51 voice
Then the Levites, Jeshua,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Job 37:22topical floor
Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.
Commentary on Job 37:221 voice
Gold will come from the north. And from God fearful praise. What is designated by the 'north,' but the Gentile world, fast bound in the cold of sin? Which he held under the yoke of his tyranny, who proudly said, I will sit in the mount of the covenant, in the sides of the north, I will ascend above the height of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. [Is. 14, 13. 14.] And what is expressed by 'gold,' but faithful souls?
Gregory the Dialogist· Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXVII, 604Patristic
- Psalms 3:3topical floor
But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
Commentary on Psalms 3:32 voices
We readily accept this psalm as spoken from the person of David, as we have noted in its title. According to history, certain men were hurting David, many of whom as their number increased were joining themselves to Absalom.… Those who were oppressing the Savior were Jews who were shouting, "Away with him; away with him!" Judas the betrayer and Caiphas rose up against him.
Origen of Alexandria· SELECTIONS FROM THE PSALMS 3.2-3, 253Patristic
This psalm can pertain to David or to Christ, and through him to all the saints.
Jerome· BRIEF COMMENTARY ON PSALM 3, 420Patristic
- Psalms 8:1topical floor
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.
- Psalms 19:1topical floor
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
- Psalms 27:1thread stop
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
Commentary on Psalms 27:11 voice
Christians have nothing to fear, even if demons should not be well-disposed to them; for they are protected by the supreme God, who is well pleased with their piety and who sets his divine angels to watch over those who are worthy of such guardianship, so that they can suffer nothing from demons.
Origen of Alexandria· AGAINST CELSUS 8:27, 253Patristic
- Psalms 63:2topical floor
So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory.
Commentary on Psalms 63:22 voices
To see thy power and thy glory,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
Therefore God gave us a pattern of fasting in this deed, so that having a desert, as it were, at the time of fasting we may abstain from feasts, pleasure and women, and so that Eve may not be joined with us so as to …
Maximus of Turin· SERMON 50A.4, 465Patristic
Voices on these passages
Commentary matched to the verses above, each named with its source — the full pool sits on each verse page.
The first word of God created the nature of light; it made darkness vanish, dispelled gloom, illuminated the world, and gave to all beings at the same time a sweet and gracious aspect. The heavens, until then enveloped in darkness, appeared with that beauty which they still present to our eyes. The air was lighted up, or rather made the light circulate mixed with its substance, and, distributing its splendour rapidly in every direction, so dispersed itself to its extreme limits. Up it sprang to the very æther and heaven.
Basil of Caesarea· The Hexaemeron, Homily 2: The Earth Was Invisible and UnfinishedPatristic
Genesis 1:3
It was also fitting that a pillar of fire preceded the Israelites as they progressed through the desert during the night and a pillar of a cloud during the day. There is dread in fire but a gentle soothing quality in the sight of a cloud. "Day" is understood to point toward the life of the righteous and "night" that of the sinner. Hence Paul said to sinners who had been converted, "You were once darkness but are now light in the Lord."
Gregory the Dialogist· Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 21Patristic
Exodus 13:21
Our motive in going over all this, dearly beloved brethren, is that we may be on our guard, for fear that, after coming out from Egypt and hastening through the desert for forty days—for forty years, as it were—to reach the land of promise, we should long for the fleshpots of Egypt and be bitten to death by the serpents. We have left Egypt; what have we to do with the food of Egypt? We who have bread from heaven; why do we go in search of earthly foods?
Jerome· HOMILY 90Patristic
Exodus 15:1
Study it deeper
5 moves a student can make from here. Every one opens a tool on this site.
Trace one word to every place it stands
A word page lists every verse that word occurs in, with its definition and its range of meaning. Start with the roots that occur most under the passages above.
Walk out from the passages
The passages above carry 240 cross-references between them — links from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, the great 1830s reference work, together with the reader-voted index at OpenBible.info. The most-linked destinations:
Read the whole chapter around it
A verse quoted alone can mean almost anything. Open Genesis 1 in the reader, where the Hebrew or Greek sits under every line.
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Walk it stop by stop
A thread takes the passages in order and stops at each one with commentary, so the idea unfolds instead of arriving all at once.
Where this comes from
Hebrew כָּבוֹד (kavod) comes from a root meaning heavy: glory is God's presence with weight to it, and when it fills the tabernacle Moses cannot enter (Exodus 40:35). Ezekiel watches it leave the temple by degrees and grieves.
John says where it went: "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory)" — the verb is tabernacled. Paul says where it is going: it is being formed in the people who behold it (2 Corinthians 3:18).
