Glory of God

The glory of God (Hebrew kābôd, “weight,” “honour”; Greek doxa) is the manifest splendour, majesty, and holiness of God — the visible and weighty revelation of who he is. Where God’s glory is mentioned, it points to the radiant excellence of his being made known to creatures. All creation already declares it: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalms 19:1), and the seraphim cry, “the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

In Israel’s history the glory of God appeared in unmistakable visible form — often as radiant light or cloud. It led Israel from Egypt in the pillar of cloud and fire, and the glory of the LORD appeared at Sinai “like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain” (Exodus 24:16-17). When the tabernacle was finished, “the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34-35), and likewise Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). Moses asked to see God’s glory and was shown his goodness, for no one may see God’s face and live (Exodus 33:18-20). Ezekiel watched that glory depart from a defiled temple (Ezekiel 10:18) — and the prophets longed for the day it would fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).

The New Testament reveals that the fullness of God’s glory shines in Jesus Christ. The Word made flesh dwelt among us, “and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The Son is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3); the glory once veiled in the temple now shines “in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). It was glimpsed at his Transfiguration and supremely displayed in his death and resurrection, and he prayed to be glorified with the Father with the glory he had before the world existed (John 17:5).

God is jealous for this glory — “my glory I will not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8) — for it is his own infinite worth. Yet in grace he shares it with his people: believers, beholding the Lord’s glory, “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18), and await the revealing of the sons of God in glory (Romans 8:18). The chief end of redeemed humanity is therefore to glorify God: “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31), looking to the city that needs no sun, “for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23).