God, glory of

The revelation of God's power and characteristics, sometimes accompanied by visible phenomena.

Glory as an attribute of God

Psalm 24:7–8 See also Psalm 29:3; John 11:40; Acts 7:2; Revelation 19:1

Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter! Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Visible phenomena accompanying God's glory

The appearance of God's glory

Habakkuk 3:4 See also Deuteronomy 5:24; 2 Samuel 22:8–16 parallel Psalm 18:7–15; Psalm 104:1; Ezekiel 1:26–28

His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden.

God's glory as a cloud

Exodus 24:15–16 See also Exodus 33:9–10; Isaiah 4:5; Matthew 17:5 parallels Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34; Luke 21:27 parallels Matthew 24:30, Mark 13:26

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.

God's glory in the tabernacle and the temple

2 Chronicles 5:13–14 parallel 1 Kings 8:10–11 The Jewish term for the outward sign of God's presence in the temple is “Shekinah”. See also Exodus 40:34–35; 2 Chronicles 7:1–3; Ezekiel 8:4, Ezekiel 9:3, Ezekiel 10:19, Ezekiel 43:1–5; Revelation 15:8

The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

God's glory revealed

In Jesus Christ

Hebrews 1:3 See also Isaiah 49:3; John 1:14, John 13:31–32, John 17:5; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Peter 1:17

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

In his people

Colossians 1:27 See also Isaiah 60:19–21, Isaiah 62:3; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 3:21

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

In the whole world

Isaiah 6:3 See also Numbers 14:21; Psalm 57:5, Psalm 57:11 parallel Psalm 108:5; Habakkuk 2:14, Habakkuk 3:3

And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”

In heaven

Revelation 21:23 See also Romans 8:17; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 5:10

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.

In his name

Nehemiah 9:5 See also Deuteronomy 28:58; 1 Chronicles 29:13; Psalm 8:1, Psalm 79:9

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.

In his works

Psalm 111:3 See also Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 12:5, Isaiah 35:2; John 11:40–44, John 17:4

Splendid and majestic is His work; His righteousness endures forever.

In his kingdom

Psalm 145:11–12 See also 1 Chronicles 29:11; Matthew 6:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:12

They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, to make known to men Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

God's glory cannot be fully seen

1 Timothy 6:15–16 Exodus 33:18–20; Judges 6:22–23, Judges 13:20–22; Isaiah 6:5; John 1:18

which the blessed and only Sovereign One— the King of kings and Lord of lords— will bring about in His own time. He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

God's glory experienced

Acts 7:55 See also Exodus 3:2 Moses; Isaiah 6:1–4 Isaiah; Luke 2:9 the shepherds

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

The effects of God's glory

God's glory is acknowledged

Psalm 72:19 See also Psalm 29:2; Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:11, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 19:1

And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

God's glory brings guilt and fear

Romans 3:23 See also Isaiah 2:10, Isaiah 2:19, Isaiah 2:21; Revelation 11:13, Revelation 15:8

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,