Lexical Summary
hadar: glorified, honor, honored
Original Word:הֲדַּר
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:hadar
Pronunciation:hah-DAHR
Phonetic Spelling:(had-ar')
KJV: glorify, honour
NASB:glorified, honor, honored
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding toH1921 (הָדַר - claim honor)]
1. to magnify (figuratively)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
glorify, honor
(Aramaic) corresponding tohadar; to magnify (figuratively) -- glorify, honour.
see HEBREWhadar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
hadarDefinitionto glorify (God)
NASB Translationglorified (1), honor (1), honored (1).
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scopeהֲדַּר (hădar) denotes the external manifestation of greatness—visible splendor, dignity, and regal honor. In Daniel it describes either the unrivaled majesty that belongs to the Most High or the reflected glory bestowed upon an earthly king. The word therefore functions as a window into divine sovereignty: whatever majesty humans possess is derivative, while God’s is inherent and eternal.
Occurrences in Daniel
1.Daniel 4:34 – After seven seasons of humiliation Nebuchadnezzar testifies, “My sanity was restored, and I blessed the Most High; I praised and glorified Him who lives forever… my kingdom was restored to me, and still more greatness was added to me.” The restoration of “honor” (hădar) confirms that God alone grants—and withholds—kingly magnificence.
2.Daniel 4:37 – The king concludes, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” Human hădar must bow before divine splendor.
3.Daniel 5:23 – Belshazzar is indicted for profaning the vessels “and you have praised the gods of silver and gold… but the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified.” The absence of rightful honor (hădar) triggers immediate judgment.
Historical Setting
Both chapters portray Babylon at its zenith, yet the same term that celebrates imperial grandeur exposes its fragility. When Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God, his hădar is multiplied; when Belshazzar refuses, his hădar evaporates overnight (Daniel 5:30). Thus the Aramaic narrative uses a single word to trace Babylon’s rise, chastening, brief restoration, and irreversible fall.
Theological Emphases
• Divine Sovereignty: Only God can bestow or remove honor; earthly splendor is contingent stewardship (Psalm 113:4-8).
• Human Pride and Humiliation: Pride seeks autonomous majesty; God’s response is corrective discipline designed to produce true worship (Proverbs 16:18).
• Worship as Rightful Response: Recognition of God’s unrivaled hădar leads to praise; neglect produces idolatry and judgment.
Christological Foreshadowing
Daniel’s use of hădar anticipates the “majestic glory” revealed in the incarnate Son. Jesus Christ laid aside visible splendor (Philippians 2:6-8) only to receive “glory and honor” forever (Hebrews 2:9). The pattern—humiliation preceding exaltation—mirrors Nebuchadnezzar’s experience, but in Christ it achieves saving significance for the world.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Leadership: Christian leaders acknowledge that any authority or dignity is delegated (John 19:11). Gratitude safeguards against the pride that ruined Belshazzar.
• Worship: Congregations give God exclusive hădar, fostering humility and dependence (Revelation 4:11).
• Discipleship: Personal ambition is measured by the standard of divine splendor, redirecting believers to serve rather than to be served (Mark 10:43-45).
Links to New Testament Revelation
The Greek doxa (glory) carries forward the concept. Believers are promised participation in Christ’s eternal splendor (1 Peter 5:4), yet the call remains to “humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). The storyline from Daniel to Peter underscores a consistent biblical theme: true honor flows from submission to the King of heaven.
Forms and Transliterations
הַדַּֽרְתָּ׃ הדרת׃ וְהַדְּרֵ֑ת וּמְהַדַּר֙ והדרת ומהדר had·dar·tā hadDarta haddartā ū·mə·had·dar umehadDar ūməhaddar vehaddeRet wə·had·də·rêṯ wəhaddərêṯ
Links
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Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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