Topical Encyclopedia
Dignity, in the biblical context, refers to the inherent worth and honor bestowed upon human beings by virtue of being created in the image of God. This concept is foundational to understanding human value and the ethical treatment of individuals within a Christian framework.
Creation and the Image of GodThe concept of dignity is rooted in the creation narrative found in Genesis.
Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This passage underscores the unique status of human beings as bearers of God's image, which confers upon them a special dignity and worth that is distinct from the rest of creation.
Human Value and WorthThe dignity of human life is further emphasized throughout Scripture.
Psalm 8:4-5 reflects on the elevated status of humanity: "What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor." This passage highlights the honor and glory bestowed upon humanity, affirming their significant place in God's creation.
Respect and HonorThe Bible calls for the recognition and respect of human dignity in interpersonal relationships. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to honor one another.
Romans 12:10 instructs, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another." This command reflects the importance of acknowledging the dignity of others through acts of love and respect.
Justice and EqualityThe biblical principle of dignity also extends to issues of justice and equality.
Proverbs 31:8-9 urges, "Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy." This call to action emphasizes the responsibility to uphold the dignity of all individuals, particularly those who are marginalized or oppressed.
The Dignity of WorkWork is another area where human dignity is affirmed.
Colossians 3:23 states, "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men." This verse highlights the value of work as a reflection of God's creative activity and an expression of human dignity.
Redemption and RestorationThe theme of dignity is also evident in the redemptive work of Christ. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus restores the dignity that sin has marred.
Galatians 3:28 declares, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This unity in Christ affirms the equal dignity of all believers, transcending social and cultural distinctions.
Eternal PerspectiveFinally, the dignity of human beings is affirmed in the eternal perspective of Scripture.
Revelation 21:3-4 offers a vision of the ultimate restoration of dignity: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.'" This promise of eternal fellowship with God underscores the enduring dignity of humanity in the divine plan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The state of being worthy or honorable; elevation of mind or character; true worth; excellence.
2. (n.) Elevation; grandeur.
3. (n.) Elevated rank; honorable station; high office, political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation.
4. (n.) Quality suited to inspire respect or reverence; loftiness and grace; impressiveness; stateliness; -- said of //en, manner, style, etc.
5. (n.) One holding high rank; a dignitary.
6. (n.) Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DIGNITIES; DIGNITYdig'-ni-tiz, dig'-ni-ti (Hebrew marom, se'eth, gedhullah): Rank or position, not nobility or austerity of personal character or bearing, is denoted by this word in its Old Testament occurrences (Genesis 49:3Esther 6:3Ecclesiastes 10:6Habakkuk 1:7). In2 Peter 2:10Jude 1:8, "dignities" (doxai) are angels, lofty spiritual beings, possible objects of blasphemy; compare the context in both passages.
Greek
1646. elachistos -- least (in size, amount,dignity, etc.)... least (in size, amount,
dignity, etc.). Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
elachistos Phonetic Spelling: (el-akh'-is-tos) Short Definition: least
...4587. semnotes -- seriousness
... seriousness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: semnotes Phonetic Spelling:
(sem-not'-ace) Short Definition:dignity, honor Definition:dignity...
1391. doxa -- opinion (always good in NT), hence praise, honor...
... 155), honor (1), majesties (2).dignity, glory, honor, praise, worship.
From the base of dokeo; glory (as very apparent), in a wide...
2963. kuriotes -- lordship
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kuriotes Phonetic Spelling:
(koo-ree-ot'-ace) Short Definition: lordship, domination,dignity Definition: (a...
5311. hupsos -- height
... of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: hupsos Phonetic Spelling: (hoop'-sos) Short
Definition: height, heaven Definition: height, heaven;dignity, eminence....
5010. taxis -- an arranging, order
... order. From tasso; regular arrangement, ie (in time) fixed succession (of rank
or character), officialdignity -- order. see GREEK tasso....
5511. chlamus -- a chlamys or short cloak
... a short cloak worn by soldiers, military officers, magistrates, kings, emperors,
etc" (J. Thayer) -- the Latin , the garment of "dignity" (office) worn over...
5092. time -- a valuing, a price
... tino; a value, ie Money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy,
esteem (especially of the highest degree), or thedignity itself -- honour...
2903. kratistos -- strongest, noblest
... most excellent, noble. Superlative of a derivative of kratos; strongest, ie (in
dignity) very honorable -- most excellent (noble). see GREEK kratos....
4080. pelikos -- how large? how great?
... how great. A quantitative form (the feminine) of the base of pou; how much (as an
indefinite), ie In size or (figuratively)dignity -- how great (large)....
Strong's Hebrew
7613. seeth -- exaltation,dignity, swelling, uprising... 7612, 7613. seeth. 7614 . exaltation,
dignity, swelling, uprising. Transliteration:
seeth Phonetic Spelling: (seh-ayth') Short Definition: swelling.
...7830. shachats --dignity, pride
... 7829, 7830. shachats. 7831 .dignity, pride. Transliteration: shachats
Phonetic Spelling: (shakh'-ats) Short Definition: pride....
1420. gedullah -- greatness
... Word Origin from gadal Definition greatness NASB Word Usagedignity (1), great
(1), great majesty (1), great thing (1), great things (1), greatness (7)....
4791. marom -- height
... proudly (1). far above,dignity, haughty, height, most, on high one, place,
loftily,. From ruwm; altitude, ie Concretely (an elevated...
1926. hadar -- an ornament, honor, splendor
... Word Origin from hadar Definition an ornament, honor, splendor NASB Word Usage array
(1), beautiful (1),dignity (1), honor (2), majestic (2), majesty (15...
3366. yeqar -- preciousness, price, honor
... honor, precious things, price. From yaqar; value, ie (concretely) wealth; abstractly,
costliness,dignity -- honour, precious (things), price. see HEBREW yaqar....
1363. gobah -- height
... Word Origin from gabah Definition height NASB Word Usagedignity (1), haughtiness
(1), haughty (1), height (6), high (2), loftiness (1), lofty (1), pride (1...
405. ekeph -- pressure
... hand. From 'akaph; a load; by implication, a stroke (othersdignity) -- hand.
see HEBREW 'akaph. 404, 405. ekeph. 406 . Strong's Numbers.
7238. rebu -- greatness
... greatness, majesty. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to rabah; increase (ofdignity)
-- greatness, majesty. see HEBREW rabah. 7237, 7238. rebu. 7239 ....
Library
Dignity and Service
...DIGNITY AND SERVICE. 'And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto
Him, saying, Master, we would that Thou shouldest do for...
TheDignity of Woman.
... CHAPTER IV. THEDIGNITY OF WOMAN. POPE ST.... The most humble of all women is, at
the same time, she who had the best knowledge of herdignity....
Of theDignity of this Sacrament, and of the Office of the Priest
... THE FOURTH BOOK. OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR CHAPTER V Of thedignity of this
Sacrament, and of the office of the priest. The Voice of the Beloved...
The Fifth Chapter: theDignity of the Sacrament and of the...
... BOOK FOUR. AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION The Fifth Chapter: TheDignity
of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood. The Voice of Christ...
That Having Conferred theDignity of C??sars on his Three Sons at...
... Chapter XL."That having conferred theDignity of C??sars on his Three Sons at the
Three Decennial Periods of his Reign, he dedicated the Church at Jerusalem....
Dignity of the Scripture Language.
... ADDITIONAL DISCOURSES. SECT. VII.DIGNITY OF THE SCRIPTURE LANGUAGE. With hymns
divine the joyous banquet ends; The Peans lengthen'd till the sun descends:...
On the ImmeasurableDignity of Temporal Suffering.
... PART THE FIRST. CHAPTER XIII. On The ImmeasurableDignity of Temporal
Suffering. The Servant."Tell me now, tender Lord, what this...
Finally Another Reason was theDignity of Our Saviour's Person
... THE SECOND CENTURY 37 Finally another reason was thedignity of our Saviour's
person. Finally another reason was thedignity of our...
Whether it Belongs to Observance to Pay Worship and Honor to those...
... CONSIDERED IN ITSELF, AND OF ITS PARTS (THREE ARTICLES) Whether it belongs to
observance to pay worship and honor to those who are in positions ofdignity?...
Whether, by Penance, Man is Restored to his FormerDignity?
... Whether, by Penance, man is restored to his formerdignity? Objection 1:
It would seem that man is not restored by Penance to his...
Thesaurus
Dignity (14 Occurrences)... 6. (n.) Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
DIGNITIES;
DIGNITY.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Dignity (14 Occurrences).
...Excellency (53 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Excellence; virtue;dignity; worth; superiority. Int.... (KJV DBY YLT).
Job 40:10 "Now deck yourself with excellency anddignity....
Throne (181 Occurrences)
... (Hebrews kiss'e), a royal chair or seat ofdignity (Deuteronomy 17:18; 2 Samuel
7:13; Psalm 45:6); an elevated seat with a canopy and hangings, which cover it....
Royal (154 Occurrences)
... See Rial. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ROYAL. roi'-al: Either belonging to
a king (kingdom) or having kingly power,dignity, authority, etc....
Crown (94 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Imperial or regal power or dominion; sovereignty. 7. (n.) Anything
which imparts beauty, splendor, honor,dignity, or finish....
Majesty (67 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Thedignity and authority of sovereign power; quality or state which inspires
awe or reverence; grandeur; exalteddignity, whether proceeding from rank...
Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... The fundamental meaning of "Godhead" is, nevertheless, no less than that of "Godhood,"
the state,dignity, condition, quality, of a god, or, as monotheists...
Vashti (10 Occurrences)
... Beautiful, the queen of Ahasuerus, who was deposed from her royaldignity because
she refused to obey the king when he desired her to appear in the banqueting...
Gravity (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Sobriety of character or demeanor. 3. (a.) Importance, significance,dignity,
etc; hence, seriousness; enormity; as, the gravity of an offense....
Dignities (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural ofDignity. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. DIGNITIES;DIGNITY. dig'-ni-tiz, dig'-ni-ti...
Resources
How should a Christian view the concept of death with dignity? | GotQuestions.orgShould married Christians wear wedding rings? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view socialism? | GotQuestions.orgDignity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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