Topical Encyclopedia
Esteem, in the biblical context, refers to the regard or respect one holds for others, oneself, or God. It is a concept deeply rooted in the teachings of Scripture, emphasizing the value and honor that should be accorded to individuals and the divine.
Esteem for OthersThe Bible frequently addresses the importance of esteeming others, often in the context of humility and love.
Philippians 2:3-4 instructs believers, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This passage highlights the call to prioritize others' needs and to hold them in high regard, reflecting Christ's own humility and selflessness.
Romans 12:10 further reinforces this idea: "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another." Here, the apostle Paul encourages believers to actively seek ways to honor and esteem their fellow Christians, fostering a community of mutual respect and love.
Esteem for AuthorityScripture also addresses the importance of esteeming those in positions of authority. In
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 , Paul writes, "But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction. In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another." This passage underscores the respect and esteem that should be given to church leaders and those who labor in the ministry.
Similarly,
Romans 13:1-2 speaks to the broader context of civil authority: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Esteem for authority is seen as part of a believer's duty to honor God's established order.
Esteem for OneselfWhile the Bible emphasizes humility, it also acknowledges the importance of a healthy self-esteem rooted in one's identity in Christ.
Ephesians 2:10 declares, "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." This verse affirms the inherent value and purpose bestowed upon each believer by God, encouraging a sense of self-worth that is grounded in divine creation and calling.
Esteem for GodAbove all, the highest esteem is reserved for God. The Bible is replete with calls to honor and revere the Lord.
Proverbs 3:9 instructs, "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest." Esteeming God involves recognizing His sovereignty, worshiping Him, and living in obedience to His commands.
Psalm 29:2 echoes this sentiment: "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness." Esteem for God is expressed through worship, reverence, and a life that reflects His holiness and glory.
In summary, esteem in the biblical sense encompasses respect and honor for others, authority, oneself, and ultimately, God. It is a reflection of the love and humility that are central to the Christian faith, guiding believers in their relationships and worship.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To set a value on; to appreciate the worth of; to estimate; to value; to reckon.
2. (v. t.) To set a high value on; to prize; to regard with reverence, respect, or friendship.
3. (v. i.) To form an estimate; to have regard to the value; to consider.
4. (v. t.) Estimation; opinion of merit or value; hence, valuation; reckoning; price.
5. (v. t.) High estimation or value; great regard; favorable opinion, founded on supposed worth.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ESTEEMes-tem' (chashabh; hegeomai):
"To esteem" means sometimes simply "to think" or "reckon"; in other connections it means "to regard as honorable" or "valuable." We have examples of both senses in the Bible. The word most often so translated in the Old Testament is chashabh, meaning perhaps originally, "to bind," hence, "combine," "think," "reckon" (Job 41:27 the King James Version;Isaiah 29:16, 17;Isaiah 53:4Lamentations 4:2). InIsaiah 53:3 we have the word in the higher sense, "We esteemed him not." This sense is expressed also by `arakh, "to set in array," "in order" (Job 36:19, the King James Version "Will he esteem thy riches?" the English Revised Version "Will thy riches suffice?" margin "Will thy cry avail?" which the American Standard Revised Version adopts as the text); also by tsaphan, "to hide," "to conceal" (Job 23:12, the King James Version "I have esteemed the words of his mouth," the Revised Version (British and American) "treasured up"); qalah, "to be light," is translated "lightly esteemed" (1 Samuel 18:23, "I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed"), also qalal, same meaning (1 Samuel 2:30, "They that despise me shall be lightly esteemed"). In the New Testament, hegeomai, "to lead out," is used in the sense of "counting honorable," etc. (Philippians 2:3 the Revised Version (British and American) "counting";1 Thessalonians 5:13; perhapsHebrews 11:26, but the Revised Version (British and American) has simply "accounting"); krino, "to judge," is used in the sense of "to reckon" (Romans 14:5 twice); also logizomai, "to reckon" (Romans 14:14, the Revised Version (British and American) "accounteth"); hupselos, "high," "exalted," is rendered "highly esteemed" inLuke 16:15 the King James Version, but in the Revised Version (British and American) "exalted"; exoutheneo, "to think nothing of," is translated "least esteemed" (1 Corinthians 6:4 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "of no account").
The following changes in the Revised Version (British and American) are of interest: for "He that is despised and hath a servant, is better than he that honoreth himself and lacketh bread" (Proverbs 12:9), "Better is he that is lightly esteemed"; for "Better is he than both they, which hath not yet been" (Ecclesiastes 4:3), "Better than them both did I esteem him," margin "Better than they both is he"; for "Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay" (Isaiah 29:16), "Ye turn things upside down!" (margin, "Oh your perversity!"), "Shall the potter be esteemed (the English Revised Version "counted") as clay," etc.-in this connection a forcible assertion of the necessary possession of knowledge by the Creator of man.
W. L. Walker
Greek
3643. oligoreo -- toesteem lightly... to
esteem lightly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: oligoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(ol-ig-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: I despise, make light of Definition: I
...1392. doxazo -- to render oresteem glorious (in a wide...
... to render oresteem glorious (in a wide application). Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: doxazo Phonetic Spelling: (dox-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I glorify...
3643a. oligoreo -- toesteem lightly
... 3643, 3643a. oligoreo. 3643b . toesteem lightly. Transliteration: oligoreo
Short Definition: lightly. Word Origin from oligos and...
2233. hegeomai -- to lead, suppose
... 2233 ("what goes before, in front") refers to such as: "the leading thought" in
one's mind, ie toesteem (regard highly); or a leading authority, providing...
3170. megaluno -- to make or declare great
... Definition to make or declare great NASB Word Usage displayed...great (1), enlarged
(1), exalted (1), exalting (1), exalts (1), held...in highesteem (1), high...
5092. time -- a valuing, a price
... From tino; a value, ie Money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by
analogy,esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself...
3049. logizomai -- to reckon, to consider
... Middle voice from logos; to take an inventory, ie Estimate (literally or figuratively)
-- conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise,esteem, impute, lay, number...
5252. huperphroneo -- to be overly proud, to have high thoughts
... be haughty, think more highly. From huper and phroneo; toesteem oneself overmuch,
ie Be vain or arrogant -- think more highly. see GREEK huper....
2706. kataphroneo -- to think little of
... behavior from inner mind-set") -- properly, view , ie with a negative (hostile)
outlook; to despise, thinking on (thinking of);esteem lightly, seeing as...
3404. miseo -- to hate
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: miseo Phonetic Spelling: (mis-eh'-o) Short
Definition: I hate, detest Definition: I hate, detest, love less,esteem less....
Strong's Hebrew
3474. yashar -- to be smooth, straight, or right... root Definition to be smooth, straight, or right NASB Word Usage agreeable (2),
directed (1),
esteem right (1), evenly applied (1), fixed straight (1), good (2
...2803. chashab -- to think, account
... consider (3), considered (13), counted (1), counts (1), designer (1), determined
(1), devise (13), devised (8), devises (1), devising (1),esteem (2), esteemed...
7034. qalah -- to be lightly esteemed or dishonored
... base, contemn, despise, lightlyesteem, set light, seem vile. A primitive root;
to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively...
6186. arak -- to arrange or set in order
... set the battle, array, compare, direct, equal,esteem, estimate, expert
in war, A primitive root; to set in a row, ie Arrange, put...
2536b. chamudah -- desirableness, preciousness
... 2536a, 2536b. chamudah. 2537 . desirableness, preciousness. Transliteration:
chamudah Short Definition:esteem. Word Origin from...
5034. nabel -- to be senseless or foolish
... disgrace, dishounor, lightlyesteem, come to nothing, make vile, wither
A primitive root; to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail...
7043. qalal -- to be slight, swift or trifling
... into contempt, (ac-)curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make somewhat,
move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly afflict, -lyesteem, thing), X...
6845. tsaphan -- to hide, treasure up
... by covering over); by implication, to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny;
specifically (favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk --esteem, hide(-den...
Library
Of Self-Esteem
... THE SECOND BOOK. ADMONITIONS CONCERNING THE INNER LIFE CHAPTER V Of
self-esteem. We cannot place too little confidence in ourselves...
HighEsteem in which Martin was Held.
... Sulpitius Severus On the Life of St. Martin. Chapter IX. HighEsteem in
which Martin was held. Nearly about the same time, Martin...
Men Often HighlyEsteem what God Abhors.
... XXI. MEN OFTEN HIGHLYESTEEM WHAT GOD ABHORS.... Show how and why it is that men highly
esteem that which God abhors. 1. They have a different rule of judgment....
November 30. "In Lowliness of Mind Let EachEsteem Other Better...
... NOVEMBER 30. "In lowliness of mind let eachesteem other better than themselves"
(Phil. ii. 3). "In lowliness of mind let eachesteem...
You Know that Love Receives a Grandeur of Value andEsteem from...
... THE SECOND CENTURY 85 You know that Love receives a grandeur of value and
esteem from the greatness of the person. You know that...
If Thou Know Not, O Thou Fairest among Women, Go Thy Way Forth by...
... Now, nothingness deserves noesteem, because it has no good; neither does it merit
love, for it is nothing; it is only worthy, on the contrary, of contempt and...
On the Difference of Loves.
... when by this dilection we do not much prefer one friend before others it is called
simple dilection, but when, on the contrary, we much moreesteem and greatly...
Self-Humbling and Self-Searching
... the "fairest among women." Others, who thought her the fairest of the fair, spoke
no less than the truth when they affirmed it; but in her ownesteem she felt...
Liturgical Use.
... Yet after it had come into highesteem with Christians its chances of Jewish
acceptance would of course be largely diminished. EARLY....
The Bishop at Work
... in the Middle Ages had an especial care for lepers because of that most fortunate
mistranslation in Isaiah 53:4. which we render "we didesteem Him stricken...
Thesaurus
Esteem (25 Occurrences)... 5. (vt) High estimation or value; great regard; favorable opinion, founded
on supposed worth. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ESTEEM.
...Honor (240 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.)Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration;
reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence....
Pride (277 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable
conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank, etc...
Disesteem (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Want ofesteem; low estimation, inclining
to dislike; disfavor; disrepute. 2. (vt) To feel an...
Value (138 Occurrences)
... anything. 3. (n.) Precise signification; import; as, the value of a word;
the value of a legal instrument. 4. (n.)Esteem; regard. 5...
Naaman (19 Occurrences)
... in Greek in the New Testament; Textus Receptus of the New Testament, Neeman): (1)
A successful Syrian general, high in the confidence andesteem of the king of...
Regard (230 Occurrences)
... dislike. 6. (vt) To pay respect to; to treat as something of peculiar value,
sanctity, or the like; to care for; toesteem. 7. (vt...
Respect (204 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To consider worthy ofesteem; to regard with honor. 3. (vt) To look toward;
to front upon or toward.... 7. (v.)Esteem; regard; consideration; honor....
Proud (96 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Possessing or showing too great self-esteem; overrating one's
excellences; hence, arrogant; haughty; lordly; presumptuous....
Credit (39 Occurrences)
... faith; trust; confidence. 2. (n.) Reputation derived from the confidence
of others;esteem; honor; good name; estimation. 3. (n.) A...
Resources
How should a Christian view self-esteem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about honor? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about ambition? | GotQuestions.orgEsteem: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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