Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "excellency" in the Bible often denotes majesty, superiority, or a state of being exalted. It is used to describe the grandeur and supreme nature of God, His creation, and sometimes the esteemed position of individuals or nations. The concept of excellency is closely tied to the attributes of glory, honor, and power.
Biblical References:1.
God's Excellency: The excellency of God is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing His supreme nature and unmatched glory. In
Exodus 15:7, the song of Moses celebrates God's triumph over the Egyptians, stating, "In the greatness of Your majesty, You overthrow those who rise against You." Here, "majesty" is synonymous with excellency, highlighting God's superior power and authority.
2.
Creation's Excellency: The excellency of God's creation is evident in the beauty and order of the natural world.
Psalm 8:1 declares, "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens." The psalmist acknowledges the excellency of God's handiwork, which reflects His divine nature and creative power.
3.
Excellency of Nations: Nations are sometimes described in terms of excellency, often in the context of their downfall due to pride or sin. In
Isaiah 13:19, Babylon is referred to as "the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans," yet it is prophesied to be overthrown by God's judgment. This passage illustrates how human excellency is temporary and subject to divine sovereignty.
4.
Excellency of Individuals: Certain individuals in the Bible are noted for their excellency, often due to their wisdom, leadership, or faithfulness. In
Genesis 49:3, Jacob refers to his son Reuben as "my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power." However, Reuben's moral failings ultimately overshadow his potential for excellency.
5.
Excellency in Worship: The concept of excellency is also present in the context of worship, where believers are called to recognize and proclaim the excellency of God. In
1 Peter 2:9, Christians are described as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This passage underscores the duty of believers to declare God's excellency through their lives and testimony.
Theological Implications:The excellency of God and His works serves as a reminder of His ultimate authority and the rightful place of worship and reverence due to Him. It challenges believers to reflect on their own lives, recognizing that any human excellency is a reflection of God's grace and should be used to honor Him. The transient nature of earthly excellency contrasts with the eternal and unchanging excellency of God, encouraging a focus on spiritual rather than worldly pursuits.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A title of honor given to certain high dignitaries, esp. to viceroys, ministers, and ambassadors, to English colonial governors, etc. It was formerly sometimes given to kings and princes.
2. (n.) Excellence; virtue; dignity; worth; superiority.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
EXCELLENCYek'-se-len-si (ga-on, ga'awah; huperbole):
"Excellency" in the Old Testament is chiefly the translation of ga'on, "mounting," "swelling" (Exodus 15:7Job 37:4 the King James Version;Psalm 47:4 the King James Version;Isaiah 13:19 the King James Version, etc.); ga'awah, rising, is thrice so rendered (Deuteronomy 33:26, 29Psalm 68:34); se'eth, "rising" (twice) (Job 13:11 the King James Version;Psalm 62:4 the King James Version); yether, "superabundance" (twice) (Genesis 49:3 the King James Version;Job 4:21 the King James Version), and chadhar, "honor," "beauty," "majesty" (twice) (Isaiah 35:2); gobhah, "uplifted" (Job 40:10); yithron, "advantage" (Ecclesiastes 7:12); si', "elevation" (Job 20:6, the Revised Version (British and American) "height"). In the New Testament huperbole, "surpassing," "a casting beyond," occurs (2 Corinthians 4:7, "that the excellency of the power may be of God," the Revised Version (British and American) "exceeding greatness"); huperoche, "a holding over" or "beyond," is translated "excellency" (1 Corinthians 2:1), and to huperechon, "the pre-eminence" (Philippians 3:8), "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ."
Instead of "excellency" the Revised Version (British and American) has "pride" (Isaiah 13:19Ezekiel 24:21), "majesty" (Job 37:4 and the American Standard Revised VersionJob 13:11;Job 31:23), the American Standard Revised Version has "pre-eminence" (Genesis 49:3, 4), "glory" (Psalm 47:4), "dignity" (Psalm 62:4); for "the fat of lambs" (Psalm 37:20), the English Revised Version has "the excellency of the pastures," with margin, "the fat of lambs"; the American Standard Revised Version retains the King James Version rendering with the English Revised Version in the margin; instead of "Doth not their excellency which is in them go away?" (Job 4:21), the Revised Version (British and American) has "Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them?" margin, "Is not their excellency which is in them removed?"
W. L. Walker
Greek
5247. huperoche -- a projection, eminence... 5247 () is "primarily, 'a projection, eminence,' as a mountain peak, hence,
metaphorically, 'pre-eminence, superiority,
excellency' " (Vine, Unger, White
...5236. huperbole -- a throwing beyond, excess, superiority
... beyond others, ie (figuratively) supereminence; adverbially (with eis or kata) pre-
eminently -- abundance, (far more) exceeding,excellency, more excellent...
5242. huperecho -- to hold above, to rise above, to be superior
... echo; to hold oneself above, ie (figuratively) to excel; participle (as adjective,
or neuter as noun) superior, superiority -- better,excellency, higher, pass...
Strong's Hebrew
1346. gaavah -- majesty, pride... swelling pride (1).
excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly,
swelling. From ga'ah; arrogance or majesty; by implication
...1363. gobah -- height
...excellency, haughty, height, high, loftiness, pride. From gabahh; elation, grandeur,
arrogance --excellency, haughty, height, high, loftiness, pride....
7863. si -- loftiness
...excellency. From the same as sow' by permutation; elevation --excellency. see
HEBREW sow'. 7862, 7863. si. 7864 . Strong's Numbers.
3504. yithron -- advantage, profit
... better, excellent, profitable. From yathar; preeminence, gain -- better,
excellency(-leth), profit(-able). see HEBREW yathar. 3503, 3504. yithron. 3505 ....
1926. hadar -- an ornament, honor, splendor
... From hadar; magnificence, ie Ornament or splendor -- beauty, comeliness,excellency,
glorious, glory, goodly, honour, majesty. see HEBREW hadar. 1925, 1926....
1347. ga'own -- redemption
... majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling From ga'ah; the same as ga'avah -- arrogancy,
excellency(-lent), majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling. see HEBREW ga'ah....
1935. hod -- splendor, majesty, vigor
... From an unused root; grandeur (ie An imposing form and appearance) -- beauty,
comeliness,excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honour, majesty. 1934, 1935....
7613. seeth -- exaltation, dignity, swelling, uprising
... an elevation or leprous scab; figuratively, elation or cheerfulness; exaltation
in rank or character -- be accepted, dignity,excellency, highness, raise up...
Library
Song 7. TheExcellency of the Bible.
... Divine Songs Song 7. Theexcellency of the Bible. Theexcellency of the Bible.
8,6,8,6. Great God, with wonder and with praise. On all thy works I:look:...
The Beauty andExcellency of this World Consists, not Only in the...
... A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE. John xiii. 35. Chapter I. The beauty andexcellency
of this world consists, not only in the perfection and comeliness?...
Song 7. TheExcellency of the Bible.
... Divine Songs For Children. Song 7. TheExcellency of the Bible. 1 Great
God, with wonder and with praise, On all thy works I look...
TheExcellency of the Christian Religion.
... first and third lines of the stanza. Hymn 2:131. Theexcellency of the
Christian religion. 1 Let everlasting glories crown Thy head...
Excellency of Christ.
... CHRIST; HIS CHARACTER AND OFFICES. 240. "Excellency of Christ. 240. CPM
Medley.Excellency of Christ. 1 O, could we speak the...
A Discourse of the Building, Nature,Excellency, and Government of...
... A DISCOURSE OF THE BUILDING, NATURE,EXCELLENCY, AND GOVERNMENT OF THE HOUSE OF
GOD; WITH COUNSELS AND DIRECTIONS TO THE INHABITANTS THEREOF....
Excellency of the Christian Institution.
... ADDITIONAL DISCOURSES. SECT. VI.EXCELLENCY OF THE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION. "Aptissima
qu??que dabunt dii Charior est illis homo, quam sibi"Juv. S.10 I.345....
That theExcellency of the Christian Religion is Above all the...
... Book VIII. Chapter 10."That theExcellency of the Christian Religion
is Above All the Science of Philosophers. For although a...
TheExcellency of the Christian Religion.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 131 Theexcellency of the Christian religion. LM Theexcellency
of the Christian religion. Let everlasting glories crown....
On theExcellency of Religion and Divine Love.
... PART II. On theExcellency of Religion and Divine Love.... The worth andexcellency
of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love....
Thesaurus
Excellency (53 Occurrences)... It was formerly sometimes given to kings and princes. 2. (n.) Excellence; virtue;
dignity; worth; superiority. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
EXCELLENCY.
...Majesty (67 Occurrences)
... Exodus 15:7 In the greatness of yourexcellency, you overthrow those who rise up
against you.... (YLT). Job 40:10 "Now deck yourself withexcellency and dignity....
Vigour (8 Occurrences)
... Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my
vigour:Excellency of dignity, andexcellency of strength. (DBY)....
Vine-branches (1 Occurrence)
... Nahum 2:2 For Jehovah restoreth theexcellency of Jacob, as theexcellency of Israel;
for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches...
First-fruit (19 Occurrences)
... Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the first-fruits of my
strength; theexcellency of dignity, and theexcellency of power....
Restoreth (7 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:2 For Jehovah restoreth theexcellency of Jacob, as theexcellency of Israel;
for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches...
Restores (10 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:2 For Yahweh restores theexcellency of Jacob, as theexcellency of Israel;
for the destroyers have destroyed them, and ruined their vine branches....
Emptiers (1 Occurrence)
... Nahum 2:2 For the LORD hath turned away theexcellency of Jacob, as theexcellency
of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine...
Emptied (20 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:2 For the LORD hath turned away theexcellency of Jacob, as theexcellency
of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine...
Devastated (20 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:2 For Yahweh restores theexcellency of Jacob, as theexcellency of Israel;
for the destroyers have destroyed them, and ruined their vine branches....
Resources
What is the Letter to Diognetus? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God create the world / earth? | GotQuestions.orgExcellency: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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