Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Fame, in the biblical context, refers to the widespread reputation or renown of an individual or entity. It is often associated with the acknowledgment of one's deeds, character, or divine favor. In the Scriptures, fame can be seen as both a blessing and a potential pitfall, depending on how it aligns with God's purposes and the individual's response to it.
Old Testament References:In the Old Testament, fame is frequently linked to God's actions and the fulfillment of His promises. For instance, the fame of Solomon is highlighted due to his wisdom and the prosperity of his kingdom. In
1 Kings 10:1, the Queen of Sheba hears of Solomon's fame and visits him to test his wisdom, which ultimately leads to her acknowledgment of God's blessing upon him: "When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions."
The fame of the Lord Himself is a recurring theme, as seen in the Exodus narrative. God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt was intended to make His name known among the nations. In
Joshua 9:9, the Gibeonites refer to the fame of the Lord: "Your servants have come from a very distant land because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of Him and all that He did in Egypt."
New Testament References:In the New Testament, the fame of Jesus spreads rapidly due to His teachings, miracles, and authority. In
Matthew 4:24, it is recorded: "News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them." Jesus' fame, however, is not sought for personal glory but as a testament to His divine mission and the coming of God's kingdom.
The apostles also experienced fame as they spread the Gospel.
Acts 2:41-47 describes the early church's growth and the favor they found with all the people, leading to the Lord adding to their number daily. The fame of the apostles was rooted in their witness to Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit working through them.
Theological Implications:Fame in the Bible is often a byproduct of God's work and the faithfulness of His servants. It serves as a tool for God's purposes, drawing attention to His power, wisdom, and love. However, the Scriptures also warn against the pursuit of fame for selfish reasons.
Proverbs 27:2 advises, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." This highlights the importance of humility and the recognition that true honor comes from God.
Warnings and Lessons:The Bible provides cautionary tales about the dangers of fame when it leads to pride or distracts from God's will. King Saul's jealousy of David's rising fame (
1 Samuel 18:7-9) illustrates how fame can incite envy and lead to destructive behavior. Similarly, the account of the Tower of Babel (
Genesis 11:4) shows humanity's desire to make a name for themselves apart from God, resulting in confusion and dispersion.
Conclusion:While fame can be a reflection of God's blessing and an opportunity to glorify Him, it requires careful stewardship. Believers are encouraged to seek God's glory above their own and to use any influence they have to further His kingdom and purposes.
Topical Bible Verses
Matthew 16:26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Topicalbible.orgRomans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Topicalbible.org
Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
Topicalbible.org
Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Topicalbible.org
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Public report or rumor.
2. (n.) Report or opinion generally diffused; renown; public estimation; celebrity, either favorable or unfavorable; as, the fame of Washington.
3. (v. t.) To report widely or honorably.
4. (v. t.) To make famous or renowned.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FAMEfam (shem, shema`; akoe, pheme): "Fame" has the twofold meaning, (1) of report or rumor, (2) of renown or reputation (in the Old Testament it is not always easy to distinguish the two senses). "Fame," shema`, "fame," "rumor," "reports" (Numbers 14:15Job 28:22, the Revised Version (British and American) "rumor") probably means "report"; but in1 Kings 10:12 Chronicles 9:1;Isaiah 66:19, it is most probably "renown," or "reputation"; shemu`ah (1 Kings 10:72 Chronicles 9:6) may have either meaning; shoma` (Joshua 6:27;Joshua 9:9Esther 9:4) seems to mean "fame" in the sense of reputation; but inJeremiah 6:24 (as the American Standard Revised Version) "report"; shem, "name," has the sense of reputation (1 Kings 4:311 Chronicles 14:17;1 Chronicles 22:5Zephaniah 3:19, the Revised Version (British and American) "name"); qol, "voice," is report (Genesis 45:16, the American Standard Revised Version "report"). In the New Testament akoe, "hearing," is "report," so the Revised Version (British and American) (Matthew 4:24;Matthew 14:1Mark 1:28); pheme, "word," "rumor," is report, fame in this sense (Matthew 9:26Luke 4:14); echos, "a sound," "noise" (Luke 4:37, the Revised Version (British and American) "rumor"), and logos, "word" (Luke 5:15, the Revised Version (British and American) "report") have the same meaning; diaphemizo, "to say throughout," "to report publicly" (Matthew 9:31, "they. spread abroad his fame"), seems to imply fame in the sense of reputation.
In 1 Maccabees 3:26, we have "fame" in the sense of reputation, "His fame (onoma, the Revised Version (British and American) "name") came near even to the king"; so 3:41, "heard the fame of them."
ERV has "fame" for "report" (shema`),Jeremiah 50:43.
W. L. Walker
Greek
2811. kleos --fame...fame. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kleos Phonetic Spelling:
(kleh'-os) Short Definition: glory,
fame, praise Definition: glory,
fame, praise
...5345. pheme -- a saying or report
... a saying or report. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: pheme Phonetic
Spelling: (fay'-may) Short Definition: a report,fame Definition: a report...
2279. echos -- a noise, sound
...fame, sound. Of uncertain affinity; a loud or confused noise ("echo"), ie Roar;
figuratively, a rumor --fame, sound. (echos) -- 2 Occurrences....
987. blasphemeo -- to slander, hence to speak lightly or profanely...
... 987 (from , "sluggish, slow" and 5345 , "reputation,fame") -- properly, to acknowledge
good (worthy of respect, veneration); hence, to which moral values....
3686. onoma -- a name, authority, cause
... Noun, Neuter Transliteration: onoma Phonetic Spelling: (on'-om-ah) Short Definition:
name, character, reputation Definition: name, character,fame, reputation....
189. akoe -- hearing, the sense of hearing
... From akouo; hearing (the act, the sense or the thing heard) -- audience, ear,fame,
which ye heard, hearing, preached, report, rumor. see GREEK akouo....
988. blasphemia -- slander
... Cognate: 988 (from , "sluggish/slow," and 5345 , "reputation,fame") -- - literally,
slow (sluggish) to call something (that ) -- and slow to identify what is...
3056. logos -- a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a...
... a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (ie Christ)
-- account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine,fame, X have...
1868. epainos -- praise
... 2307 ).]. Word Origin from epi and ainos Definition praise NASB Word Usage
fame (1), praise (9), worthy of praise (1). praise. From...
1310. diaphemizo -- to spread abroad
... blaze abroad, spread abroad. From dia and a derivative of pheme; to report thoroughly,
ie Divulgate -- blaze abroad, commonly report, spread abroad,fame....
Strong's Hebrew
8089. shoma -- a report... 8088, 8089. shoma. 8090 . a report. Transliteration: shoma Phonetic Spelling:
(sho'-mah) Short Definition:
fame.
...fame. From shama'; a report --
fame.
...8088. shema -- a hearing, report
... Word Origin from shama Definition a hearing, report NASB Word Usage about (1),fame
(4), hear* (1), hearing (1), news (1), proclamation (1), report (8)....
8052. shemuah -- a report
... 1), what it means (1). bruit, doctrine,fame, mentioned, news, report, rumor,
tidings. Feminine passive participle of shamem; something...
8034. shem -- a name
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a name NASB Word Usage byword (1),
defamed* (1), defames* (1),fame (8), famous (3), famous* (1), memorial (1...
6963. qol -- sound, voice
... aloud, bleating, crackling, cry out,fame, lightness, lowing, noise,. Or
qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a...
4110. mahalal -- praise
... Word Origin from halal Definition praise NASB Word Usage praise (1). praise. From
halal;fame -- praise. see HEBREW halal. 4109, 4110. mahalal. 4111 ....
Library
Accordingly, as this Man'sFame was Becoming Always the More...
... 4 Accordingly, as this man'sfame was becoming always the more extensively
diffused throughout different localities? Accordingly...
Whether Man's Happiness Consists inFame or Glory?
... OF THOSE THINGS IN WHICH MAN'S HAPPINESS CONSISTS (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
man's happiness consists infame or glory? Objection...
And theFame of Antony came Even unto Kings. ...
... Life of Antony. Section 81. And thefame of Antony came even unto kings.?
81. And thefame of Antony came even unto kings. For...
The Christians Defamed a Sarcastic Description ofFame; Its...
... The Christians Defamed A Sarcastic Description ofFame; Its Deception and Atrocious
Slanders of the Christians Lengthily Described.... (You answer,)Fame....
At that Time Herod the Tetrarch Heard of theFame of Jesus...
... The Text of the Diatessaron. Section XVIII. At that time Herod the tetrarch
heard of thefame of Jesus? [1] [1266] At that time...
Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
... 20. Babblingfame ever loves to talk of one man or another. Some... clime.Fame
is not an impartial judge; she has her favorites. Some...
John Chapter xvi. 13-15 (Continued).
... at least that, filled themselves through that very love with boldness, and divested
of all fear, they might proclaim Christ unto men; and so Hisfame be spread...
How Ethelwald, Successor to Cuthbert, Leading a Hermit's Life...
... THE venerable Ethewald succeeded the man of God, Cuthbert, in the exercise of a
solitary life, which he spent in the isle ofFame before he became a bishop....
If this Queen Ye See Not, Now Rich Also with Royal Progeny. If She...
... was said, "All the glory of that King's daughter is within:" although she strike
upon the eyes of them also that are without with the blaze of thefame of her...
Of Detraction.
... the withdrawing or taking off from a thing; and as it is applied to the reputation,
it denotes the impairing or lessening a man in point offame, rendering him...
Thesaurus
Fame (38 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) Report or opinion generally diffused; renown; public estimation; celebrity,
either favorable or unfavorable; as, the
fame of Washington.
...FAME.
...Spread (257 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To divulge; to publish, as news orfame; to cause to be more extensively
known; to disseminate; to make known fully; as, to spread a report; -- often...
Abroad (120 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:26 And thefame hereof went abroad into all that land. (KJV WBS). Matthew
9:31 But they went out and spread abroad hisfame in all that land....
Name (10157 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Reputed character; reputation, good or bad; estimation;fame; especially,
illustrious character orfame; honorable estimation; distinction....
Famous (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Celebrated infame or public report; renowned; mach
talked of; distinguished in story; -- used in either a good or a bad sense...
Throughout (291 Occurrences)
... all that district. (WEY NAS). Matthew 9:31 But they went out and spread
abroad hisfame in all that land. (See NAS). Matthew 24:14...
Exceeded (8 Occurrences)
... not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was
not told me; thou hast wisdom and prosperity exceeding thefame which I heard...
Exceed (14 Occurrences)
... it. Behold, the half was not told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed
thefame which I heard. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)....
Enigmas (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:1 And the queen of Sheba heard of thefame of Solomon in connection with
the name of Jehovah, and came to prove him with enigmas. (DBY YLT)....
Difficult (31 Occurrences)
... (DBY). 1 Kings 10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard of thefame of Solomon concerning
the name of Yahweh, she came to prove him with hard questions. (See NAS)....
Resources
Is it wrong to want to be famous? | GotQuestions.orgIs it wrong for a Christian to have the goal of being rich and famous? | GotQuestions.orgIs the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar biblical? | GotQuestions.orgFame: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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