Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of fame in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing both positive and negative connotations. Fame, in its essence, refers to being well-known or celebrated by many. In the biblical context, fame can be a result of divine blessing, human achievement, or even notoriety due to sin.
Positive Aspects of Fame:1.
Divine Blessing and Favor: Fame is often depicted as a result of God's blessing. For instance, God promised to make Abraham's name great as part of His covenant with him.
Genesis 12:2 states, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." Here, fame is associated with God's purpose and the fulfillment of His promises.
2.
Wisdom and Leadership: King Solomon is another example of positive fame. His wisdom and understanding were renowned throughout the ancient world.
1 Kings 4:31 notes, "He was wiser than all men... and his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations." Solomon's fame was a testament to the wisdom granted by God, which he used to govern Israel effectively.
3.
Acts of Valor and Faith: David's fame grew as a result of his faith and military victories. After defeating Goliath, David became famous throughout Israel.
1 Samuel 18:7 records the women singing, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." David's fame was linked to his reliance on God and his role as a leader of Israel.
Negative Aspects of Fame:1.
Pride and Downfall: Fame can lead to pride, which is condemned in Scripture. King Nebuchadnezzar's fame and power led to his downfall due to his pride.
Daniel 4:30 recounts his boast, "Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" His subsequent humbling by God serves as a warning against the dangers of prideful fame.
2.
False Prophets and Deceivers: Fame can also be associated with those who lead others astray. Jesus warned against false prophets who would gain notoriety by deceiving many.
Matthew 24:24 states, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible." Here, fame is linked to deception and spiritual danger.
3.
Worldly Pursuits: The pursuit of fame for its own sake is cautioned against in Scripture. The desire for human approval can lead one away from God's will. In
John 12:43 , it is said of some leaders, "For they loved praise from men more than praise from God." This highlights the conflict between seeking fame and seeking God's approval.
Fame in the Early Church:The early church experienced fame as the message of the Gospel spread.
Acts 2:47 describes the early believers as "praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." The fame of the early church was rooted in their faithfulness and the transformative power of the Gospel.
In summary, fame in the Bible is a complex theme that can reflect God's blessing and purpose or human pride and sin. It serves as both a reward for faithfulness and a caution against the pitfalls of seeking human glory over divine approval.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Celebrated in fame or public report; renowned; mach talked of; distinguished in story; -- used in either a good or a bad sense, chiefly the former; often followed by for; as, famous for erudition, for eloquence, for military skill; a famous pirate.
Greek
4436. puthon -- Python, a mythical serpent slain by Apollo...... From Putho (the name of the region where Delphi, the seat of the
famous oracle,
was located); a Python, ie (by analogy, with the supposed diviner there
...4516. Rhome -- Rome, the capital of Italy and the Rom. Empire...
... founder). Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Rhome Phonetic Spelling:
(hro'-may) Short Definition: Rome Definition: Rome, thefamous city on the...
Strong's Hebrew
7121. qara -- to call, proclaim, read... root Definition to call, proclaim, read NASB Word Usage become (1), become
famous (1), call (121), called (301), calling (11), calls (17), cried (24), cries (1
...7148. qari -- called, summoned
...famous, renowned. From qara'; called, ie Select --famous, renowned. see HEBREW
qara'. 7147, 7148. qari. 7149 . Strong's Numbers.
117. addir -- majestic
... stately (1). excellent,famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty ier
one, noble,. From 'adar; wide or (generally) large; figuratively...
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...
477. Elisha -- "God is salvation," a well-known Isr. prophet
... prophet NASB Word Usage Elisha (58). Elisha. Contracted for Eliyshuwa'.; Elisha,
thefamous prophet -- Elisha. see HEBREW Eliyshuwa'. 476, 477. Elisha. 478 >...
210. Uphaz -- a region where gold is found
... Uphaz. Perhaps a corruption of 'Owphiyr; Uphaz, afamous gold region -- Uphaz. see
HEBREW 'Owphiyr. 209, 210. Uphaz. 211 . Strong's Numbers.
3045. yada -- to know
... comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)
discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend,famous, feel, can have, be...
452. Eliyyah -- "Yah is God," a well-known prophet of Isr., also...
... Or prolonged teliyahuw {ay-lee-yaw'-hoo}; from 'el and Yahh; God of Jehovah; Elijah,
the name of thefamous prophet and of two other Israelites -- Elijah, Eliah...
347. Iyyob -- a patriarch
... Job. From 'ayab; hated (ie Persecuted); Ijob, the patriarchfamous for his patience --
Job. see HEBREW 'ayab. 346, 347. Iyyob. 348 . Strong's Numbers.
8096. Shimi -- the name of a number of Isr.
... Shimeah, Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi. From shema';famous; Shimi, the name of twenty
Israelites -- Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi. see HEBREW shema'...
Library
Acts and Records of theFamous Controversy About the Baptism of...
... Acts and Records of theFamous Controversy About the Baptism of Heretics. A
Roman Council Celebrated Under Stephen. From the Synodal Roll....
OfFamous Leaders of the Arian Faction.
... Book V. Chapter VII."Offamous leaders of the Arian faction. The Eastern section
of the empire had received the infection from many quarters....
The Death of theFamous Actor Miraudin was a Nine Days' Wonder...
... XXV. The death of thefamous actor Miraudin was a nine days' wonder? The
death of thefamous actor Miraudin was a nine days' wonder...
Gwennap'sFamous Amphitheater
... Chapter 14. Justice for Methodists; Methodist Character; Instructions to Parents;
Wesley's Opinion of Mary Queen of Scots Gwennap'sFamous Amphitheater....
TheFamous Martyrs of God, who Filled Every Place with their...
... Book VIII. Chapter IV."TheFamous Martyrs of God, who filled Every Place with
their Memory and won Various Crowns in behalf of Religion....
Of the Three MostFamous Kingdoms of the Nations, of which One...
... Book XVI. Chapter 17."Of the Three MostFamous Kingdoms of the Nations, of Which
One, that is the Assyrian, Was Already Very Eminent When Abraham Was Born....
What Philosophers wereFamous when Tarquinius Priscus Reigned Over...
... Chapter 25."What Philosophers WereFamous When Tarquinius Priscus Reigned Over the
Romans, and Zedekiah Over the Hebrews, When Jerusalem Was Taken and the...
TwoFamous Versions of the Scriptures
... CHAPTER VII TWOFAMOUS VERSIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES. [Illustration: (drop
cap B) Samaritan Book of the Law] By the blue waters of the...
His Arrival in his Native Land and the virtues Practised There...
... CHAPTER VIII HIS ARRIVAL IN HIS NATIVE LAND AND THE VIRTUES PRACTISED THERE"HIS
JOURNEY INTO SPAIN AND ITALY"THEFAMOUS APPARITION AND HIS LIFE IN THE SAME...
What Shall we Say Then? was Hannibal, thatFamous Carthaginian...
... Book VII. 50 What shall we say then? Was Hannibal, thatfamous Carthaginian?
[5020] What shall we say then? Was Hannibal, that...
Thesaurus
Famous (20 Occurrences)... renowned; mach talked of; distinguished in story; -- used in either a good or a
bad sense, chiefly the former; often followed by for; as,
famous for erudition
...Renowned (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.)Famous; celebrated for great achievements, for
distinguished qualities, or for grandeur; eminent; as, a renowned king....
Cilicia (8 Occurrences)
... 1:21; Acts 9:30), and again, on his second missionary journey (15:41), "he went
through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches." It wasfamous for its...
Athens (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Thessalonians 3:1), and delivered in the Areopagus hisfamous speech (17:22-31)....
In this temple was thefamous gold and ivory statue of Athena....
Sargon (1 Occurrence)
... Shalmaneser (BC 723), one of the Assyrian generals established himself on the vacant
throne, taking the name of "Sargon," after that of thefamous monarch, the...
Samothrace (1 Occurrence)
... The island was alwaysfamous for sanctity, and the seat of a cult of the Cabeiri,
which Herodotus (ii.51) says was derived from the Pelasgian inhabitants (see...
Samos (1 Occurrence)
... sa'-mos (Samos, "height," "mountain" (see Strabo 346, 457)): One of the mostfamous
of the Ionian islands, third in size among the group which includes Lesbos...
Corinth (13 Occurrences)
... Various arts were cultivated and the Corinthians, even in the earliest times, were
famous for their cleverness, inventiveness and artistic sense, and they...
Attitudes (1 Occurrence)
... paintings. Thefamous stela of Hammurabi shows this great king in a standing
position as he receives thefamous Code from the sun-god....
Babylon (270 Occurrences)
... The mostfamous of the early kings of Babylonia were Sargon of Accad (BC.3800) and
his son, Naram-Sin, who conquered a large part of Western Asia, establishing...
Resources
What are the most famous/important questions in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgThe patience of Job'why is Job famous for being patient? | GotQuestions.orgHow did God use dreams and visions in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgFamous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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