the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Bible Dictionaries
Splendor
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words
or Hôd (הוֹד, Strong's #1935), “splendor; majesty; authority.” A possible cognate of this word appears in Arabic. All but 4 of its 24 biblical appearances occur in poetry. The basic significance of “splendor and majesty” with overtones of superior power and position is attested in the application of this word to kings: “Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!” (Jer. 22:18). This concept is equally prominent when the word is used of God: “Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty” (Job 37:22).
In many cases hôd focuses on “dignity and splendor” with overtones of superior power and position but not to the degree seen in oriental kings: “And thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient” (Num. 27:20— the first occurrence of the word). When used of the olive tree (Hos. 14:6), hôd focuses on its “splendor and dignity” as the most desired and desirable of the trees (cf. Judg. 9:9-15). The proud carriage of a war horse and seeming bravery in the face of battle lead God to say “The glory of his nostrils is terrible” (Job 39:20). In every use of the word the one so described evokes a sense of amazement and satisfaction in the mind of the beholder.
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Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Splendor'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/vot/s/splendor.html. 1940.
