Honor

Honorable, Honor (כָּבֵד, H3877; τιμάω, G5506).

Meaning

The Hebrew progressed in meaning from “to be heavy” to “to be wealthy,” and finally “to be in honor.” Similarly, the Greek meant at first “to estimate, to fix the value,” which naturally came to mean also “to honor, venerate.” Honor is an enviable esteem, a valuable reward for excellence in station, character, or service. It is paid in thought, word, deed, or substance (Isa 29:13). “Honor the Lord with your substance” (Prov 3:9). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes for not honoring their parents with material necessities (Matt 15:4-6). Ancient laws pronounced the death penalty on those who dishonored parents in act or word (Exod 21:15, 17; Lev 20:9).

Meriting honor

Injunctions to honor

Paul told the Christians in Rome to pay “honor to whom honor is due” (Rom 13:7). The Bible is clear on who merits honor, including the list above. The fifth commandment is explicit: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exod 20:12). Jesus (Matt 15:1-9) and Paul both emphasized its importance (Eph 6:2, 3). Peter exhorted to “Honor all men...Honor the emperor” (1 Pet 2:17), and Paul asked slaves to honor their masters (1 Tim 6:1). Jesus said “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country...kin...house” (Mark 6:4).

Additional Material

Honorable

The Revised Version (British and American) gives for "honorable" (1Sa 9:6), "held in honor"; for "Yet shall I be glorious" (Isa 49:5), "I am honorable"; "honorable" for "honest" (Ro 12:17; 2Co 13:7; Php 4:8, margin "reverend"); for "honestly" (Heb 13:18) the American Standard Revised Version has "honorably."

In Apocrypha we have endoxos translated "honorable" (Tobit 12:7, the Revised Version (British and American) "gloriously"); endoxos (Judith 16:21), timios (The Wisdom of Solomon 4:8), doxazo (Ecclesiasticus 24:12, the Revised Version (British and American) "glorified"), doxa (29:27, the Revised Version (British and American) "honor"), etc.

BT Library