from δόξα; to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application):--(make) glorify(-ious), full of (have) glory, honour, magnify.
Transliteration:doxázō
Pronunciation:dox-ad'-zo
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
δοξάζω (doxázō) is a verb derived directly from the noun δόξα (doxa) `{{G1391}}`, which signifies "glory," "honor," "reputation," "splendor," or "majesty." The core meaning of δοξάζω is "to render glorious," "to make glorious," or "to esteem glorious."
Its semantic range encompasses several key nuances:
* **To Glorify/Praise:** In its most common usage, it means to acknowledge, praise, or honor someone, particularly God. This is not about adding to inherent glory but recognizing and declaring it.
* **To Make Glorious/Endow with Glory:** This sense implies a transformative act where someone or something is actually invested with glory, splendor, or dignity. This can be a divine act, as when God glorifies Christ or believers.
* **To Exalt/Magnify:** It conveys the idea of lifting up, exalting, or magnifying someone's status or reputation.
* **To Be Glorified (Passive):** In the passive voice, it means to receive glory, to be honored, or to be exalted to a state of splendor. This often refers to Christ's post-resurrection state or the future state of believers.
The specific meaning is highly dependent on the subject and object of the verb, as well as the surrounding context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb δοξάζω is found over 60 times in the New Testament, offering profound theological insights into God's nature, Christ's work, and humanity's destiny.
* **Humanity Glorifying God:** A primary usage involves believers glorifying God. This is an act of worship and obedience, acknowledging His supreme worth and majesty. For example, in [[Romans 15:6]], Paul speaks of believers "with one voice glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Similarly, [[1 Corinthians 6:20]] exhorts believers to "glorify God in your body," indicating that one's entire life and conduct should bring honor to God. This glorification is not to add to God's inherent glory but to reflect and declare it.
* **God Glorifying Christ:** A significant theme, particularly in John's Gospel, is the Father glorifying the Son. This often refers to the entire trajectory of Jesus' mission, culminating in His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Paradoxically, the cross is presented as the ultimate moment of glorification, where God's love, power, and justice are most fully revealed. [[John 13:31-32]] states, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately." [[John 17:1]] is another poignant example, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You." This glorification establishes Christ's cosmic authority.
* **Christ Glorifying God:** Conversely, Jesus' perfect obedience, life, and redemptive work are the means by which He glorifies the Father. His entire earthly ministry was an act of bringing honor and renown to God.
* **God Glorifying Believers:** In an eschatological sense, δοξάζω refers to God's future act of bestowing glory upon believers. [[Romans 8:30]] presents a key theological sequence: "And these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He also justified, He also glorified." This speaks of a future transformation where believers will share in Christ's resurrected glory, signifying the ultimate culmination of salvation and adoption.
* **Other Contexts:** The word can also be used in a more general sense of giving honor or praise, even among humans, as seen in [[Matthew 6:2]] where Jesus warns against those who perform righteous acts "that they may be glorified by men." In [[Acts 3:13]], Peter declares that "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus," referring to His exaltation.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **δόξα (doxa) `{{G1391}}`:** The foundational noun, meaning "glory," "splendor," "honor," or "majesty." Understanding the nuances of δόξα is essential for comprehending δοξάζω. It often refers to the visible manifestation of God's presence and character.
* **τιμάω (timaō) `{{G5091}}`:** To honor, to value, to show respect. While similar to δοξάζω in the sense of showing esteem, δοξάζω often carries a stronger connotation of divine splendor, inherent majesty, or ultimate exaltation beyond mere human respect.
* **μεγαλύνω (megalynō) `{{G3170}}`:** To magnify, to make great. This verb emphasizes making something appear or be considered great, often through praise or testimony. It overlaps with δοξάζω in the sense of exalting, but δοξάζω specifically highlights the aspect of 'glory' or 'splendor.'
* **ὑψόω (hypsoō) `{{G5312}}`:** To lift up, to exalt. This term can describe physical elevation but is frequently used metaphorically for spiritual or social exaltation, particularly in reference to Christ's crucifixion (as an "lifting up") and subsequent ascension and glorification.
* **Praise and Worship:** The act of glorifying God is intrinsically linked to praise, adoration, and worship, which are the human responses to God's inherent glory.
* **Manifestation:** In many contexts, δοξάζω implies the revelation or manifestation of inherent glory, making it visible or known to others.
### Theological Significance
The concept of δοξάζω is central to several key theological doctrines:
* **God's Supreme Worth and Sovereignty:** The call to glorify God underscores His absolute sovereignty, inherent majesty, and infinite worth. It is the proper and ultimate purpose of human existence and the entire created order.
* **The Paradoxical Glory of the Cross:** In Johannine theology especially, the crucifixion of Christ is presented not merely as suffering but as the ultimate moment of glorification for both the Son and the Father. It is on the cross that God's love, righteousness, and power are most profoundly and paradoxically revealed and honored. This challenges human understanding of glory, shifting it from worldly triumph to self-sacrificial love.
* **Christ's Exaltation and Reign:** The glorification of Christ refers to His resurrection, ascension, and enthronement at the right hand of the Father. This is His divine vindication, establishing His cosmic authority, eternal priesthood, and ultimate reign over all creation.
* **The Believer's Future Hope:** The promise that believers will be "glorified" with Christ (e.g., [[Romans 8:17]], [[Romans 8:30]]) points to a future eschatological reality. This involves a radical transformation, where believers will receive a resurrected, glorious body, sharing in Christ's likeness and fully participating in His divine life. It signifies the culmination of salvation and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for humanity.
* **Teleological Purpose:** Ultimately, the entire narrative of creation, fall, and redemption is oriented towards the glorification of God. All things exist and are being brought to completion for His glory.
### Summary
δοξάζω (doxázō) is a pivotal Greek verb meaning "to glorify," "to honor," "to make glorious," or "to be glorified," rooted in δόξα (doxa) `{{G1391}}`, "glory." Its usage in the New Testament is multifaceted: it describes humanity's proper response of worship and obedience to God, God the Father's act of exalting Jesus Christ through His life, death, and resurrection, and Christ's reciprocal act of glorifying the Father. Crucially, it also conveys the profound eschatological truth that believers will be transformed and glorified, sharing in Christ's divine splendor. Theologically, δοξάζω underscores God's supreme worth, the paradoxical glory revealed in Christ's cross, His ultimate exaltation, and the ultimate destiny of redeemed humanity to participate in and reflect God's eternal glory.
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