Word Study for G1741 (ἔνδοξος)

éndoxos /en'-dox-os/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐν and δόξα

Meaningin glory, i.e. splendid, (figuratively) noble

KJV usageglorious, gorgeous(-ly), honourable.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of éndoxos — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word éndoxos, represented by G1741, is derived from ἐν and δόξα, meaning in glory. It is defined as splendid or, figuratively, noble, and is translated as glorious, gorgeous(-ly), and honourable. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its usage, G1741 can describe both outward appearance and inward character. It is used to describe the magnificent clothing of those in royal courts, who are "gorgeously apparelled" Luke 7:25. It also refers to the miraculous works of Jesus, which are called "glorious things" that cause the people to rejoice Luke 13:17. In a figurative sense, it describes the esteemed status of the Corinthian believers, who saw themselves as "honourable" in contrast to the apostles 1 Corinthians 4:10. Finally, it characterizes the ultimate state of the church, which Christ desires to present to Himself as "glorious," free from any imperfection Ephesians 5:27.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which G1741 is used:

G2478 ischyrós: This word, meaning forcible or strong, appears alongside "honourable" in 1 Corinthians 4:10 to describe the perceived status of the Corinthians.
G820 átimos: Meaning unhonoured or despised, this term is used as a direct contrast to G1741 in 1 Corinthians 4:10, where the apostles are described as despised while the Corinthians are honourable.
G299 ámōmos: Meaning unblemished or without blemish, this word is used to further define what makes the church "glorious" G1741 in Ephesians 5:27.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1741 is demonstrated through its varied applications, highlighting contrasts between worldly and divine glory.

Earthly vs. Spiritual Status: The word is applied to both the external, worldly splendor of those "gorgeously apparelled" Luke 7:25 and the internal, spiritual standing of those considered "honourable" in Christ 1 Corinthians 4:10.
The Glory of Divine Works: It is used to describe the nature of Christ's miracles, which are seen by the people as "glorious things" that validate His divine power and cause rejoicing Luke 13:17.
The Purity of the Church: The term's most significant theological use is in describing the church. A "glorious" church is one that is presented as holy G40 and without blemish G299, having no spot G4696 or wrinkle Ephesians 5:27.

Summary

In summary, G1741 is a multifaceted term that conveys a sense of splendor and nobility. Its meaning shifts depending on the context, from the superficial glory of fine clothing to the perceived honor of believers and the profound, blemish-free glory of Christ's works and His church. It illustrates how true glory is ultimately defined not by outward appearance but by divine action and spiritual purity.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as an adjective across 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Accusative Singular Feminine 1×
Dative Plural Neuter 1×
Dative Singular Masculine 1×
Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (2 verses); never once in the other 24.

Luke

1 Corinthians

Ephesians

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.