Eminence
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Eminence, in a biblical context, refers to a position of prominence, superiority, or high status. This concept is often explored in the Scriptures in relation to God's supreme authority, the exaltation of individuals by divine appointment, and the caution against seeking personal glory.

Divine Eminence

The Bible frequently emphasizes the eminence of God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. His supreme authority and majesty are highlighted in numerous passages. In Isaiah 6:1, the prophet Isaiah describes his vision of the Lord "high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple." This imagery underscores God's unparalleled eminence and holiness.

Psalm 97:9 declares, "For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods." This verse affirms God's preeminent position above all creation and any other so-called deities, emphasizing His unique and sovereign status.

Human Eminence by Divine Appointment

Throughout the Bible, certain individuals are elevated to positions of eminence by God's sovereign will. Joseph, for example, rises to a place of prominence in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, as described in Genesis 41:40-41: "You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you."

Similarly, King David is chosen by God to lead Israel, as seen in 1 Samuel 16:12-13, where the Lord instructs Samuel to anoint David, saying, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one." David's eminence is not self-attained but granted by God for His purposes.

Warnings Against Seeking Personal Eminence

The Scriptures also caution against the pursuit of personal eminence for selfish reasons. Jesus teaches His disciples about the dangers of seeking greatness for its own sake. In Matthew 23:11-12, He states, "The greatest among you shall be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Philippians 2:3, urging believers, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves." This teaching aligns with the biblical principle that true eminence is found in humility and service to others, rather than in self-promotion.

Eminence in the Kingdom of God

In the Kingdom of God, eminence is redefined. Jesus' teachings often invert worldly notions of greatness. In Mark 10:43-44, He instructs, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all." This radical redefinition of eminence emphasizes servanthood and selflessness as the path to true greatness in God's eyes.

The concept of eminence in the Bible, therefore, encompasses both the recognition of God's supreme authority and the call for believers to pursue humility and service, reflecting the character of Christ in their lives.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) An elevated position, either in rank, office, or celebrity; social or moral loftiness; high rank; distinction; preferment.

2. (n.) That which is eminent or lofty; a high ground or place; a height.

3. (n.) A title of honor, especially applied to a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.

Greek
5247. huperoche -- a projection, eminence
... a projection, eminence. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: huperoche
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-okh-ay') Short Definition: superiority, excellence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5247.htm - 7k

1851. exoche -- a projection, eminence
... a projection, eminence. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: exoche Phonetic
Spelling: (ex-okh-ay') Short Definition: eminence, distinction Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1851.htm - 6k

3816. pais -- a child, boy, youth
... with impunity), or (by analogy), a girl, and (genitive case) a child; specially,
a slave or servant (especially a minister to a king; and by eminence to God ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3816.htm - 7k

5311. hupsos -- height
... of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: hupsos Phonetic Spelling: (hoop'-sos) Short
Definition: height, heaven Definition: height, heaven; dignity, eminence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5311.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
5331. netsach -- eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity
... eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity. Transliteration: netsach or netsach
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-tsakh) Short Definition: forever. ...
/hebrew/5331.htm - 6k

8443. toaphah -- eminence
... 8442, 8443. toaphah. 8444 . eminence. Transliteration: toaphah Phonetic
Spelling: (to-aw-faw') Short Definition: horns. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/8443.htm - 6k

115. Adorayim -- perhaps "two hills," a city in Judah
... Adoraim. Dual from 'adar (in the sense of eminence); double mound; Adorajim, a place
in Palestine -- Adoraim. see HEBREW 'adar. 114, 115. Adorayim. 116 . ...
/hebrew/115.htm - 6k

6918. qadosh -- sacred, holy
... Or qadosh {kaw-doshe'}; from qadash; sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun)
God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary -- holy (One), saint. ...
/hebrew/6918.htm - 6k

1347b. gaon -- exaltation
... Word Origin from gaah Definition exaltation NASB Word Usage arrogance (3), eminence
(1), excellence (1), glory (1), majestic (1), majesty (5), pomp (1), pride ...
/hebrew/1347b.htm - 5k

Library

The Pre-Eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
... The Pre-Eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. ... i:18). But who can tell out what
a pre-eminence, the pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ is? ...
/.../gaebelein/the lord of glory/the pre-eminence of the lord.htm

Of those who Covet Pre-Eminence, and Seize on the Language of the ...
... Of those who covet pre-eminence, and seize on the language of the Apostle
to serve the purpose of their own cupidity. But for the ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter viii of those who.htm

That the Mind of those who Wish for Pre-Eminence for the Most Part ...
... IX. That the mind of those who wish for pre-eminence for the most part
flatters itself with a feigned promise of good works. But ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter ix that the mind.htm

It Is, Moreover, in a Very Unphilosophical Spirit that Celsus ...
... Chapter XL. It is, moreover, in a very unphilosophical spirit that Celsus
imagines our Lord's pre-eminence among? It is, moreover ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xl it is moreover.htm

Dignity and Service
... What a contrast between Jesus, striding on ahead with 'set' face, and the Twelve
unsympathetic and self-seeking, lagging behind to squabble about pre-eminence! ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/dignity and service.htm

Plus Ultra Vs. Ne Plus Ultra.
... PART II."ADDRESSES. III."PLUS ULTRA VS. NE PLUS ULTRA. [An Address Delivered
Before Eminence College, June 10, 1881.]. LADIES ...
/.../iii plus ultra vs ne plus.htm

All Fulness in Christ
... Read the words immediately preceding the text, and you find it declared that
our Lord Jesus is in all things to have the pre-eminence. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/all fulness in christ.htm

On the Fifth Command in the Decalogue
... The word "honour" is not appropriately employed to signify eminence; for honour
is the reward of excellence, and its performance is a sign of recognition; and ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxxviii on the fifth.htm

On the Nature of God
... which is in created things, and principally that which is in ourselves, who are
created after the image of God; while we always add a mode of eminence to this ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xv on the nature.htm

Whether in Christ There was the Gift of Fear?
... And hence it is plain that no one is feared except for some pre-eminence.
And in this way it is said that in Christ there was the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether in christ there was 3.htm

Thesaurus
Eminence (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Eminence (2 Occurrences). Job 40:10 "Now deck yourself
with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty. (See NAS). ...
/e/eminence.htm - 7k

Pre-eminence (6 Occurrences)
Pre-eminence. Preeminence, Pre-eminence. Preeminent . Multi-Version
Concordance Pre-eminence (6 Occurrences). Colossians ...
/p/pre-eminence.htm - 8k

Excellency (53 Occurrences)
... greatness"); huperoche, "a holding over" or "beyond," is translated "excellency"
(1 Corinthians 2:1), and to huperechon, "the pre-eminence" (Philippians 3:8 ...
/e/excellency.htm - 25k

First-born (110 Occurrences)
... Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the first-born from the dead; that in all things he may have the pre-eminence...
/f/first-born.htm - 41k

Rank (42 Occurrences)
... 12. (n. & v.) Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social
life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of ...
/r/rank.htm - 21k

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)
... elapsed between the Norman Conquest and the War of the Roses, Ephraim, with its
two dependent tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, exercised undisputed pre-eminence...
/e/ephraim.htm - 56k

First-fruits (45 Occurrences)
... Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength;
The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power. (See JPS). ...
/f/first-fruits.htm - 27k

Preeminence (5 Occurrences)

/p/preeminence.htm - 8k

Siege (63 Occurrences)
... If, however, the town, or fortress, was built upon an eminence, an inclined plane
reaching to the height of the eminence might be formed of earth or stones, or ...
/s/siege.htm - 51k

Woman (4043 Occurrences)
... family life. Many Hebrew women rose to eminence and national leadership.
Miriam and Deborah were each a prophetess and a poetess. The ...
/w/woman.htm - 45k

Resources
What are the different names and titles of Jesus Christ? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about halos? | GotQuestions.org

What is the majestic plural, and how is it used in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Eminence: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Eminence (2 Occurrences)

Job 40:10
"Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
(See NAS)

Psalms 62:4
They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Eminence

Related Terms

Zion (169 Occurrences)

Eminency (1 Occurrence)

Emerods (8 Occurrences)

Eminence (2 Occurrences)

Emims: A Race of Giants
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