Topical Bible: Excellency

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Usage:
The term "excellency" in the Bible often denotes majesty, superiority, or a state of being exalted. It is used to describe the grandeur and supreme nature of God, His creation, and sometimes the esteemed position of individuals or nations. The concept of excellency is closely tied to the attributes of glory, honor, and power.

Biblical References:

1. God's Excellency:
The excellency of God is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing His supreme nature and unmatched glory. In Exodus 15:7, the song of Moses celebrates God's triumph over the Egyptians, stating, "In the greatness of Your majesty, You overthrow those who rise against You." Here, "majesty" is synonymous with excellency, highlighting God's superior power and authority.

2. Creation's Excellency:
The excellency of God's creation is evident in the beauty and order of the natural world. Psalm 8:1 declares, "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens." The psalmist acknowledges the excellency of God's handiwork, which reflects His divine nature and creative power.

3. Excellency of Nations:
Nations are sometimes described in terms of excellency, often in the context of their downfall due to pride or sin. In Isaiah 13:19, Babylon is referred to as "the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans," yet it is prophesied to be overthrown by God's judgment. This passage illustrates how human excellency is temporary and subject to divine sovereignty.

4. Excellency of Individuals:
Certain individuals in the Bible are noted for their excellency, often due to their wisdom, leadership, or faithfulness. In Genesis 49:3, Jacob refers to his son Reuben as "my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power." However, Reuben's moral failings ultimately overshadow his potential for excellency.

5. Excellency in Worship:
The concept of excellency is also present in the context of worship, where believers are called to recognize and proclaim the excellency of God. In 1 Peter 2:9, Christians are described as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This passage underscores the duty of believers to declare God's excellency through their lives and testimony.

Theological Implications:
The excellency of God and His works serves as a reminder of His ultimate authority and the rightful place of worship and reverence due to Him. It challenges believers to reflect on their own lives, recognizing that any human excellency is a reflection of God's grace and should be used to honor Him. The transient nature of earthly excellency contrasts with the eternal and unchanging excellency of God, encouraging a focus on spiritual rather than worldly pursuits.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A title of honor given to certain high dignitaries, esp. to viceroys, ministers, and ambassadors, to English colonial governors, etc. It was formerly sometimes given to kings and princes.

2. (n.) Excellence; virtue; dignity; worth; superiority.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

EXCELLENCY

ek'-se-len-si (ga-on, ga'awah; huperbole):

"Excellency" in the Old Testament is chiefly the translation of ga'on, "mounting," "swelling" (Exodus 15:7 Job 37:4 the King James Version; Psalm 47:4 the King James Version; Isaiah 13:19 the King James Version, etc.); ga'awah, rising, is thrice so rendered (Deuteronomy 33:26, 29 Psalm 68:34); se'eth, "rising" (twice) (Job 13:11 the King James Version; Psalm 62:4 the King James Version); yether, "superabundance" (twice) (Genesis 49:3 the King James Version; Job 4:21 the King James Version), and chadhar, "honor," "beauty," "majesty" (twice) (Isaiah 35:2); gobhah, "uplifted" (Job 40:10); yithron, "advantage" (Ecclesiastes 7:12); si', "elevation" (Job 20:6, the Revised Version (British and American) "height"). In the New Testament huperbole, "surpassing," "a casting beyond," occurs (2 Corinthians 4:7, "that the excellency of the power may be of God," the Revised Version (British and American) "exceeding greatness"); huperoche, "a holding over" or "beyond," is translated "excellency" (1 Corinthians 2:1), and to huperechon, "the pre-eminence" (Philippians 3:8), "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ."

Instead of "excellency" the Revised Version (British and American) has "pride" (Isaiah 13:19 Ezekiel 24:21), "majesty" (Job 37:4 and the American Standard Revised Version Job 13:11; Job 31:23), the American Standard Revised Version has "pre-eminence" (Genesis 49:3, 4), "glory" (Psalm 47:4), "dignity" (Psalm 62:4); for "the fat of lambs" (Psalm 37:20), the English Revised Version has "the excellency of the pastures," with margin, "the fat of lambs"; the American Standard Revised Version retains the King James Version rendering with the English Revised Version in the margin; instead of "Doth not their excellency which is in them go away?" (Job 4:21), the Revised Version (British and American) has "Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them?" margin, "Is not their excellency which is in them removed?"

W. L. Walker

Greek

5247. huperoche -- a projection, eminence
... 5247 () is "primarily, 'a projection, eminence,' as a mountain peak, hence,
metaphorically, 'pre-eminence, superiority, excellency' " (Vine, Unger, White ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5247.htm - 7k

5236. huperbole -- a throwing beyond, excess, superiority
... beyond others, ie (figuratively) supereminence; adverbially (with eis or kata) pre-
eminently -- abundance, (far more) exceeding, excellency, more excellent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5236.htm - 7k

5242. huperecho -- to hold above, to rise above, to be superior
... echo; to hold oneself above, ie (figuratively) to excel; participle (as adjective,
or neuter as noun) superior, superiority -- better, excellency, higher, pass ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5242.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

1346. gaavah -- majesty, pride
... swelling pride (1). excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly,
swelling. From ga'ah; arrogance or majesty; by implication ...
/hebrew/1346.htm - 6k

1363. gobah -- height
... excellency, haughty, height, high, loftiness, pride. From gabahh; elation, grandeur,
arrogance -- excellency, haughty, height, high, loftiness, pride. ...
/hebrew/1363.htm - 6k

7863. si -- loftiness
... excellency. From the same as sow' by permutation; elevation -- excellency. see
HEBREW sow'. 7862, 7863. si. 7864 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7863.htm - 6k

3504. yithron -- advantage, profit
... better, excellent, profitable. From yathar; preeminence, gain -- better,
excellency(-leth), profit(-able). see HEBREW yathar. 3503, 3504. yithron. 3505 . ...
/hebrew/3504.htm - 6k

1926. hadar -- an ornament, honor, splendor
... From hadar; magnificence, ie Ornament or splendor -- beauty, comeliness, excellency,
glorious, glory, goodly, honour, majesty. see HEBREW hadar. 1925, 1926. ...
/hebrew/1926.htm - 6k

1347. ga'own -- redemption
... majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling From ga'ah; the same as ga'avah -- arrogancy,
excellency(-lent), majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling. see HEBREW ga'ah. ...
/hebrew/1347.htm - 5k

1935. hod -- splendor, majesty, vigor
... From an unused root; grandeur (ie An imposing form and appearance) -- beauty,
comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honour, majesty. 1934, 1935. ...
/hebrew/1935.htm - 6k

7613. seeth -- exaltation, dignity, swelling, uprising
... an elevation or leprous scab; figuratively, elation or cheerfulness; exaltation
in rank or character -- be accepted, dignity, excellency, highness, raise up ...
/hebrew/7613.htm - 6k

Library

Song 7. The Excellency of the Bible.
... Divine Songs Song 7. The excellency of the Bible. The excellency of the Bible.
8,6,8,6. Great God, with wonder and with praise. On all thy works I:look: ...
/.../watts/divine and moral songs/song 7 the excellency of.htm

The Beauty and Excellency of this World Consists, not Only in the ...
... A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE. John xiii. 35. Chapter I. The beauty and excellency
of this world consists, not only in the perfection and comeliness? ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter i the beauty and.htm

Song 7. The Excellency of the Bible.
... Divine Songs For Children. Song 7. The Excellency of the Bible. 1 Great
God, with wonder and with praise, On all thy works I look ...
/.../watts/divine songs for children/song 7 the excellency of.htm

The Excellency of the Christian Religion.
... first and third lines of the stanza. Hymn 2:131. The excellency of the
Christian religion. 1 Let everlasting glories crown Thy head ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 174305556 the excellency of.htm

Excellency of Christ.
... CHRIST; HIS CHARACTER AND OFFICES. 240. " Excellency of Christ. 240. CPM
Medley. Excellency of Christ. 1 O, could we speak the ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/240 excellency of christ.htm

A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of ...
... A DISCOURSE OF THE BUILDING, NATURE, EXCELLENCY, AND GOVERNMENT OF THE HOUSE OF
GOD; WITH COUNSELS AND DIRECTIONS TO THE INHABITANTS THEREOF. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse of the building.htm

Excellency of the Christian Institution.
... ADDITIONAL DISCOURSES. SECT. VI. EXCELLENCY OF THE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION. "Aptissima
qu??que dabunt dii Charior est illis homo, quam sibi"Juv. S.10 I.345. ...
/.../sect vi excellency of the.htm

That the Excellency of the Christian Religion is Above all the ...
... Book VIII. Chapter 10."That the Excellency of the Christian Religion
is Above All the Science of Philosophers. For although a ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 10 that the excellency of.htm

The Excellency of the Christian Religion.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 131 The excellency of the Christian religion. LM The excellency
of the Christian religion. Let everlasting glories crown. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 131 the excellency of.htm

On the Excellency of Religion and Divine Love.
... PART II. On the Excellency of Religion and Divine Love. ... The worth and excellency
of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love. ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part ii on the excellency.htm

Thesaurus

Excellency (53 Occurrences)
... It was formerly sometimes given to kings and princes. 2. (n.) Excellence; virtue;
dignity; worth; superiority. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EXCELLENCY. ...
/e/excellency.htm - 25k

Majesty (67 Occurrences)
... Exodus 15:7 In the greatness of your excellency, you overthrow those who rise up
against you. ... (YLT). Job 40:10 "Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. ...
/m/majesty.htm - 26k

Vigour (8 Occurrences)
... Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my
vigour: Excellency of dignity, and excellency of strength. (DBY). ...
/v/vigour.htm - 8k

Vine-branches (1 Occurrence)
... Nahum 2:2 For Jehovah restoreth the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel;
for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches ...
/v/vine-branches.htm - 6k

First-fruit (19 Occurrences)
... Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the first-fruits of my
strength; the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. ...
/f/first-fruit.htm - 12k

Restoreth (7 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:2 For Jehovah restoreth the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel;
for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches ...
/r/restoreth.htm - 8k

Restores (10 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:2 For Yahweh restores the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel;
for the destroyers have destroyed them, and ruined their vine branches. ...
/r/restores.htm - 9k

Emptiers (1 Occurrence)
... Nahum 2:2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency
of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine ...
/e/emptiers.htm - 6k

Emptied (20 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency
of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine ...
/e/emptied.htm - 12k

Devastated (20 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:2 For Yahweh restores the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel;
for the destroyers have destroyed them, and ruined their vine branches. ...
/d/devastated.htm - 12k

Resources

What is the Letter to Diognetus? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God create the world / earth? | GotQuestions.org

Excellency: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Excellency (53 Occurrences)

Acts 23:26
"Claudius Lysias to his Excellency, Felix the Governor: all good wishes.
(WEY RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 2:1
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
(KJV ASV DBY)

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
(KJV YLT)

Philippians 3:8
Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
(WEB KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Genesis 49:3
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
(KJV JPS DBY)

Genesis 49:4
Boiling over as water, thou shalt not have the pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
(See JPS)

Exodus 15:7
In the greatness of your excellency, you overthrow those who rise up against you. You send forth your wrath. It consumes them as stubble.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Deuteronomy 33:26
"There is none like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV YLT)

Deuteronomy 33:29
You are happy, Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency! Your enemies shall submit themselves to you. You shall tread on their high places."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Job 4:21
Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
(KJV YLT)

Job 13:11
Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
(KJV DBY YLT)

Job 20:6
Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
(KJV JPS YLT)

Job 22:20
Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'
(YLT)

Job 31:23
For calamity from ?God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.
(DBY YLT)

Job 37:4
After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
(KJV DBY YLT)

Job 40:10
"Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Psalms 47:4
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
(KJV DBY YLT)

Psalms 62:4
They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
(KJV DBY YLT)

Psalms 68:34
Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Psalms 93:1
Jehovah hath reigned, Excellency He hath put on, Jehovah put on strength, He girded Himself, Also -- established is the world, unmoved.
(YLT)

Proverbs 17:7
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 7:12
For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY)

Isaiah 2:10
Enter into a rock, and be hidden in dust, Because of the fear of Jehovah, And because of the honour of His excellency.
(YLT)

Isaiah 2:19
And 'men' have entered into caverns of rocks, And into caves of dust, Because of the fear of Jehovah, And because of the honour of His excellency, In His rising to terrify the earth.
(YLT)

Isaiah 2:21
To enter into cavities of the rocks, And into clefts of the high places, Because of the fear of Jehovah, And because of the honour of His excellency, In His rising to terrify the earth.
(YLT)

Isaiah 4:2
In that day there shall be a sprout of Jehovah for beauty and glory, and the fruit of the earth for excellency and for ornament for those that are escaped of Israel.
(DBY)

Isaiah 13:3
I have given charge to My sanctified ones, Also I have called My mighty ones for Mine anger, Those rejoicing at Mine excellency.'
(YLT)

Isaiah 13:11
And I have appointed on the world evil, And on the wicked their iniquity, And have caused to cease the excellency of the proud, And the excellency of the terrible I make low.
(YLT)

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
(KJV YLT)

Isaiah 14:11
Brought down to Sheol hath been thine excellency, The noise of thy psaltery, Under thee spread out hath been the worm, Yea, covering thee is the worm.
(YLT)

Isaiah 23:9
Jehovah of Hosts hath counselled it, To pollute the excellency of all beauty, To make light all the honoured of earth.
(YLT)

Isaiah 24:14
They -- they lift up their voice, They sing of the excellency of Jehovah, They have cried aloud from the sea.
(YLT)

Isaiah 25:11
And he spread out his hands in its midst, As spread out doth the swimmer to swim; And He hath humbled his excellency With the machinations of his hands.
(YLT)

Isaiah 26:10
The wicked findeth favour, He hath not learned righteousness, In a land of straightforwardness he dealeth perversely, And seeth not the excellency of Jehovah.
(YLT)

Isaiah 35:2
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY)

Isaiah 60:15
"Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Jeremiah 13:9
Thus do I mar the excellency of Judah, And the great excellency of Jerusalem.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 7:20
As to the beauty of his ornament, For excellency He set it, And the images of their abominations, Their detestable things -- they made in it, Therefore I have given it to them for impurity,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 7:24
And I have brought in the wicked of the nations, And they have possessed their houses, And I have caused to cease the excellency of the strong, And polluted have been those sanctifying them.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 24:21
Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
(KJV YLT)

Ezekiel 30:18
And in Tehaphnehes hath the day been dark, In My breaking there the yokes of Egypt, And ceased in her hath the excellency of her strength, She -- a cloud doth cover her, And her daughters into captivity do go.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 33:28
And I have made the land a desolation and an astonishment, And ceased hath the excellency of its strength, And desolated have been mountains of Israel, Without any one passing through.
(YLT)

Hosea 5:5
And humbled hath been the excellency of Israel to his face, And Israel and Ephraim stumble by their iniquity, Stumbled also hath Judah with them.
(YLT)

Hosea 7:10
And humbled hath been the excellency of Israel to his face, And they have not turned back unto Jehovah their God, Nor have they sought Him for all this.
(YLT)

Amos 6:8
The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
(KJV ASV YLT)

Amos 8:7
The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.
(KJV ASV YLT)

Micah 5:4
And he hath stood and delighted in the strength of Jehovah, In the excellency of the name of Jehovah his God, And they have remained, For now he is great unto the ends of earth.
(YLT)

Nahum 2:2
For Yahweh restores the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for the destroyers have destroyed them, and ruined their vine branches.
(WEB KJV ASV YLT)

Habakkuk 1:7
Terrible and fearful it 'is', From itself its judgment and its excellency go forth.
(YLT)

Zephaniah 3:11
In that day thou art not ashamed because of any of thine actions, Wherewith thou hast transgressed against Me, For then do I turn aside from thy midst The exulting ones of thine excellency, And thou dost add no more to be haughty, In My holy mountain.
(YLT)

Zechariah 9:6
And dwelt hath a foreigner in Ashdod, And I have cut off the excellency of the Philistines.
(YLT)

Zechariah 10:11
And He hath passed over through the sea, And hath pressed and smitten billows in the sea, And dried up have been all depths of a flood, And brought down hath been the excellency of Asshur, And the rod of Egypt doth turn aside.
(YLT)

Zechariah 11:3
A voice of the howling of the shepherds! For destroyed was their robe of honour, A voice of the roaring of young lions! For destroyed was the excellency of Jordan.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Excellency

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in his Exaltation

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in his Sinless Perfection

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in his Transfiguration

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in his Triumph

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in his Words

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in his Works

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in the Calling of the Gentiles

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in the Fulness of his Grace and Truth

The Excellency and Glory of Christ in the Restoration of the Jews

The Excellency and Glory of Christ is Incomparable