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There are eight different words in the Hebrew translated 'glory,' but some occur only once. The principal of them are
1. hod, 'renown, glory,' anything for which a being is admired. It is applied to God, Ps. 148: 13; and to the horse. Job 39: 20.
2. tipharah, tiphereth, 'splendour beauty, glory.' It is applied to God, Isa. 60: 19; to Israel, Isa. 46: 13; the crown that wisdom gives, Prov.
4: 9; the hoary head, Prov. 16: 31, etc.
3 . kabod, 'weight, honour, glory' (the word commonly used). It is frequently applied to God, as in 'the God of glory,' Ps. 29: 3; to Jehovah as 'the King of glory,' Ps. 24: 7-9; 'the glory of Jehovah' that appeared on Mount Sinai, and that filled the tabernacle, Ex. 24: 16, 17; Ex. 40: 34, 35, and will fill the future temple, Ezek. 43: 2-5; also the glory pertaining to Israel, and to the Gentiles in the past and the future. 1 Sam. 4: 21, 22; Isa. 66: 12.
In the N.T. the word is δόξα, 'esteem, honour, excellency of mind, body,' etc. It is applied to created things, as the sun, moon, and stars, 1 Cor. 15: 41; also to man as the 'glory of God.' 1 Cor. 11: 7. The moral glory of the Lord Jesus Christ shone out in all His pathway on earth. John 1: 14; John 11: 40. He speaks of the glory He had from eternity with the Father, and His acquired glory which He will graciously share with His joint heirs. John 17: 5, 22, 24. Every tongue shall confess His lordship to the glory of God the Father. Phil. 2: 11. His glory will be revealed on earth, and He will be hailed 'King of kings and Lord of lords.' Matt. 25: 31; 1 Peter 4: 13; Rev.
17: 14; Rev. 19: 16. He is 'the Lord of glory.' 1 Cor. 2: 8.
Glory belongs to God: He is the God of glory. Acts 7: 2; 2 Cor 4: 6,
15. In Him all the divine attributes shine in infinite perfection. Christians in acknowledging this, and owning that from Him come all their blessings, joyfully ascribe unto Him "Praise and honour, glory and power, for ever and ever." Rom. 11: 36; Gal. 1: 5; 1 Tim. 1: 17; 2 Tim. 4: 18, etc. The same is ascribed to the Lord Jesus by the saints, and will be by every creature. Rev. 5.
Glory is often used as expressive of the proper distinction of a person, or of a company: as the glory of the Father, Rom. 6: 4; of the Word, John 1: 14; of the children of God, Rom. 8: 21; and even of inanimate bodies heavenly and earthly, 1 Cor. 15: 40, 41. Each has its own glory, and such glory is evidently not transferable; for if it could be transferred or communicated, it would lose its specially distinctive force. But glory may be in the nature of distinction conferred, as upon a creature by a superior, and even upon the Lord Himself, viewed as in the place of Man; as on the mount of transfiguration, and at the right hand of God. 2 Peter 1: 17; 1 Peter
1: 21. And this is distinction in which others may in measure be permitted to share. John 17: 22.
Glory may properly attach to a person even under an exterior by which it is not expressed. This was evidently the case with Christ when on earth: the flesh which He assumed in becoming Man served to veil His glory. In the same way the glory of the children of God is not yet manifest, and until it is manifest the glory is the exultation of the heart. This idea is not infrequently found in the Psalms.
And further, this thought of glory hidden brings us to the glory of God, which, in its full expression, is the effulgence or display of Himself in the accomplishment of His counsels, in hope of which Christians rejoice. These counsels hid in God constitute, as one may say, His glory; and in their result they fully display His wisdom, love, and power. Meanwhile they have come to light through Christ being at the right hand of God, and the Holy Ghost given. We have now the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The visible manifestation of glory seems connected with light: it was so on the mount of transfiguration. Matt. 17: 2. God dwells in "light which no man can approach unto." 1 Tim. 6: 16. In the new Jerusalem the glory of God lightens it, "and the Lamb is the light thereof." Rev. 21: 23. When the Lord Jesus was revealed to Saul at his conversion, he was blinded by 'the glory of that light,' Acts 22: 11, but only that divine light might shine into his soul.