Original Word: τιμάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: timaó
Pronunciation: tee-MAH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (tim-ah'-o)
KJV: honour, value
NASB: honor, honors, had been set, honored, price
Word Origin: [from G5093 (τίμιος - precious)]

1. to prize, i.e. fix a valuation upon
2. (by implication) to revere

honor, value.

From timios; to prize, i.e. Fix a valuation upon; by implication, to revere -- honour, value.

see GREEK timios

Cognate: 5091 timáō – properly, assign value (give honor), as it reflects the personal esteem (value, preciousness) attached to it by the beholder. See 5092 (timē).

Word Origin
from timé
Definition
to fix the value, to price
NASB Translation
had been set (1), honor (16), honored (1), honors (2), price (1).

STRONGS NT 5091: τιμάω

τιμάω, τιμῶ; future τιμήσω; 1 aorist ἐτίμησα; perfect passive participle τετιμημενος; 1 aorist middle ἐτιμησαμην; (τιμή); from Homer down;

1. to estimate, to fix the value; middle to fix the value of something belonging to oneself (Vulg.appretio; cf. Hagen, Sprachl. Erörterungen zur Vulgata, Freib. 1863, p. 99): τινα (R. V. to price), Matthew 27:9 (on which see ἀπό, I. 2); the Sept. for הֶעֱרִיך, Leviticus 27:8, 12, 14.

2. to honor (so uniformly A. V.), to have in honor, to revere, venerate; the Sept. for כִּבֵּד: God, Matthew 15:8; Mark 7:6; John 5:23; John 8:49; Christ, John 5:23; parents, Matthew 15:4; Matthew 19:19; Mark 7:10; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20: Ephesians 6:2; other men, 1 Timothy 5:3; 1 Peter 2:17; With πολλαῖς τιμαῖς added, to honor with many honors, Acts 28:10; of God, rewarding Christians with honor and glory in his kingdom, John 12:26. (Compare: ἐπιτιμάω.)

Foundation in the Decalogue

The earliest New Testament use of the verb occurs where Jesus, Paul, and the rich young ruler all cite the fifth commandment, “Honor your father and mother” (Matthew 15:4; Matthew 19:19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Ephesians 6:2). By echoing Exodus 20:12, the writers affirm that filial respect remains integral to covenant life. The commandment’s placement among the moral laws underscores that reverence for parents is neither optional nor merely cultural but part of the Creator’s enduring design for human society.

Reaffirmed and Deepened by Jesus

Jesus not only repeats the commandment; He intensifies it. In Matthew 15:6 He rebukes the Pharisees for nullifying parental honor through self-serving vows, declaring, “You have made the word of God void for the sake of your tradition.” Here, honor is not ceremonial but practical, involving material and relational care. Christ thereby guards the commandment from legalistic loopholes and restores its ethical force.

Heart versus Lips

Matthew 15:8 and Mark 7:6 quote Isaiah: “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” The contrast exposes a false piety that speaks well yet withholds true allegiance. Honor in Scripture is never mere flattery; it demands sincerity, obedience, and devotion. The prophetic charge warns believers to match confession with conduct, reminding the Church that worship devoid of heartfelt reverence falls short of God’s standard.

Christological Center

John’s Gospel places the verb at the heart of Christ’s self-revelation. The Father’s purpose is “that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father” (John 5:23). Honor withheld from Jesus is honor withheld from God Himself. In John 8:49 Jesus declares, “I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me,” locating His ministry within the dynamic of reciprocal divine honor. Promise follows: “If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26). Thus, honoring Christ is both duty and path to reward.

Community and Household Implications

1 Timothy 5:3 extends the verb beyond the immediate family: “Honor widows who are truly widows.” Material support for the vulnerable is portrayed as an act of reverence toward God. Similarly, Acts 28:10 records the Maltese islanders who “honored us in many ways,” demonstrating that unbelievers, too, may express tangible respect toward God’s servants, preparing the ground for gospel witness.

Civic Responsibility

Peter compresses social ethics into a memorable four-part charge: “Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17). Believers are called to universal courtesy, familial affection within the Church, reverence toward God, and respectful submission to governing authorities. The balance prevents either civic idolatry or anarchic disdain, reflecting a kingdom people who live honorably in a pagan world.

Valuation and Betrayal

Matthew 27:9 cites the prophetic “price set on Him”—the thirty pieces of silver for which Judas betrayed Jesus. The verb emphasizes the tragic irony that the One of infinite worth was appraised at a slave’s compensation (Zechariah 11:13). This misuse of valuation challenges readers to assess where they locate true honor and worth.

Promise and Reward

Both tables of Scripture connect honor with blessing. The fifth commandment carries “the first commandment with a promise” (Ephesians 6:2) of well-being and longevity. Jesus echoes this reciprocity: the Father will honor those who serve the Son (John 12:26). Honor thus operates as a covenant principle—what believers bestow in obedient reverence, God returns in gracious favor.

Pastoral Application

• Family: Genuine care for aging parents embodies covenant fidelity.
• Church: Recognizing and supporting widows reflects gospel compassion.
• Society: Showing courtesy to all and respect for rulers commends the faith to outsiders.
• Worship: Honoring the Son as equal with the Father safeguards orthodox Christology and fuels authentic devotion.

Eschatological Outlook

The present call to honor anticipates the final scene in which every knee bows and every tongue confesses Jesus Christ as Lord. Those who practice honoring God and neighbor now align themselves with the coming kingdom, where honor will be perfectly rendered and eternally enjoyed.

ετιμήθη ετιμήθησαν ετιμησαν ετίμησαν ἐτίμησαν ετιμησαντο ετιμήσαντο ἐτιμήσαντο ετίμων τετιμημενου τετιμημένου τιμα τιμά τιμᾷ Τίμα τιμάν τιμάσθε τιματε τιμάτε τιμᾶτε τιμηθήσεται τιμήσαί τιμησατε τιμήσατε τιμησει τιμήσει τιμήσεις τιμήσεται τιμήση τιμήσηται τίμησον τιμήσω τιμω τιμώ τιμῶ τιμων τιμών τιμῶν τιμώντες τιμωσι τιμώσι τιμώσί τιμῶσι etimesan etimēsan etímesan etímēsan etimesanto etimēsanto etimḗsanto tetimemenou tetimeménou tetimēmenou tetimēménou tima Tíma timā̂i timate timâte timesate timēsate timḗsate timesei timēsei timḗsei timo timô timō timō̂ timon timôn timōn timō̂n timosi timôsi timōsi timō̂siInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts