Original Word: כָּבוֹד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kabowd
Pronunciation: kah-BOHD
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-bode')
KJV: glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able)
Word Origin: [from H3513 (כָּבַד כָּבֵד - honored)]

1. (properly) weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness

gloriously, glory, honorable

Rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from kabad; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness -- glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).

see HEBREW kabad

II. כָּבוֺד noun masculine^{Isaiah 60:1} and feminine^{Genesis 49:6} abundance, honour, glory; — ׳כ Joshua 7:19 70t.; כָּבֹד Genesis 31:1; Nahum 2:10; construct כְּבוֺד Exodus 16:7 62t.; כְּבֹד Proverbs 25:2 (twice in verse); suffix כְּבוֺדִי Genesis 45:13 17t.; כְּבֹדִי Genesis 49:6 3t.; + 40 t. suffixes —

1 abudance, riches Genesis 31:1 (J), Isaiah 10:3; Isaiah 61:6; Isaiah 66:11,12; Nahum 2:10; Psalm 49:17; Psalm 49:18.

2 honour, splendour, glory, of external condition and circumstances:

a. of men: of Joseph in Egypt Genesis 45:18 (E); of Job Job 19:9; Job 29:20; of Ephraim Hosea 9:11, Samaria Hosea 10:5; עשֶׁר וְכָכוֺד wealth and splendour 1 Chronicles 29:12,28; 2Chronicles 17:5; 18:1; 32:27; Proverbs 3:16; Proverbs 8:18; Proverbs 22:4; ׳עשֶׁר (וּ)נְכָסִים וְכ2Chronicles 1:11,12 = ׳גם כ ׳גם ע 1 Kings 3:13; Ecclesiastes 6:2; "" עשֶׁר Proverbs 11:16; man was crowned with וְהָדָר ׳כ at his creation, Psalm 8:6; the king is given ׳כ "" הוֺד וְהָדָר Psalm 21:6.

b. of things, עָשְׁרוֺ ׳כ Esther 5:11 splendour of his wealth, of a throne 1 Samuel 2:8 (poem), Isaiah 22:23; Jeremiah 14:21; Jeremiah 17:12; a kingdom Esther 1:4; chariots Isaiah 22:18; priestly robes Exodus 28:2,40 (P); Lebanon Isaiah 35:2; Isaiah 60:13; forest Isaiah 10:18 (figurative of royal might); trees Ezekiel 31:18; temple Haggai 2:3,9; restored holy land Psalm 84:12; Isaiah 4:2,5; Jerusalem Isaiah 62:2.

c. of God, glory, (1) in historic theophanies: to Moses Exodus 33:18,22 (J); "" אֹתֹת Numbers 14:22 (JE); "" גָּדְלוֺ Deuteronomy 5:21. P uses יהוה ׳כ for theophanies of the Exodus Exodus 16:7,10; Exodus 24:16,17; Exodus 40:34,35; Leviticus 9:6,23; Numbers 14:10; Numbers 16:19; Numbers 17:7; Numbers 20:6, compare 2Chronicles 5:14 = 1 Kings 8:11; 2Chronicles 7:1,2,3; so Ezekiel, Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 3:12,23; Ezekiel 10:4 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 10:18; Ezekiel 11:23; Ezekiel 43:4,5; Ezekiel 44:4; with the variation אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳כ Ezekiel 8:4; Ezekiel 9:3; Ezekiel 10:19; Ezekiel 11:22; Ezekiel 43:2, and הַכָּבוֺד Ezekiel 3:23; the sacred tent was sanctified by the Glory Exodus 29:43 (P), and the temple was ׳מְקוֺם מִשְׁכַּן כ Psalm 26:8; when the ark was captured, the Glory went into exile from Israel 1 Samuel 4:21,22. (2) in historic and ideal manifestations to the pious mind Yahweh's, name is a name of glory Psalm 72:19; Nehemiah 9:5; his eyes eyes of glory Isaiah 3:8; in the temple his glory is seen Psalm 63:3; it is על השׁמים Psalm 113:4; על כל הארץ Psalm 57:6; Psalm 57:12; in a thunderstorm he is אֵל הַכָּבוֺד Psalm 29:3; his glory is לְעוֺלָם Psalm 104:31; it is great Psalm 138:5; above all the earth Psalm 108:6; the whole earth is full of it Isaiah 6:3 the heavens are declaring כְּבוֺד אֵל Psalm 19:2; with reference to the divine reign הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֺ ׳כּ, Psalm 145:12; ׳הֲדַר כ הוֺדֶ֑ךָ Psalm 145:5. (3) he is מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֺד Psalm 24:7; Psalm 24:8; Psalm 24:9; Psalm 24:10 (twice in verse); he will appear in his glory Psalm 102:17, his glory will be revealed in a march through the wilderness to the holy land Isaiah 40:5, the land will see it Isaiah 35:2, shine with it Ezekiel 43:3, and it will dwell in the land Psalm 85:10; it will be to the rearward of Israel Isaiah 58:8; it will arise and be seen upon Jerusalem Isaiah 60:1,2; Yahweh will be the glory in the midst of her Zechariah 2:9; the temple will be filled with it Haggai 2:7; the earth will be filled with a knowledge of it Habakkuk 2:14, and with it Numbers 14:21 (JE) Psalm 72:19; it will be declared among the nations and all will see it Isaiah 66:18,19 (twice in verse); Psalm 97:6 and peoples and kings revere it Psalm 102:16; Isaiah 59:19; ׳י will reign before his elders in glory Isaiah 24:23; the resting-place of the Messiah will be כָּבוֺד Isaiah 11:10.

3 honour, dignity of position ׳מנע מִכּ withhold from honour Numbers 24:11 (E); ׳ירד מִכּ descend from Jeremiah 48:18; ׳שׁלח אחר כ send after Zechariah 2:12; ׳רוּם בכ Psalm 112:9; ׳שׁכב בכ Isaiah 14:18; ׳תמך כ Proverbs 29:23; ׳יַרְבֶּה כ Daniel 11:39; ׳לקח כ take me to honour Psalm 73:24; not becoming to fools Proverbs 26:1; ׳לפני כ ענוה before honour (goeth) humility Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 18:22; antithesis קלון Hosea 4:7; Habakkuk 2:16; Proverbs 3:35, קִיִקָלוֺן Habakkuk 2:16; כָּבוֺד is used as collective, of honoured men, dignitaries, nobility כבוד ישׂראל Micah 1:15; elsewhere as construct before various nations or with suffixes only Isaiah 5:13; Isaiah 8:7; Isaiah 10:16; Isaiah 16:14; Isaiah 17:3,4; Isaiah 21:16; Isaiah 22:24.

4 honour, reputation, of character, of man ׳וְלֹאלְֿךָ לְכ2Chronicles 26:18 neither will it be for thine honour; "" חכמה Ecclesiastes 10:1; צדקה Proverbs 21:21; antith. כְּלִמָּה Psalm 4:3; וְחֵקֶר כְּבֹדָם כָּבוֺד Proverbs 25:27 and searching out of their glory is (not) glory לאישׁ ׳כ Proverbs 20:3; אֱלֹהִים ׳כ מְלָכִים חֲקֹר דָּבָר ׳הַסְתֵּר דָּבָר וכ Proverbs 25:2 the honour of God is to conceal a thing, but the honour of kings is to search out a thing.

5 my honour, poetic of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man "" נפשׁי Genesis 49:6 (poem) Psalm 7:6; לִבִּי Psalm 16:9; Psalm 108:2; it is called upon to זמּר Psalm 30:13 (read כְּבוֺדִי for כָּבוֺד); עוּרָה Psalm 57:9.

6 honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one:

a. of men, due to a father Malachi 1:6; honour done to David by Nathan's prophecy 1 Chronicles 17:18; לְ ׳עשׂה כ2Chronicles 32:33 do honour to; לְ ׳נתן כ Proverbs 26:8; "" ישׁע Psalm 62:8.

b. of God, כְּבוֺדִי the honour due to me (Yahweh) Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 48:11 שְׁמֶ֑ךָ ׳כ Psalm 79:9; לְ ׳נתן כ 1 Samuel 6:5; Jeremiah 13:16; Malachi 2:2; Psalm 115:1; לְ ׳שׂים כ Joshua 7:19 (J), Isaiah 42:12; ׳שׂים כ תהלתוֺ Psalm 66:2; ועז לְ ׳יהב כ Psalm 29:1; Psalm 96:7 = 1 Chronicles 16:28; שְׁמוֺ לְ ׳יהב כ Psalm 29:2; Psalm 96:8 = 1 Chronicles 16:29; שְׁמוֺ ׳זמּר כ Psalm 66:2; סמּר כבודו בגוים Psalm 96:3 = 1 Chronicles 16:24; אמר מלכותך ׳כ Psalm 145:11; נתן כבודי בגוים Ezekiel 39:21; אֹמֵר כָּבוֺד Psalm 29:9 say Glory; ׳יִעְלְזוּ בְּכ exult with (ascriptions of) glory Psalm 149:5.

7 glory as the object of honour, reverence and glorifying, כְּבוֺדִי Psalm 3:4 my glory (the one whom I glorify); כְּבוֺדָם Psalm 106:20 their glory; כְּבוֺדוֺ Jeremiah 2:11.

Root Sense and Semantic Range

כָּבוֹד (kavod) literally denotes “weight” or “heaviness,” figuratively expressing what is weighty in a moral, social, or spiritual sense: splendor, honor, reputation, wealth, or the visible manifestation of divine presence. The term occurs from Genesis 31:1 to Malachi 2:2, appearing in Torah, Prophets, Writings, and Psalms, thus permeating the entire Old Testament witness.

Divine Glory in Theophany

Kavod is first and foremost God’s own glory—the radiant, awe-inspiring self-disclosure of His being.
• Exodus 33:18–19: “Then Moses said, ‘Please show me Your glory.’ ‘I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,’ the LORD replied...” The narrative links glory with God’s goodness, name, and sovereign grace.
• Exodus 24:16–17 describes the “glory of the LORD” settling on Sinai “like a consuming fire.”
• Ezekiel’s inaugural vision (Ezekiel 1:28) culminates with “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD,” evoking reverent prostration.

These passages reveal kavod not as an abstract light but as the personal presence of Yahweh that both attracts and terrifies, grounding Israel’s covenant faith.

Glory Filling Sacred Space

The glory cloud (שְׁכִינָה conceptually, though that noun is post-biblical) fills the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–35) and later Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10–11), signaling divine approval and accessibility through ordained worship. When Ezekiel 10–11 portrays the kavod departing the temple because of persistent idolatry, the narrative explains Judah’s exile as the withdrawal of God’s presence.

Glory as Covenant Presence

In Numbers 14:10-21 the glory appears at the tent of meeting to confront rebellion, underscoring that covenant blessing or judgment depends on Yahweh’s honored presence. Psalm 3:3 names God “my glory,” personalizing covenant relationship. Isaiah 42:8 declares, “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not give My glory to another,” tying kavod to exclusive worship.

Glory in Eschatological Hope

Prophets project a future universal display of divine glory.
• Isaiah 40:5: “And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together.”
• Haggai 2:9 anticipates a “greater glory” for the restored temple.
• Ezekiel 43:1–5 envisions the kavod returning from the east, promising renewed fellowship.

These texts fuel New Testament expectation of Christ’s parousia when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD” (Habakkuk 2:14).

Human Glory and Honor

Kavod extends to humans as derived honor. Proverbs 20:29 celebrates “the glory of young men is their strength,” while Psalm 8:5 states humanity is crowned “with glory and honor,” grounding human dignity in the imago Dei. Wealth (Genesis 31:1), regal splendor (1 Chronicles 29:25), and social esteem (Proverbs 25:27) are all termed kavod, yet Scripture consistently subordinates creaturely glory to the Creator’s (Psalm 115:1).

Glory Bestowed and Removed

God grants glory (Psalm 3:3; Psalm 84:11) and removes it in judgment (Hosea 4:7; Lamentations 1:6). The exile is explained as Ichabod—“no glory” (1 Samuel 4:21-22), a theological verdict rather than mere military defeat.

Glory Profaned or Exchanged

Idolatry is framed as exchanging glory. Psalm 106:20 laments Israel “exchanged their Glory for the image of an ox.” Jeremiah 2:11 similarly decries forsaking true kavod for what is worthless. This anticipates Romans 1:23, where Paul employs the same theological logic with the Greek equivalent δόξα (doxa).

The Glory of Israel’s King and Messiah

Kavod motifs cluster around the royal psalms and messianic hope. Psalm 24:7-10 commands gates to lift up for the “King of Glory.” Isaiah 60 depicts Zion arising as “the glory of the LORD rises upon you,” attracting nations and their kings. These strands converge in the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ—“the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We have seen His glory” (John 1:14).

Old Testament Theology of Glory and New Testament Fulfillment

While the Old Testament often locates kavod in a cloud or temple, the New Testament locates it supremely in the incarnate Son (Hebrews 1:3) and the indwelling Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). Believers are transformed “from glory to glory,” participating already in what will be fully revealed at Christ’s return (Romans 8:18; Colossians 3:4).

Practical and Ministry Applications

1. Worship: True worship aims at ascribing kavod to God alone (Psalm 29:1–2). Corporate liturgy, preaching, and music should seek His manifest presence rather than human acclaim.
2. Holiness: Because God’s glory is weighty, sin is “falling short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sanctification restores that weight in daily conduct.
3. Suffering: Affliction is reinterpreted as producing “an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17), encouraging perseverance.
4. Mission: The knowledge of God’s glory propels evangelism (Isaiah 66:18–19; Matthew 28:18–20).
5. Leadership: Church leaders must seek God’s glory, not their own (1 Peter 5:1–4).

Key References

Genesis 45:13; Exodus 16:7, 10; 24:16-17; 33:18-23; 40:34-35

Leviticus 9:6, 23; Numbers 14:10, 21; Deuteronomy 5:24

1 Samuel 4:21-22; 1 Kings 8:10–11; 1 Chronicles 29:25

2 Chronicles 5:13-14; 7:1-3; Psalm 19:1; 24:7-10; 29:1-3; 72:19; 96:3

Proverbs 3:35; Isaiah 6:3; 35:2; 40:5; 42:8; 60:1–3; 66:18

Jeremiah 2:11; Ezekiel 1:28; 3:12; 10:4, 18–19; 11:23; 43:4–5

Haggai 2:7-9; Zechariah 2:5; Malachi 2:2

Together these passages reveal a unified biblical theology: kavod belongs intrinsically to God, is graciously manifested to His people, is forfeited by sin, restored through redemption, and ultimately consummated in the everlasting kingdom where “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light” (Revelation 21:23).

בְּכָב֑וֹד בְּכָב֥וֹד בְּכָבֽוֹד׃ בְכָב֖וֹד בִּכְבֹדִֽי׃ בִּכְבוֹד֖וֹ בִּכְבוֹדֽוֹ׃ בכבדי׃ בכבוד בכבוד׃ בכבודו בכבודו׃ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד הַכָּב֣וֹד הַכָּב֥וֹד הַכָּבֹ֖ד הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ הכבד הכבוד הכבוד׃ וְ֭כָבוֹד וְהַכָּבוֹד֙ וְכָב֑וֹד וְכָב֖וֹד וְכָב֜וֹד וְכָב֣וֹד וְכָב֥וֹד וְכָבֽוֹד׃ וְכָבוֹד֙ וְלִכְבוֹדִ֖י וּ֝כְב֗וֹד וּבִכְבוֹדָ֖ם וּכְב֣וֹד וּכְב֣וֹד ׀ וּכְב֤וֹד וּכְב֥וֹד וּכְב֧וֹד וּכְבֹ֥ד וּכְבוֹד֖וֹ וּכְבוֹדִ֑י וּכְבוֹדִ֓י ׀ וּכְבוֹדִ֖י וּכְבוֹדִי֙ וּכְבוֹדֶֽךָ׃ וּכְבוֹדוֹ֙ וּלְכָב֑וֹד וּלְכָב֖וֹד ובכבודם והכבוד וכבד וכבוד וכבוד׃ וכבודו וכבודי וכבודך׃ ולכבוד ולכבודי כְ֭בוֹדוֹ כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י כְּ֭בוֹדִי כְּ֭בוֹדוֹ כְּב֖וֹד כְּב֣וֹד כְּב֤וֹד כְּב֥וֹד כְּבֹ֣ד כְּבֹד֛וֹ כְּבֹד֣וֹ כְּבֹדִ֑י כְּבֹדִ֔י כְּבֹדִי֙ כְּבֹדֶֽךָ׃ כְּבֹדָ֣ם כְּבֽוֹד־ כְּבוֹד֑וֹ כְּבוֹד֔וֹ כְּבוֹד֖וֹ כְּבוֹד֗וֹ כְּבוֹד֙ כְּבוֹד֩ כְּבוֹדְכֶֽם׃ כְּבוֹדִ֑י כְּבוֹדִ֔י כְּבוֹדִ֖י כְּבוֹדִֽי׃ כְּבוֹדִי֙ כְּבוֹדֵ֑ךְ כְּבוֹדֶ֔ךָ כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃ כְּבוֹדָ֑ם כְּבוֹדָ֖ם כְּבוֹדָֽהּ׃ כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃ כְּבוֹד־ כְב֣וֹד כְבֽוֹד־ כְבוֹדִ֗י כְבוֹדִ֡י כְבוֹדִ֣י כְבוֹדֶ֑ךָ כְבוֹדֽוֹ׃ כְבוֹד־ כִּכְב֤וֹד כַּכָּב֕וֹד כָ֝ב֗וֹד כָ֭בוֹד כָּ֭בוֹד כָּב֑וֹד כָּב֔וֹד כָּב֖וֹד כָּב֣וֹד כָּב֥וֹד כָּבֹ֕ד כָּבֽוֹד׃ כָּבוֹד֙ כָב֑וֹד כָב֔וֹד כָב֖וֹד כָב֗וֹד כָב֣וֹד כבד כבדו כבדי כבדך׃ כבדם כבוד כבוד־ כבוד׃ כבודה׃ כבודו כבודו׃ כבודי כבודי׃ כבודך כבודך׃ כבודכם׃ כבודם ככבוד לְכָב֖וֹד לְכָב֣וֹד לכבוד מִכְּבֹדֽוֹ׃ מִכָּב֔וֹד מִכָּב֖וֹד מִכָּבֽוֹד׃ מִכָּבוֹד֙ מכבדו׃ מכבוד מכבוד׃ bə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ ḇə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ bechaVod bəḵāḇōwḏ ḇəḵāḇōwḏ bichvoDi bichvoDo biḵ·ḇō·ḏî biḵ·ḇō·w·ḏōw biḵḇōḏî biḵḇōwḏōw chaVod cheVod chevoDecha chevoDi chevodo hak·kā·ḇō·wḏ hak·kā·ḇōḏ hakkāḇōḏ hakkāḇōwḏ hakkaVod kā·ḇō·wḏ ḵā·ḇō·wḏ kā·ḇōḏ kāḇōḏ kāḇōwḏ ḵāḇōwḏ kak·kā·ḇō·wḏ kakkāḇōwḏ kakkaVod kaVod kə·ḇō·ḏām kə·ḇō·ḏe·ḵā kə·ḇō·ḏî kə·ḇō·ḏōw kə·ḇō·w·ḏāh kə·ḇō·w·ḏām kə·ḇō·w·ḏe·ḵā ḵə·ḇō·w·ḏe·ḵā kə·ḇō·w·ḏêḵ kə·ḇō·w·ḏî ḵə·ḇō·w·ḏî kə·ḇō·w·ḏōw ḵə·ḇō·w·ḏōw kə·ḇō·wḏ ḵə·ḇō·wḏ kə·ḇō·wḏ- ḵə·ḇō·wḏ- kə·ḇō·wḏ·ḵem kə·ḇōḏ kəḇōḏ kəḇōḏām kəḇōḏeḵā kəḇōḏî kəḇōḏōw kəḇōwḏ ḵəḇōwḏ kəḇōwḏ- ḵəḇōwḏ- kəḇōwḏāh kəḇōwḏām kəḇōwḏêḵ kəḇōwḏeḵā ḵəḇōwḏeḵā kəḇōwḏî ḵəḇōwḏî kəḇōwḏḵem kəḇōwḏōw ḵəḇōwḏōw keVod kevoDah kevoDam keVodChem kevoDech kevoDecha kevoDi kevoDo kichVod kiḵ·ḇō·wḏ kiḵḇōwḏ lə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ lechaVod ləḵāḇōwḏ mik·kā·ḇō·wḏ mik·kə·ḇō·ḏōw mikkāḇōwḏ mikkaVod mikkəḇōḏōw mikkevoDo ū·ḇiḵ·ḇō·w·ḏām ū·ḵə·ḇō·w·ḏe·ḵā ū·ḵə·ḇō·w·ḏî ū·ḵə·ḇō·w·ḏōw ū·ḵə·ḇō·wḏ ū·ḵə·ḇōḏ ū·lə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ ūḇiḵḇōwḏām ucheVod uchevoDecha uchevoDi uchevoDo ūḵəḇōḏ ūḵəḇōwḏ ūḵəḇōwḏeḵā ūḵəḇōwḏî ūḵəḇōwḏōw ulechaVod ūləḵāḇōwḏ uvichvoDam vechaVod vehakkaVod velichvoDi wə·hak·kā·ḇō·wḏ wə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ wə·liḵ·ḇō·w·ḏî wəhakkāḇōwḏ wəḵāḇōwḏ wəliḵḇōwḏîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts