Honor is an important concept in the Bible that relates to giving respect, esteem, and reverence to God, authority figures, and fellow human beings. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses about honor:
Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” This verse comes from the Ten Commandments and highlights the importance of honoring parents.
Leviticus 19:32 states, “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” This verse instructs people to show honor to the elderly.
Proverbs 3:9 commands, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.” This verse connects honoring God with giving generously from one’s resources.
Romans 12:10 reads, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” This verse encourages believers to honor fellow Christians.
Romans 13:7 declares, “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” This verse teaches about giving honor and respect to governing authorities.
1 Peter 2:17 states, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” This verse summarizes honoring others, loving fellow believers, fearing God, and honoring governing rulers.
Hebrews 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” This verse connects honoring the marriage relationship with sexual purity.
1 Samuel 2:30 warns, “Those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” This verse teaches that honoring God leads to being honored by Him.
Proverbs 14:31 declares, “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” Honoring God involves caring for the poor and needy.
Psalm 15:4 states, “In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord.” This verse contrasts honoring the godly with despising the wicked.
1 Corinthians 12:23-24 says, “And on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require.” This passage discusses giving greater honor to the less honorable members of the body of Christ.
Ephesians 6:2 instructs, “Honor your father and mother.” Like Exodus 20:12, this verse commands honoring parents as part of God’s design for families.
1 Timothy 5:3 says, “Honor widows who are truly widows.” Along with Leviticus 19:32, this verse specifically addresses honoring widows as part of caring for the vulnerable.
1 Timothy 5:17 states, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” Church leaders who excel should receive greater honor and financial support.
1 Peter 3:7 declares, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life.” Husbands are told to honor their wives as fellow heirs in Christ.
Romans 12:10 repeats the call to “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Doing so demonstrates Christ-like love within the body of believers.
Romans 13:1 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Along with verse 7, this verse connects honoring rulers with submitting to governing authorities instituted by God.
Hebrews 5:4 states, “And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.” Here, the honor and privilege of serving as high priest was established by God’s calling.
Numbers 25:11 notes, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.” Phinehas was honored for his zeal for God’s holiness.
2 Samuel 6:22 declares, “I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes.” David set aside his royal dignity to openly honor and worship God.
Proverbs 15:33 says, “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” Pursuing godly wisdom and humility precedes receiving honor from God.
Psalm 8:5 states, “Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” God conferred honor and glory on human beings, just under the angels.
Psalm 91:15 promises, “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” God pledges to ultimately honor and deliver those who love Him.
Philippians 2:29 encourages, “So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men.” This refers to honoring those like Timothy who faithfully served Christ and the gospel.
Proverbs 11:16 warns, “A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.” This contrasts the true, lasting honor of the righteous with the temporary wealth of the wicked.
Numbers 22:17 states, “For I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.” Balak foolishly sought to honor and enrich Balaam for an ungodly purpose.
2 Chronicles 26:18 says, “And they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense.’” Uzziah was condemned for dishonoring God by assuming priestly duties.
Esther 6:3 records, “Then the king said, ‘What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?’” In contrast, the king desired to honor Mordecai for his loyal service on behalf of the kingdom.
Proverbs 25:6-7 advises, “Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” Seeking honor and recognition from authorities should be done with wisdom and humility.
Titus 2:9-10 instructs, “Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” Like Romans 13:7, this passage connects honoring human authorities with obeying and representing God well.
1 Kings 3:13 declares, “I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.” God graciously bestowed both honor and wealth on Solomon for prioritizing godly wisdom.
Exodus 28:2 says, “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.” As high priest, Aaron received special garments to honor and beautify his holy service.
Numbers 27:20 states, “You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.” Like Hebrews 5:4, Moses’ authority to lead Israel came through God’s sovereign bestowal of honor.
Proverbs 22:4 reads, “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” Once again, pursuing godliness is connected with ultimately receiving God’s honor.
Psalm 112:9 declares, “He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.” Honoring God includes generously caring for those in need.
2 Samuel 10:3 says, “But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, ‘Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?’” Hanun foolishly dishonored David’s kindness.
Proverbs 13:18 warns, “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.” Pursuing wisdom leads to honor, while stubbornness leads to poverty and shame.
1 Corinthians 4:10 declares, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.” Paul contrasts the world’s perspective of honor with honor defined by the cross.
2 Samuel 23:19 praises, “Was he not the most renowned of the thirty? Was he not more honorable than the Thirty? David set him over his guard.” David honored his mighty warriors like Eleazar for their loyalty and courage.
Proverbs 21:21 promises, “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” Again, seeking biblical virtue brings God’s gracious reward of honor.
Psalm 149:9 pronounces, “To execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the Lord!” God’s people are honored to carry out His righteous judgments in due time.
2 Timothy 2:20-21 states, “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” Believers cleansed by Christ become vessels of honor sanctified for God’s service.
1 Corinthians 12:22-24 declares, “On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it.” God graciously bestows greater honor on the less visible, presentable parts of Christ’s body, the Church.
Proverbs 20:3 cautions, “It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.” Avoiding unnecessary conflict displays honor, while strife reveals folly.
Proverbs 26:1 warns, “Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.” Fools lack discernment and cannot steward honor well.
Proverbs 26:8 compares, “Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.” Giving positions of honor or responsibility to unworthy fools is unwise and unhelpful.
Jeremiah 33:9 promises, “And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.” God pledges to one day restore Israel and honor Jerusalem before all nations.
1 Thessalonians 4:4 instructs, “That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.” Honoring God includes practicing moral purity and self-control.
1 Timothy 1:17 praises, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” Eternal honor and glory belong to the one true God alone.
Revelation 4:9 declares, “And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever.” The angels models giving continual honor and thanks to the eternal King on heaven’s throne.
Revelation 4:11 proclaims, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” God alone deserves all honor, glory and power as the Almighty Creator.
Revelation 5:12 sings, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Christ is worthy of honor, glory and praise for redeeming people for God.
Revelation 19:1 shouts, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” God alone deserves all power, honor and praise for His mighty work of salvation.
Revelation 21:24 describes, “By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.” In the New Jerusalem, the glory and honor of nations will be brought into God’s eternal kingdom.
So in summary, key themes about honor in the Bible include:
– Giving appropriate honor to those in authority, including God, parents, government, employers, church leaders, and the elderly.
– Showing honor to all people, including the poor, widows, fellow believers, one’s spouse, and those who are loyal or humble.
– Pursuing righteousness, wisdom, generosity, and humility as ways to honor God and receive His blessing of honor in return.
– Avoiding honoring or exalting those engaged in evil and folly.
– Recognizing that all glory, power and honor ultimately belong to God alone.
The Bible clearly elevates honor as a virtue to pursue in all human relationships and interactions. Honoring God and others demonstrates reverence and humility before the Creator who alone is worthy of all honor and praise.