How many times is honor mentioned in the Bible? (What does the Bible say about honor?)

As a born-again Christian, I’ve always held the principles of honoring God and others close to my heart since my childhood days. However, I recently had the epiphany that the “honor your parents” verse was the only scripture about honor that I had committed to memory. This realization led me down a path of introspection, wondering what else God had to say about honor, and with these thoughts gnawing at me, I delved into my Bible study with a renewed sense of purpose. So, how many times is honor mentioned in the Bible?

In this post, I invite you to join me as we delve into this topic and learn everything the Bible says about honor. To also uncover examples of honor and principles of honor in the Bible, continue reading.

What does honor mean according to the Bible?

In the Bible, the word “honor” is translated from different Hebrew and Greek words, but they all imply similar concepts of respect, reverence, and value, and it can refer to the esteem given to God, oneself, and others. According to the scriptures, honoring God involves recognizing His sovereignty, worshiping Him, and obeying His commands as implied in Psalm 29:2, and honoring others involves showing respect, love, and compassion, and providing for their needs as suggested in Exodus 20:12, John 13:34-35 and James 1:27. Finally, according to the Bible, self-honor involves recognizing our intrinsic worth as God’s creation and treating ourselves with respect and dignity, as implied in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and Psalm 139:13-14, and avoiding behaviors and actions that dishonor us, such as sexual immorality, drunkenness, and laziness.

What Does the Bible Say about Honor?

As mentioned earlier, the Bible implies that honor involves showing respect and value to God, oneself, and others. The scriptures, in verses like 1 Chronicles 16:27-29, 1 Timothy 1:17, and Revelation 4:11, emphasize that God is the ultimate source of honor, and all honor belongs to Him alone, as He’s the creator and sustainer of all things. The Bible commands us to honor God by recognizing His power, worshiping Him, obeying Him, and giving Him thanks and praise.

Another profound theme of honor that the Bible talks about is honoring our parents, and it’s among the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20:12. The scriptures command us to honor our parents by showing them respect and obeying their instructions (unless they contradict God’s commands), and providing for them when they are in need.

The Bible also commands us to honor those in authority by recognizing their roles and responsibilities, obeying their laws (unless they conflict with God’s laws), and praying for them, as implied in Romans 13:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:13-14. Also, in the Bible, we’re taught to honor our fellow believers, and this is supported by Jesus’ teaching in John 13:34-35 and Mark 9:33-37, where He teaches us to love one another and to show honor to each other by serving one another.

Finally, the Bible also teaches us to honor marriage by upholding its sanctity and fidelity, as implied in Hebrews 13:4.

Examples of honor in the Bible

Besides the examples of honor given in the previous subheading, other examples of honor include honoring God’s Word as implied in Psalm 119:9, Joshua 1:8, and James 1:22-25. These verses suggest that honoring God’s word means recognizing its importance, respecting its authority, and obeying its teachings, and it also involves treating the Bible as a sacred book that reveals God’s will and character. Taking time to read and meditate on the Bible, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit, and applying its teachings to one’s life are practical examples of honoring God’s word.

Another example of honor in the Bible is honoring God with our wealth, as suggested in Proverbs 3:9-10. By giving generously to God and His work, we honor Him and acknowledge that He’s the source of all our blessings.

Finally, honoring the Sabbath is another example of honor in the Bible, as implied in Exodus 20:8-11, where the scripture commands us to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. By setting aside time to rest and worship God, we honor His commandments and recognize His authority over our lives.

What are the three types of honor in the Bible?

Most scholars agree that the three main types of honor in the Bible include honor given to God, honor given to others, and honor received from others. In honoring God, the Bible commands us to respect and glorify God in all that we do, and this involves acknowledging His holiness and giving Him the praise and worship that He deserves, as implied in Psalm 29:1-2.

In honoring others, the Bible calls us to show honor and respect to those in authority as well as one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, as suggested in Romans 12:10. By showing honor to others, we reflect God’s love and grace to the world.

Lastly, while it’s important to give honor to God and others, the Bible also speaks of the honor that we can receive from others. The scriptures imply that this honor isn’t something that we should seek after for ourselves, but rather it’s a byproduct of living a life that’s pleasing to God, as suggested in Proverbs 3:35. When we live a life of humility, obedience, and faithfulness, God may choose to honor us in ways that bring glory to His name.

What is the biblical principle of honor?

As implied in the Bible, the biblical principle of honor is honoring God. The Bible teaches that honoring God is the most important form of honor, and if we honor God, it means that we’re obeying His commands and teaching, including honoring others and ourselves. This is supported by 1 Corinthians 10:31, where the Bible commands us to honor God in everything we do.