Glory to God's Name in Scripture References
Scripture consistently calls believers to ascribe glory to God's name, a phrase that encompasses the revealed character, perfections, and works of the divine nature. The "name" of God in biblical usage signifies far more than a label—it represents "the perfection of God's character" [7], the sum of His attributes made known to His people.
Biblical Foundation
The Psalms provide the clearest articulation of this theme. Psalm 29:2 commands, "Give unto the Lord the glory due to his name," where "glory of his name" refers to that which "is suitable to his nature, agreeable to his perfections, and which belongs unto him on account of his works" [9]. Similarly, Psalm 96:8 repeats this call, with the threefold repetition of "Jehovah" in the surrounding verses potentially directing "our thoughts to the trinity of Persons, Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit" [6]. Psalm 148:13 grounds this imperative in God's unique excellence: "his name alone is excellent," because the Lord "is excellent in power, wisdom, goodness, truth, and faithfulness, and in all other perfections of his nature" [10].
The holiness of God's name receives particular emphasis. Isaiah 57:15 and Luke 1:49 exhibit this holiness [3], which is "incomparable" and "pledged for the fulfilment of His promises" [3]. This holiness demands that worship be offered "in the beauty of holiness," encompassing "both internal and external worship; and in true holiness" [9].
Manifestation and Response
God's glory manifests in His works and kingdom. His works are glorious [3], His kingdom is holy [3], and encounters with His glory produce characteristic responses—fear and prostration, as seen in Isaiah 6:5, Daniel's visions, and Revelation 1:17 [8]. The reciprocal nature of glorification appears in 2 Thessalonians 1:12, where Christ is glorified "in" believers and they "in him," such that "the believer's graces redound to Christ's glory, and His glory, as their Head, reflects glory on them as the members" [11].
The Hebrew names Timotheus ("honor of God") [1] and Remaliah ("the exaltation of the Lord") [5] embed this theology of divine glory into personal identity, while "Hallelujah" and "Alleluia" ("praise the Lord") [2, 4] crystallize the proper human response into liturgical exclamation.
Sources
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Timotheus — honor of God; valued of God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Alleluia — praise the Lord”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness of God, The — Is incomparable -- Ex 15:11; 1Sa 2:2. Exhibited in his Character. -- Ps 22:3; Joh 17:11. Name. -- Isa 57:15; Lu 1:49. Words. -- Ps 60:6; Jer 23:9. Works. -- Ps 145:17. Kingdom. -- Ps 47:8; Mt 13:41; Re 21:27; 1Co 6:9,10. Is pledged for the fulfilment of His promises. -- Ps 89:35. His judgments. -- Am 4:2. Saints are commanded to imitate -- Le 11:44; 1Pe 1:15,16. Saints should praise -- Ps 30:4. Should produce reverential fear -- Re 15:4. Requires holy service -- Jos 24:19; Ps 93:5. Heavenly hosts adore -- Isa 6:3; Re 4:8. Should be magnified --”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hallelujah — praise the Lord”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Remaliah — the exaltation of the Lord”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 96:8: Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name,.... Or "the glory of his name" (q); whose name is glorious and excellent, because of his nature and perfections, because of the works done by him, and because of his benefits and blessings bestowed on his creatures; wherefore it is his due, and their duty, to give him glory; See Gill on Psa 29:2; see Gill on Psa 66:2, the word "Jehovah", or "Lord", being thrice mentioned in this and the preceding verse, in the ascription of glory, may lead our thoughts to the trinity of Persons, Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, to whom ”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 66:2: 66:2 The glory of his name represents the perfection of God’s character.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 17:6: 17:6-7 Such a response is typical for encounters with God’s glory (e.g., Isa 6:5; Dan 8:17; 10:9, 15-19; Rev 1:17).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 29:2: Give unto the Lord the glory due to his name,.... Or "the glory of his name" (x): which is suitable to his nature, agreeable to his perfections, and which belongs unto him on account of his works; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; the Lord is only to be worshipped, and not any creature, angels or men; not Jehovah the Father only, who is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth; but the Son of God, and the Holy Ghost also, being of the same nature, and possessed of the same perfections; and that with both internal and external worship; and in true holiness, ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 148:13: Let them praise the name of the Lord, His nature and perfections, and celebrate the glory of them; and his wonderful works, and the blessings of his goodness, both of providence and grace; even all the above creatures and things, celestial and terrestrial, for the following reasons; for his name alone is excellent; the name of the Lord is himself, who is excellent in power, wisdom, goodness, truth, and faithfulness, and in all other perfections of his nature; his works, by which he is known, are excellent, both of nature and of grace, and proclaim his glory; his S”
- 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 1:12: the name of our Lord Jesus--Our Lord Jesus in His manifested personality as the God-man. in you, and ye in him--reciprocal glorification; compare Isa 28:5, "The Lord of hosts shall be . . . a crown of glory and . . . a diadem of beauty unto . . . His people," with Isa 62:3, "Thou (Zion) shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem," &c. (Joh 21:10; Gal 1:24; Pe1 4:14). The believer's graces redound to Christ's glory, and His glory, as their Head, reflects glory on them as the members. the grace of our God and the L”