Reverence

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Reverence —The sentiment of veneration, a feeling of high regard and admiration. When cherished towards a superior, it is an emotion of respectful awe. When directed towards God, it is an essential factor in Divine worship. This sentiment usually finds expression in acts of courtesy, respect, or adoration, so that the object held in reverential regard receives fitting homage. But it is to be noted that the term θρπσκεία, which in  Acts 26:5 emphasizes the ritual side of religion, does not occur in the Gospels (cf. Coleridge, Aids to Reflection , Introd., Aphor. xxiii.).

The terms which denote reverence towards God come properly under ‘worship,’ in which reverence is an essential quality; but it may be proper to include in this article passages which involve reverence towards Jesus Christ in the days of His flesh. In the Gospel narratives several terms are used to express the feeling of reverence, but there is no decisive reason to distinguish the usage of these terms as they occur in the Synoptics and in the Fourth Gospel. The term ‘reverence,’ as the translation of ἐντρέπεσθαι—‘to turn one’s self unto’—is found only a few times. It is used in the parable of the Wicked Husbandmen ( Matthew 21:37,  Mark 12:6,  Luke 20:13), where the idea is that even those who had ill-treated the servants might show proper respect and honour to the Son. (See also the usage of the same word in the parable of the Unjust Judge, who ‘feared not God, neither regarded man,’  Luke 18:2-4).

The word τιμή and its derivatives are used to express high reverential regard and profound respect ( Matthew 13:57;  Matthew 15:4-6,  Mark 7:10,  John 5:23;  John 5:41;  John 8:49;  John 8:54). Here the regard due to a prophet of God, the affectionate respect of children for their parents, and reverence for the Son, as for the Father, are expressed. The term προσκυνεῖν, which means ‘to kiss the hand to,’ and then ‘to bow down before,’ is often used in the Gospels to signify the sentiment of reverential regard, and even of worship ( Matthew 2:2;  Matthew 2:8-11;  Matthew 4:9;  Matthew 14:33;  Matthew 15:25;  Matthew 20:20;  Matthew 28:17,  Mark 5:6;  Mark 15:19). In these passages we have reference to the adoration of Jesus by the Magi, Herod’s desire to do homage to the child at Bethlehem, the request of the devil that Jesus should worship him, the disciples doing homage to their Lord by the sea, the Canaanite woman humbling herself before Jesus, the mother of James and John as she made her bold request for her two sons, the disciples after the resurrection of Christ, the demoniac of Gadara before Jesus, the mock homage paid to Jesus on the Cross. In many of these passages the outward act of bowing down is implied.

In one place ( John 9:31) the term θεοσεβής is used to describe a worshipper of God, or one who regards and treats God with reverence. In several places certain physical acts are significant of reverence, such as προσπίπτειν, ‘to fall down before’ ( Mark 3:11;  Mark 5:33,  Luke 8:28); γονυπετεῖν, ‘to bend the knee’ ( Matthew 17:14,  Mark 1:40); πίπτειν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον, ‘to fall upon the face.’ These movements of the body are expressive of feelings of reverential regard. In some passages δοξάζειν, ‘to glorify,’ is used in a rather suggestive way to set forth the idea of giving reverence to (as in  Matthew 6:2;  Matthew 9:8,  Mark 2:12,  Luke 5:25-26;  Luke 7:16,  John 8:54;  John 17:1-4), where hypocrites seeking glory of men, people of different sorts giving glory to God, the Father glorifying the Son, and the Son giving glory to the Father, are alluded to. In the Lord’s Prayer, ἁγιάζειν, ‘to hallow’ or ‘hold sacred’ ( Matthew 6:9) the name of God, implies the sentiment of reverence in its highest form. The terms ἀσπάζειν, ‘to salute,’ and ἀσπασμός, ‘salutation’ ( Mark 9:15;  Mark 15:18,  Luke 1:29-41), are also expressive of reverential regard.

Some additional passages may be merely noted, wherein words and phrases denote reverence in different aspects:  Matthew 7:29;  Matthew 8:8;  Matthew 9:27;  Matthew 12:23;  Matthew 16:16;  Matthew 21:9-15;  Matthew 22:21;  Matthew 23:12;  Matthew 26:12,  Mark 1:7;  Mark 9:1-10,  Luke 2:9-20;  Luke 7:16;  Luke 7:44-45;  Luke 8:35-37;  Luke 19:35;  Luke 23:11,  John 12:3;  John 12:14;  John 13:13;  John 21:15;  John 21:17.

In the Gospel narratives it is evident that the sentiment of reverence has a large place. It is at root a certain psychical state, or temper of the soul. This temper seeks expression in certain outward acts. In religion this state of the soul is fundamental, and its expression in ritual acts is natural.

Literature.—C. F. Kent, Messages of Israel’s Lawgivers (1902), 247; A. H. M. Sime, Elements of Religion 2 [Note: designates the particular edition of the work referred] , 15, Epic of God (1902), 53; E. Wordsworth, Thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer (1898), 63; G. H. Morrison, Flood-tide (1901), 103; Newman, Par. and Plain Serm . i. 295, v. 13, viii. 1; T. G. Selby, Lesson of a Dilemma (1893), 123; Phillips Brooks, Light of the World (1891), 253.

Francis R. Beattie.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Ἐντρέπω (Strong'S #1788 — Verb — entrepo — en-trep'-o )

lit., "to turn in" (i.e., upon oneself), "to put to shame," denotes, when used in the Passive Voice, "to feel respect for, to show deference to, to reverence,"  Matthew 21:37;  Mark 12:6;  Luke 20:13;  Hebrews 12:9 . See Ashamed , A, No. 4, Regard

A — 2: Φοβέω (Strong'S #5399 — Verb — phobeo — fob-eh'-o )

"to fear," is used in the Passive Voice in the NT; in  Ephesians 5:33 of reverential fear on the part of a wife for a husband, AV, "reverence" (RV, "fear"). See Fear , D, No. 1.

B — 1: Εὐλάβεια (Strong'S #2124 — Noun Feminine — eulabeia — yoo-lab'-i-ah )

"caution, reverence," is translated "reverence" in  Hebrews 12:28 (1st part in the best mss; some have aidos). See Fear.

King James Dictionary

REV'ERENCE, n. L. reverentia.

1. Fear mingled with respect and esteem veneration.

When quarrels and factions are carried openly, it is a sign that the reverence of government is lost.

The fear acceptable to God, is a filial fear, an awful reverence of the divine nature, proceeding from a just esteem of his perfections, which produces in us an inclination to his service and an unwillingness to offend him.

Reverence is nearly equivalent to veneration, but expresses something less of the same emotion. It differs from awe, which is an emotion compounded of fear, dread or terror, with admiration of something great, but not necessarily implying love or affection. We feel reverence for a parent, and for an upright magistrate, but we stand in awe of a tyrant. This distinction may not always be observed.

2. An act of respect or obeisance a bow or courtesy.  2 Samuel 9 . 3. A title of the clergy. 4. A poetical title of a father.

REV'ERENCE, To regard with reverence to regard with fear mingled with respect and affection. We reverence superiors for their age, their authority and their virtues. We ought to reverence parents and upright judges and magistrates. We ought to reverence the Supreme Being, his word and his ordinances.

Those that I reverence, those I fear, the wise.

They will reverence my son.  Matthew 21 .

Let the wife see that she reverence her husband.  Ephesians 5 .

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state.

(2): ( n.) A person entitled to be revered; - a title applied to priests or other ministers with the pronouns his or your; sometimes poetically to a father.

(3): ( n.) Profound respect and esteem mingled with fear and affection, as for a holy being or place; the disposition to revere; veneration.

(4): ( n.) The act of revering; a token of respect or veneration; an obeisance.

(5): ( v. t.) To regard or treat with reverence; to regard with respect and affection mingled with fear; to venerate.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Leviticus 19:3 Hebrews 12:9 1 Kings 18:12 Hebrews 12:28 Leviticus 19:30 Leviticus 26:2 Psalm 119:48 Deuteronomy 32:51 Judges 6:10 Ephesians 5:21 1 Peter 3:14-15

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

Awful regard; an act of obeisance; a submissive and humble deportment.

See Lord'S Name Taken In Vain

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rev´ẽr - ens  : In the Old Testament, "reverence" occurs as the translation of two Hebrew words, yārē' and shāḥāh . The root idea of the former is "fear." It is used to express the attitude toward God Himself, as in   Psalm 89:7 the King James Version; or toward His sanctuary, as in   Leviticus 19:30;  Leviticus 26:2 . So the group of ideas there would be "fear," "awe," "reverence." The root idea of the second is "falling down," as prostration of the body. It is used to express the bearing toward another who is considered superior, as in  2 Samuel 9:6 the King James Version;   1 Kings 1:31 the King James Version;   Esther 3:2 ,  Esther 3:5 . The group of ideas here, therefore, is "honor," "obeisance," "reverence."

In the New Testament "reverence" occurs as the translation of three Greek words, aı́dōs , phobéomai , and entrépomai . In the first, the idea is "modesty" (  Hebrews 12:28; compare  1 Timothy 2:9 ). In the second, "fear" ( Ephesians 5:33 the King James Version), though here it is used to set forth the attitude of proper subjection on the part of a wife toward her husband (compare   1 Peter 3:2 ,  1 Peter 3:5 ). In the third, the idea is that of the "self-valuation of inferiority," and so sets forth an attitude toward another of doing him honor ( Matthew 21:37;  Mark 12:6;  Luke 20:13;  Hebrews 12:9 ).

In the Apocrypha entrepomai occurs in The Wisdom of   Song of Solomon 2:10;  Sirach 4:22 . In addition, proskunéō , "make obeisance," occurs in   Judith 10:23;  14:7; thaumázō , "wonder,"   Sirach 7:29 , and aischúnomai , "be ashamed,"   Baruch 4:15 .

Reverend occurs in the Old Testament in   Psalm 111:9 , of the name of God ( yārē' ), and in the Apocrypha in 2 Macc 15:12, "a man reverend ( aidḗmōn , "modest") in bearing," and in the New Testament the Revised Version (British and American) has "reverent in demeanor" ( hieroprepḗs ) in  Titus 2:3 and "reverend" in   Philippians 4:8 margin ( semnós ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(usually some form of יָרֵא , Φοβέομαι , To Fear ) , a respectful, submissive disposition of mind arising from affection and esteem, from a sense of superiority in the person reverenced. Hence children reverence their fathers even when their fathers correct them by stripes ( Hebrews 12:9); hence subjects reverence their sovereign ( 2 Samuel 9:6); hence wives reverence their husbands ( Ephesians 5:33); and hence all ought to reverence God. We reverence the name of God, the house of God, the worship of God, etc.; we reverence the attributes of God, the commands, dispensations, etc., of God; and we ought to demonstrate our reverence by overt acts, such as are suitable and becoming to time, place, and circumstances. For though a man may reverence God in his heart, yet unless he behave reverentially and give proofs of his reverence by demeanor, conduct, and obedience, he will not easily persuade his fellow- mortals that his bosom is the residence of this divine and heavenly disposition; for, in fact, a reverence for God is not one of those lights which burn under a bushel, but one of those whose sprightly lustre illuminates .wherever it is admitted. Reverence is, strictly speaking, perhaps the internal disposition of the mind, Φόβος ( Romans 13:7); and honor, Τιμή , the external expression of that disposition.