μεγαλωσύνη (megalōsunē)
megalōsunē
majesty
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun megalo sunē denotes majesty or greatness, appearing only three times in the New Testament within Hebrews and Jude. Its presence is sparse but weighty, serving as a descriptor for the supreme status of God rather than human achievement. In Hebrews 1:3, it characterizes the Son who upholds all things by the word of his power, highlighting the divine authority inherent in Christ’s nature.
The term derives from megas, meaning great or large, and carries a sense of elevated dignity. The sources note its frequent use in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew words for greatness, such as gedulah in Psalm 145:3. This background informs its New Testament usage, where it points to the awe-inspiring scale of God’s being. In Jude 25, it is paired with glory and dominion, forming a triad that celebrates God’s eternal sovereignty.
Translators typically render megalo sunē as "majesty" to capture its regal connotation. This choice distinguishes it from mere size or quantity, focusing instead on honor and power. The word anchors theological claims about God’s nature in language of exalted rank. Its limited occurrence underscores the precision with which New Testament writers applied terms for divine attributes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word megalōsunē points to a majesty that goes far beyond human status or power. It describes the awe-inspiring dignity of God, particularly as revealed in Jesus Christ. In Hebrews, we see this majesty attached to the Son who upholds all things by His powerful word. This is not a distant or abstract greatness, but an active, sustaining presence that holds the universe together.
When we encounter this term in Jude, it joins glory and dominion in a doxology to God our Savior. This reminds us that true worship arises from recognizing who God is in His fullness. The majesty of Christ is not just for angels or ancient prophets; it is the foundation of our hope and the source of our peace.
Reflecting on this divine majesty helps ground our faith in something unshakable. While our circumstances may shift, the One who sits on high remains constant. We can rest in the knowledge that the same power that upholds all things is also at work for our good.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Majesty2×
- majesty1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μεγαλωσύνης2×
- μεγαλωσύνη1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 1:3
His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,
This verse uniquely links Christ's majesty with His active role in upholding the entire universe by His powerful word.
-
Hebrews 8:1
Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Here the majesty is tied to the heavenly throne, emphasizing Jesus' high priestly authority and intercession for believers.
-
Jude 1:25
to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
The term appears in a closing doxology, pairing majesty with glory and dominion to celebrate God's eternal sovereignty.