τιμή (timē)
timē
honor
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 42 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word timē carries a dual sense of value and respect. In its literal sense, it refers to a price paid or received for something sold, as seen when Judas returns the blood money in Matthew 27:6 or when believers are described as having been bought with a price in 1 Corinthians 6:20. This concrete meaning underscores that worth is not abstract but involves a tangible cost.
More commonly, timē denotes honor, esteem, or dignity accorded to a person by virtue of their rank or office. It appears frequently in the New Testament when Christians are urged to show respect to elders (1 Timothy 5:17) or to render honor to everyone (Romans 13:7). In Revelation, it is paired with glory and power as the proper response to God’s majesty (Revelation 4:9-11), highlighting that true honor acknowledges divine authority.
Its root ties to the idea of valuing something highly. The word bridges the economic and the social, reminding readers that worth determines how one is treated. Whether referring to silver coins or royal dignity, timē asserts that value demands recognition.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word timē reminds us that true worth is never abstract; it always carries a tangible cost. In the New Testament, this concept bridges the gap between economic value and social dignity. When believers are described as being bought with a price, it establishes their intrinsic value before God. This reality invites us to treat others not as commodities, but as individuals of immense significance who deserve genuine respect.
We see this dual meaning in how Christians are urged to honor elders and render respect to everyone. It is a call to recognize the dignity inherent in every person, reflecting the high price paid for our own souls. By valuing others highly, we acknowledge that worth demands recognition. This practice fosters a community where love and esteem flow naturally from an understanding of divine grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 42 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- honor25×
- with honor2×
- proceeds2×
- price2×
- honor,2×
- with a price;1×
- proceeds,1×
- prices1×
- preciousness1×
- in honor1×
- honors1×
- honor.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τιμὴν18×
- τιμὴ8×
- τιμῆς5×
- τιμῇ4×
- τιμὰς2×
- τιμῆς·1×
- τιμῆς,1×
- τιμῇ,1×
- τιμήν.1×
- τιμήν,1×
- τιμαῖς1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 6:20
for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
This verse anchors the concept of honor in the concrete reality that believers were purchased at a high cost, establishing their fundamental worth.
-
Romans 13:7
Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Here the word is used to describe a specific obligation to render honor to those in authority, linking social duty with spiritual integrity.
-
I Timothy 5:17
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
This occurrence applies the term to church leaders, suggesting that their labor in teaching and ruling merits double respect and support.
-
Matthew 27:6
The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It’s not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.”
This verse highlights the literal monetary value of silver, showing how timē can refer to a physical price paid for blood money.