Bible Verses About Glory: 12 Scriptures on the Glory of God

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

— Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about glory want Scripture for awe that will not fit in a phrase, a life that feels small, or a desire to honor God without performing — not a thesaurus of church words. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about heaven, Bible verses about worship, Bible verses about holiness, Bible verses about light, and Love and heaven. Here the focus is God's weighty worth and our call to reflect it — distinct from heaven as home (Bible verses about heaven) and from worship as the response of praise (Bible verses about worship). For the glory that filled the tabernacle and the temple, see shekinah glory Bible verses. For God's glory shining, see radiance in the Bible.

Word study (lead theme). In Hebrew, "glory" is often כָּבוֹד kabod (Strong's H3519; Bible Hub H3519) — weight, honor, splendour, the dense worth of God. In Greek, δόξα doxa (Strong's G1391; Bible Hub G1391) is glory, honor, renown — what is seen when God's character shines.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalm 19 notes that creation is a silent sermon of God's glory that every language can read (Bible Hub commentaries on Psalm 19:1; Bible Hub MHC Psalm 19). On Exodus 33 he marks Moses's prayer "show me your glory" as the hunger of a servant who already knew God's name and still wanted more of his presence (Bible Hub commentaries on Exodus 33:18; Bible Hub MHC Exodus 33).

What does the Bible say about God's glory?

God's glory is his weighty worth, made visible where people can look. Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Isaiah 6:3 says, "And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'" The brightness that filled the tabernacle and the temple is the Shekinah glory.

That glory is seen in Jesus. John 1:14 says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ."

Living for his glory is how that sight becomes a life. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

12 Bible verses about glory

Psalm 19:1. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Creation speaks God's worth without words. See Bible verses about creation.
Exodus 33:18-19. "Then Moses said, 'Now show me your glory.' And the Lord said, 'I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you…'" Glory is requested as presence, and God answers with goodness. See Bible verses about goodness.
Isaiah 42:8. "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols." God's glory is not shared with rivals. See Bible verses about worship.
John 1:14. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Glory walked into a neighborhood. See Bible verses about grace.
Romans 3:23. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Sin is measured against God's worth, not against our peers. See Bible verses about repentance.
2 Corinthians 3:18. "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Looking at glory changes us. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 24:7-8. "Lift up your heads, you gates… that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty…" Glory arrives as a King who conquers. See Bible verses about the kingdom.
Habakkuk 2:14. "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." Glory's future is global knowing, not private thrill. See Bible verses about hope.
1 Corinthians 10:31. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Ordinary meals can aim at God's honor. See Bible verses about serving others.
Romans 11:36. "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." All roads of meaning end in God's praise. See Bible verses about worship.
John 17:4-5. "I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." Jesus finished work that honored the Father. See Bible verses about the cross.
2 Corinthians 4:17. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." Present weight is temporary; coming glory is heavier still. See Bible verses about perseverance.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a week of smallness, a night of awe, or a decision about whose name you are building — not twelve. If you need creation's testimony, start with Psalm 19:1. If you need courage to ask for more of God, start with Exodus 33:18. If you need ordinary life aimed at God, start with 1 Corinthians 10:31. For heaven as home, see Bible verses about heaven. For praise as response, see Bible verses about worship. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day. The Lord of Glory list is on Bible verses about Lord of Glory.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about glory?

Psalm 19:1 (the heavens declare), Exodus 33:18 (show me your glory), and 1 Corinthians 10:31 (do all for the glory of God) are clear starting places.

What does the Bible say about the glory of God?

Scripture presents God's glory as his weighty worth — seen in creation (Psalm 19:1), revealed in Christ (John 1:14), and aimed at in every ordinary act (1 Corinthians 10:31).

What is a Bible verse about seeing God's glory?

Exodus 33:18–19 records Moses asking to see God's glory, and God answering by causing his goodness to pass in front of him. John 1:14 says the Word's glory was seen in the flesh.

How does glory relate to heaven and worship?

Heaven is the place of God's full presence (Bible verses about heaven); worship is the fitting response (Bible verses about worship). Glory is the worth those pages point toward.

How can I use Bible verses about glory in prayer?

Read Psalm 19:1 outdoors and thank God for what creation already says. Use Exodus 33:18 when you want more of him, and 1 Corinthians 10:31 when ordinary tasks need a holy aim.

What does the glory of God mean?

God's glory is his weighty worth — the honor and splendor that belong to him. Scripture shows it in creation (Psalm 19:1), in the seraphim's cry that the earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3), and in Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

How do we give God glory?

We give God glory by aiming ordinary life at his honor. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says to do all for the glory of God, whether you eat or drink. Matthew 5:16 says good deeds should lead others to glorify the Father. Psalm 29:2 says, "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness."

Sources

NIV text quoted above.
Blue Letter Bible / Bible Hub Strong's entries for kabod (H3519) and doxa (G1391).
Matthew Henry Concise via Bible Hub on Psalm 19:1 and Exodus 33:18.