ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ.
hotan ho Christos phanerōthē, hē zōē hēmōn, tote kai hymeis syn autō phanerōthēsesthe en doxē.
"When Moshiach, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory."
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Greek | δόξῃ |
| Lexical Form | δόξα (doxa) |
| Part of Speech | Noun, Feminine |
| Case/Number | Dative Singular |
| Meaning | Glory, splendor, honor, majesty, radiance, divine manifestation |
The noun δόξα (doxa) originally came from the verb δοκέω (dokeō), meaning:
In classical Greek, δόξα often meant:
However, when the Greek Tanakh (the LXX) translated the Hebrew word כָּבוֹד (kāvōd), δόξα took on a much richer meaning:
The Jewish Brit Chadasha frequently uses δόξα to describe the radiance and majesty of G-d and Moshiach.
Depending on context, δόξα can refer either to honor and reputation or to the visible manifestation of divine majesty and splendor.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ἐν | in, within, surrounded by |
| δόξῃ | glory, splendor, divine radiance |
The phrase ἐν δόξῃ literally means:
"in glory"
The dative case following ἐν suggests the sphere or condition in which believers will be revealed.
Paul is not merely saying believers will receive honor; he is saying they will be revealed together with Moshiach in the realm of divine glory itself.
The verse contains two occurrences of the verb φανερόω (phaneroō):
The emphasis is that Moshiach's present life is hidden, and the believer's true identity is also hidden. At His return both Moshiach and His people will be openly revealed.
The final phrase:
σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ
"You will be manifested with Him in glory."
The believer's future is participation in Moshiach's own glory.
The Hebrew word כָּבוֹד (kavod) literally carries the idea of weight, substance, importance, and honor.
When Scripture speaks of the glory of G-d, it often refers to:
Paul's use of δόξα therefore echoes the Tanakh concept of sharing in G-d's manifested glory.
δόξα (doxa) is much more than fame or honor. In biblical usage it refers to:
divine glory, majesty, splendor, radiance, and the manifested presence of G-d.
The phrase ἐν δόξῃ in Colossians 3:4 means:
"in glory," "in divine splendor," or "in the manifested radiance of Moshiach."
Paul's promise is that when Moshiach is revealed, believers will be revealed together with Him, sharing in His glory and openly participating in His resurrection majesty.