הוֹד
𐤄𐤅𐤃
hôwd
H1935 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A quality of splendor or majesty, especially pertaining to appearance, dignity, or visible grandeur; often denotes impressive beauty, noble bearing, or the visible manifestation of regal or divine majesty. The term can refer to the magnificence or distinguished nature of an individual’s appearance (human or divine) and, contextually, the grandeur attributed to God, rulers, or objects. The word emphasizes what is striking, visually and symbolically impressive, or imbued with honor and excellence.
Semantic Range
splendor, majesty, imposing beauty, visible glory, royal dignity, noble appearance, exalted bearing, radiant magnificence
Root / Etymology
From the root הוּד (presumed, though unattested elsewhere), which is thought to denote 'splendor' or 'majesty.' The actual root is not extant as a verb in biblical Hebrew, and the etymology remains uncertain. The word functions primarily as a noun denoting form or quality rather than action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
הוֹד is primarily used in poetic books and later biblical texts (notably Psalms, Job, Isaiah, Daniel) to describe types of magnificence—physical loveliness, royal dignity, or the radiant majesty associated with deities or rulers. In Second Temple literature and later, the word intensifies associations with heavenly or divine attributes. The translation tradition sometimes renders it 'glory' or 'majesty,' but in many cases this reflects a visible or external display rather than an inherent quality—distinguishing it from כָּבוֹד (kabod), which more often denotes weighty significance or honor. Unlike terms for intrinsic value, הוֹד emphasizes visual or experiential grandeur, often with reference to light, radiance, or imposing presence. English 'glory' can overlap in meaning, but is broader and sometimes conflates with kabod, which should be noted. Context sometimes determines whether human, angelic, or divine grandeur is in view; refer to passages like Ps 104:1, Dan 11:21 as examples of its range.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root; grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance); beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honour, majesty.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
הוד (h-w-d) — splendor, grandeur, majesty, imposing beauty
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1936 | הוֹד | and Majesty |
| H1938 | הוֹדַוְיָה | Yahweh is Majesty |
| H1940 | הוֹדִיָּה | Yahweh is my splendor |
| H1941 | הוֹדִיָּה | Yahweh is my splendor |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1935-01 |
ה֣וֹד | hod | HNcmsc |
majesty | splendor-of | 11 |
H1935-03 |
הוֹד֑/וֹ | hodo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his glory | his splendor | 4 |
H1935-02 |
ה֝וֹדְ/ךָ֗ | hodekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
of your majesty | your splendor | 4 |
H1935-05 |
מֵ/הֽוֹדְ/ךָ֖ | mehodekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
some of your majesty | from your splendor | 1 |
H1935-07 |
וְ/ה֖וֹד | vehod | HC/Ncmsa |
and glory | and splendor | 1 |
H1935-04 |
הֹדֹֽ/ה | hodoh | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his splendor | his splendor | 1 |
H1935-06 |
וְ/הַ/ה֔וֹד | vehahod | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and-the-majesty | the splendor | 1 |
H1935-08 |
וְ/הוֹדִ֗/י | vehodi | HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
and my comeliness | and my splendor | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
24 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1935-05 |
Numbers 27:20 | מֵ/הֽוֹדְ/ךָ֖ | mehodekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
some of your majesty | from your splendor |
H1935-01 |
Isaiah 30:30 | ה֣וֹד | hod | HNcmsc |
the-glory | splendor-of |
H1935-04 |
Jeremiah 22:18 | הֹדֹֽ/ה | hodoh | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his splendor | his splendor |
H1935-03 |
Hosea 14:7 | הוֹד֑/וֹ | hodo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
its splendor | his splendor |
H1935-03 |
Habakkuk 3:3 | הוֹד֔/וֹ | hodo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his splendor | his splendor |
H1935-01 |
Zechariah 6:13 | ה֔וֹד | hod | HNcmsa |
glory | splendor-of |
H1935-03 |
Zechariah 10:3 | הוֹד֖/וֹ | hodo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his majestic | his splendor |
H1935-02 |
Psalms 8:2 | ה֝וֹדְ/ךָ֗ | hodekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your splendor | your splendor |
H1935-01 |
Psalms 21:6 | ה֥וֹד | hod | HNcmsa |
honor | splendor-of |
H1935-02 |
Psalms 45:4 | ה֝וֹדְ/ךָ֗ | hodekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
Your glory | your splendor |