3168. megaleiotés

Lexical Summary

megaleiotés: Majesty, greatness, magnificence

Original Word: μεγαλειότης
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: megaleiotés
Pronunciation: meg-al-i-OT-ace
Phonetic Spelling: (meg-al-i-ot'-ace)
KJV: magnificence, majesty, mighty power
NASB: greatness, magnificence, majesty
Word Origin: [from G3167 (μεγαλεῖος - mighty deeds)]

1. superbness, i.e. glory or splendor

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

magnificence, majesty, mighty power.

From megaleios; superbness, i.e. Glory or splendor -- magnificence, majesty, mighty power.

see GREEK megaleios

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from megaleios
Definition
splendor, magnificence
NASB Translation
greatness (1), magnificence (1), majesty (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3168: μεγαλειότης

μεγαλειότης, μεγαλειότητος, ἡ (from the preceding word), greatness, magnificence (Athen. 4, 6, p. 130 at the end; for תִּפְאֶרֶת, Jeremiah 40:9 ()); the majesty of God, Luke 9:43; τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος, Acts 19:27; of the visible splendor of the divine majesty as it appeared in the transfiguration of Christ, 2 Peter 1:16.

Topical Lexicon

Overview of Divine Majesty

Strong’s Greek 3168 appears three times in the New Testament, each time conveying the overwhelming splendor, grandeur, and transcendent greatness that rightfully belongs to God alone. Rather than a mere abstract quality, this majesty is consistently portrayed as active, perceptible, and transformative—calling forth awe, exposing idolatry, and grounding apostolic proclamation.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Luke 9:43 presents a crowd who “were all astonished at the majesty of God” after Jesus heals a demon-tormented boy. The word highlights how Christ’s miraculous works unveil the unmatched glory of the Father.
• Acts 19:27 records the concern of the Ephesian silversmiths that “the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed,” showing the term’s ironic use for pagan splendor that cannot compete with the gospel’s advance.
• 2 Peter 1:16 recalls the Transfiguration: “we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” Peter insists on the historical reliability of his testimony, contrasting it with “cleverly devised myths” and rooting Christian hope in a real manifestation of divine glory.

Revelation of God’s Splendor in Christ’s Earthly Ministry

In Luke 9, majesty is attributed directly to God as displayed through the Son’s authority over the demonic realm. The incident confirms that every act of deliverance in Jesus’ ministry is a fresh unveiling of the Father’s pristine glory. The astonishment of the crowd marks a proper human response to divine self-disclosure—wonder that leads to worship.

Confrontation with Human Pride and Idolatry

Acts 19 sets the term against the backdrop of Artemis worship. When the gospel penetrates Ephesus, the so-called “majesty” of a human-made deity is threatened. Scripture thus draws a sharp line between the enduring glory of the living God and the fading splendor of idols. The passage is a sober reminder that any exaltation of created things, be it religious, cultural, or economic, is ultimately exposed as counterfeit when measured against God’s true greatness.

Eschatological Assurance and Apostolic Witness

2 Peter 1 anchors Christian certainty in an actual, historical revelation of Christ’s glorious identity. By invoking the Transfiguration, Peter points forward to the future appearing of Jesus in power. The same majesty the apostles saw on the holy mountain will be universally displayed at His return. Therefore, believers can hold fast to prophetic Scripture, confident it will be fully vindicated.

Theological Themes and Ministry Application

1. Worship: Recognizing God’s majesty fuels reverent, God-centered worship that refuses to trivialize His character or reduce church life to entertainment.
2. Holiness: A vision of divine splendor compels moral transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18), exposing sin’s deformity and inspiring conformity to Christ.
3. Evangelism: Just as the gospel dismantled Artemis’s cult, faithful proclamation today challenges modern idols—materialism, self-exaltation, relativism—through the superior beauty of Christ.
4. Perseverance: Peter’s testimony assures believers that present sufferings are temporary; the majestic Christ whom the apostles beheld will soon be revealed to all (Romans 8:18).

Historical Reception in the Church

Patristic writers frequently cited these texts to defend orthodox Christology, emphasizing that the majesty witnessed at the Transfiguration affirms both the deity and the future royal coming of Jesus. During the Reformation, Luke 9:43 was often used to underscore sola Deo gloria, reminding congregations that every saving act of God magnifies His honor, not human merit. Contemporary hymnody continues this trajectory, celebrating God’s incomparable majesty as the wellspring of praise and mission.

In every age the church is summoned, like the astonished crowd, the challenged idol-makers, and the eyewitness apostles, to behold, proclaim, and live under the all-surpassing majesty of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

μεγαλειότητα μεγαλειοτητι μεγαλειότητι μεγαλειοτητος μεγαλειότητος μεγαλοπρεπεία μεγαλοπρέπεια μεγαλοπρέπειά μεγαλοπρέπειαν μεγαλοπρέπειάν μεγαλοπρεπείας megaleioteti megaleiotēti megaleióteti megaleiótēti megaleiotetos megaleiotētos megaleiótetos megaleiótētos

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 9:43 N-DFS
GRK: ἐπὶ τῇ μεγαλειότητι τοῦ θεοῦ
NAS: amazed at the greatness of God.
KJV: amazed at the mighty power of God. But
INT: at the majesty of God

Acts 19:27 N-GFS
GRK: καθαιρεῖσθαι τῆς μεγαλειότητος αὐτῆς ἣν
NAS: be dethroned from her magnificence.
KJV: her magnificence should
INT: to be destroyed the majesty of her whom

2 Peter 1:16 N-GFS
GRK: τῆς ἐκείνου μεγαλειότητος
NAS: but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
KJV: eyewitnesses of his majesty.
INT: of his majesty

Strong's Greek 3168
3 Occurrences

μεγαλειότητι — 1 Occ.
μεγαλειότητος — 2 Occ.