The term "excellent" in the Bible is often used to describe qualities, attributes, or actions that are of the highest standard, surpassing ordinary measures of goodness or virtue. It is a word that conveys a sense of superiority, worthiness, and praiseworthiness, often associated with God's nature, His works, and the character expected of His people.

Divine Excellence

God's excellence is a recurring theme in Scripture, highlighting His supreme nature and the perfection of His works. In Psalm 8:1 , the psalmist declares, "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens." This verse underscores the excellence of God's name and His glory, which is evident throughout creation. God's excellence is not only in His creation but also in His attributes, such as His wisdom, power, and holiness.

Excellence in Creation

The excellence of God's creation is evident from the very beginning. In Genesis 1, after each act of creation, God saw that it was good, culminating in Genesis 1:31 , "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." The excellence of creation reflects the character of the Creator, who is perfect in all His ways.

Moral and Ethical Excellence

Believers are called to pursue excellence in their moral and ethical conduct. Philippians 4:8 exhorts, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things." This passage encourages Christians to focus their thoughts and actions on things that are excellent, aligning their lives with God's standards.

Excellence in Spiritual Gifts and Service

The New Testament also speaks of excellence in the context of spiritual gifts and service within the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:31 , Paul urges believers to "earnestly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison." The pursuit of excellence in spiritual gifts is not for personal glory but for the edification of the church and the glorification of God.

Excellence in Love

The most excellent way, as described by Paul, is the way of love. In 1 Corinthians 13, often referred to as the "Love Chapter," Paul emphasizes that love surpasses all other gifts and virtues. Love is described as patient, kind, and enduring, embodying the highest form of excellence in relationships and community.

Excellence in Leadership

Biblical leadership is marked by excellence, as leaders are called to be examples to the flock. In 1 Timothy 3:2 , Paul outlines the qualifications for overseers, stating, "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach." These qualities reflect a standard of excellence that leaders are to embody in their service to the church.

Excellence in Worship

Worship is another area where excellence is emphasized. Psalm 150:2 proclaims, "Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him for His excellent greatness." Worship that is excellent is characterized by sincerity, reverence, and a focus on God's greatness, acknowledging His worthiness to be praised.

In summary, the concept of excellence in the Bible encompasses God's nature, His creation, and the conduct expected of His people. It is a call to reflect God's character in every aspect of life, striving for the highest standards in thought, action, and worship.1. (a.) Excelling; surpassing others in some good quality or the sum of qualities; of great worth; eminent, in a good sense; superior; as, an excellent man, artist, citizen, husband, discourse, book, song, etc.; excellent breeding, principles, aims, action.

2. (a.) Superior in kind or degree, irrespective of moral quality; -- used with words of a bad significance.

3. (adv.) Excellently; eminently; exceedingly.

EXCELLENT

ek'-se-lent 'addir, yattir (Aramaic); diaphoroteros, kratistos:

The translation of various Hebrew words, chiefly of 'addir, "great," "honorable" (Psalm 8:1, 9; Psalm 16:3; Psalm 76:4); yattir, "surpassing," is Aramaic, occurring in Daniel 2:31; Daniel 4:36; Daniel 5:12, 14; 6:03. Other words are bachar, "to glow," "try," "choose" (Songs 5:15); ga'on, "mounting," "swelling" (Isaiah 4:2; see EXCELLENCY); gadhal, "to make or become great" (Isaiah 28:29), and other words occurring singly.

In the New Testament we have diaphoroteros, "greater," "better" (Hebrews 1:4; Hebrews 8:6); kratistos, "most excellent," "most noble" (Luke 1:3 Acts 23:26); ta diapheronta, "things that differ," "are preeminent" (Romans 2:18 Philippians 1:10); megaloprepes, "becoming to the great" (2 Peter 1:17, the King James Version "a voice to him from the excellent glory," the American Standard Revised Version and the English Revised Version, margin "the Majestic Glory"); kath' huperbolen "very surpassing" (1 Corinthians 12:31, "Yet I show unto you a more excellent way," the Revised Version (British and American) "most excellent"); pleion, "greater," "fuller" (Hebrews 11:4; see ABEL).

W. L. Walker

1313. diaphoros -- varying, excellent
... varying, excellent. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: diaphoros Phonetic
Spelling: (dee-af'-or-os) Short Definition: differing, different, excellent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1313.htm - 6k

4119. pleion -- more excellent, very great, many
... more excellent, very great, many. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: pleion
Phonetic Spelling: (pli-own) Short Definition: more, greater Definition: more ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4119.htm - 7k

2903. kratistos -- strongest, noblest
... strongest, noblest. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kratistos Phonetic
Spelling: (krat'-is-tos) Short Definition: most excellent Definition: most ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2903.htm - 6k

2908. kreisson -- better.
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kreisson Phonetic Spelling: (krice'-son)
Short Definition: stronger, more excellent Definition: stronger, more ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2908.htm - 6k

3169. megaloprepes -- befitting a great one
... excellent. From megas and prepo; befitting greatness or magnificence (majestic) --
excellent. see GREEK megas. see GREEK prepo. (megaloprepous) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3169.htm - 7k

2909. kreitton -- better
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kreitton or kreisson Phonetic Spelling:
(krite'-tohn) Short Definition: stronger, more excellent Definition: stronger ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2909.htm - 7k

1308. diaphero -- to carry through, carry about, to differ, make a ...
... carry about, to differ, make a difference, surpass NASB Word Usage carry (1), differ
(1), differs (1), driven about (1), essential (1), excellent (1), makes ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1308.htm - 8k

5236. huperbole -- a throwing beyond, excess, superiority
... excess, superiority NASB Word Usage all comparison (1), beyond* (1), excessively*
(1), far...all comparison (1), measure (1), more excellent (1), surpassing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5236.htm - 7k

2596. kata -- down, against, according to
... at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered,
(dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from... ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2596.htm - 9k

2570. kalos -- beautiful, good
... word Definition beautiful, good NASB Word Usage beautiful (1), better (5), better*
(2), commendable manner (1), excellent (1), fair (1), fine (2), good (79 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2570.htm - 7k

4030. migdanah -- a choice or excellent thing
... 4029, 4030. migdanah. 4031 . a choice or excellent thing. Transliteration:
migdanah Phonetic Spelling: (mig-daw-naw') Short Definition: things. ...
/hebrew/4030.htm - 6k

7230. rob -- multitude, abundance, greatness
... abundance, greatness NASB Word Usage abundance (29), abundant (6), abundantly (2),
age* (1), all (1), ample (1), common sort* (1), excellent (1), extensively (1 ...
/hebrew/7230.htm - 6k

1348. geuth -- majesty
... Word Origin from gaah Definition majesty NASB Word Usage column (1), excellent
things (1), majesty (2), proud (2), proudly (1), swelling (1). ...
/hebrew/1348.htm - 6k

7119. qar -- cool
... cold, excellent. Contracted from an unused root meaning to chill; cool; figuratively,
quiet -- cold, excellent (from the margin). 7118, 7119. qar. 7120 . ...
/hebrew/7119.htm - 6k

7689. saggi -- great
... Word Origin from saga Definition great NASB Word Usage exalted (2). excellent, great.
From saga'; (superlatively) mighty -- excellent, great. see HEBREW saga'. ...
/hebrew/7689.htm - 6k

5716. adi -- ornaments
... excellent, mouth, ornament. From adah in the sense of trappings; finery; generally
an outfit; specifically, a headstall -- X excellent, mouth, ornament. ...
/hebrew/5716.htm - 6k

117. addir -- majestic
... stately (1). excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty ier
one, noble,. From 'adar; wide or (generally) large; figuratively ...
/hebrew/117.htm - 6k

977. bachar -- to choose
... acceptable, appoint, choose choice, excellent, join, be rather, require. A
primitive root; properly, to try, ie (by implication) select ...
/hebrew/977.htm - 6k

7682. sagab -- to be (inaccessibly) high
... defend, exalt, be excellent, be, set on high, lofty, be safe, set up on high,.
A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) lofty, especially ...
/hebrew/7682.htm - 6k

3493. yattir -- preeminent, surpassing
... exceedingly, excellent. (Aramaic) corresponding to Yattiyr; preeminent; as an adverb,
very -- exceeding(-ly), excellent. see HEBREW Yattiyr. 3492, 3493. ...
/hebrew/3493.htm - 6k

Whether Charity is the Most Excellent of the virtues?
... OF CHARITY, CONSIDERED IN ITSELF (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether charity is the
most excellent of the virtues? Objection 1: It would seem ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether charity is the most.htm

"A More Excellent Way. "
... Jesus "A More Excellent Way.". Then there's another way of telling the story
of Jesus to men. It's a yet better way. Tell it with your life. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/a more excellent way.htm

Whether the virtues are More Excellent than the Gifts?
... OF THE GIFTS (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the virtues are more excellent than the gifts? ...
Therefore a virtue is more excellent than the gifts of the Holy Ghost. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the virtues are more.htm

Whether Charity is the Most Excellent of the virtues
... Article Six Whether Charity is the Most Excellent of the Virtues. Whether Charity
is the Most Excellent of the Virtues We proceed to the sixth article thus: ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article six whether charity is.htm

Whether the Gift of Tongues is More Excellent than the Grace of ...
... OF THE GRACE OF TONGUES (TWO ARTICLES) Whether the gift of tongues is more
excellent than the grace of prophecy? Objection 1: It ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the gift of tongues.htm

The More Excellent Way
... Second Series Sermon 89 The More Excellent Way. "Covet earnestly the best gifts;
And yet I show to you a more excellent way." 1:Cor.12:31. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 89 the more excellent.htm

My Excellent Friend
... THE FIRST CENTURY 80 My excellent friend. My excellent friend, you see that
there are treasures in Heaven and Earth fit to be enjoyed ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/80 my excellent friend.htm

Whether the Active Life is More Excellent than the Contemplative?
... OF THE ACTIVE LIFE IN COMPARISON WITH THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
the active life is more excellent than the contemplative? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the active life is.htm

Excellent Qualities of Proclus.
... Book VII. Chapter XLI."Excellent Qualities of Proclus. Proclus was a reader
at a very early age, and assiduously frequenting the ...
/.../chapter xli excellent qualities of proclus.htm

It is More Excellent to Know that the Flesh Will Rise Again and ...
... Chapter 14 [X.]"It is More Excellent to Know That the Flesh Will Rise Again and
Live for Evermore, Than to Learn Whatever Scientific Men Have Been Able to ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 14 x it is more.htm

Excellent (52 Occurrences)
... a.) Excelling; surpassing others in some good quality or the sum of qualities; of
great worth; eminent, in a good sense; superior; as, an excellent man, artist ...
/e/excellent.htm - 24k

Surpassing (21 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Surpass. 2. (a.) Eminently excellent;
exceeding others. Multi-Version Concordance Surpassing (21 Occurrences). ...
/s/surpassing.htm - 13k

Extraordinary (11 Occurrences)
... image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent,
stood before you; and its aspect was awesome. (See NAS). ...
/e/extraordinary.htm - 10k

Theophilus (2 Occurrences)
... From the fact that Luke applies to him the title "most excellent", the same title
Paul uses in addressing Felix (Acts 23:26; 24:3) and Festus (26:25), it has ...
/t/theophilus.htm - 8k

Obtained (61 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS). Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he
hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (KJV WBS RSV). ...
/o/obtained.htm - 25k

Glorious (91 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; inspiring
admiration; as, glorious revelations. 2. (n.) Eager ...
/g/glorious.htm - 34k

Abel (22 Occurrences)
... It is also said (Hebrews 11:4) that "Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice
than Cain." This sacrifice was made "by faith;" this faith rested in God ...
/a/abel.htm - 22k

Good (8348 Occurrences)
... desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed; promoting success, welfare,
or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent; admirable; commendable ...
/g/good.htm - 26k

Gaulonitis
... Across the Jordan. To him also we owe the excellent maps which carry us
eastward to the province of el-Chauran. Schumacher inclines ...
/g/gaulonitis.htm - 9k

Golan (4 Occurrences)
... Across the Jordan. To him also we owe the excellent maps which carry us
eastward to the province of el-Chauran. Schumacher inclines ...
/g/golan.htm - 11k

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