Bible Dictionary
EXCELLENT
Surpassing in greatness, honor, quality, or value. Scripture uses the term for God’s majesty, superior rank, and the preeminence of the knowledge of Christ.
Definition
Excellent means greater, better, honorable, noble, surpassing, or preeminent. It describes what exceeds another in rank, quality, distinction, or value.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses the term for God’s greatness and honor, superior rank, things that are preeminent, and the surpassing knowledge of Christ. The “more excellent way” is rendered “most excellent” in the Revised Version.
Historical Background
The word translates several Hebrew and Greek expressions meaning great, honorable, surpassing, better, most noble, or preeminent. Some translations use “majestic glory” where the older wording says excellent glory.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ek'-se-lent 'addir, yattir (Aramaic); diaphoroteros, kratistos:</p><p>The translation of various Hebrew words, chiefly of 'addir, "great," "honorable" (Ps 8:1,9; 16:3; 76:4); yattir, "surpassing," is Aramaic, occurring in Da 2:31; 4:36; 5:12,14; 6:3. Other words are bachar, "to glow," "try," "choose" (So 5:15); ga'on, "mounting," "swelling" (Isa 4:2; see EXCELLENCY); gadhal, "to make or become great" (Isa 28:29), and other words occurring singly.</p><p>In the New Testament we have diaphoroteros, "greater," "better" (Heb 1:4; 8:6); kratistos, "most excellent," "most noble" (Lu 1:3; Ac 23:26); ta diapheronta, "things that differ," "are preeminent" (Ro 2:18; Php 1:10); megaloprepes, "becoming to the great" (2Pe 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" (1Co 12:31, "Yet I show unto you a more excellent way," the Revised Version (British and American) "most excellent"); pleion, "greater," "fuller" (Heb 11:4; see ABEL).</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>