How to Read the Bible: Context 5

Understanding Biblical Honor and Shame

In our modern world, especially in individualistic cultures, identity is often rooted in personal integrity, internal validation, and self-confidence. We’re taught to do what’s right, regardless of what others think, and to take pride in who we are as individuals. But when we approach the Bible with this mindset, we can easily miss a key aspect of how people in the ancient world understood themselves and their place in society. In the biblical era, honor and shame were the cornerstones of identity, and these concepts were tied deeply to how the community saw you, not just how you saw yourself.

Let’s unpack how this honor-shame dynamic shaped the world of the Bible and how understanding it can open our eyes to a richer meaning in Scripture.

Honor and Shame in the Ancient World

In ancient cultures, honor wasn’t something you felt internally, it was something your community awarded you. Your worth was publicly acknowledged, and you built your identity on that external validation. Conversely, shame was the loss of honor, a diminishment of your worth in the eyes of others. This wasn’t just a personal embarrassment, it could affect your entire family or social group.

For an Israelite in the ancient world, identity was tied not just to personal status but to one’s community and nation. To lose your place in the community was to lose yourself. For example, when God called Abram to leave his family and homeland (Genesis 12:1), it wasn’t just a simple relocation. Abram was leaving behind his identity, his sense of honor, and everything that had shaped him up to that point. He was stepping into a completely new existence, where his identity would be rooted in God’s promise rather than in his ancestral ties.

This concept also explains why Ruth’s decision to leave her people and follow Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17) was such a profound act. Ruth wasn’t just moving to a new location, she was adopting a new identity, one shaped by her commitment to Naomi and the God of Israel. In doing so, she abandoned the honor and identity that came with her birth culture, aligning herself with Naomi’s people and faith.

Public Honor and Group Identity

Unlike our modern, more individualistic cultures, honor in the ancient world was something you shared with your group. If one person brought honor to their family or nation, it elevated everyone. On the flip side, shame wasn’t just personal, it could affect your entire household or community. For example, when a person broke social norms or acted dishonorably, it wasn’t just a stain on their personal reputation, it impacted the honor of the entire group.

This public understanding of honor sheds light on several key moments in the Bible. Take the confrontations between Jesus and the Pharisees. On the surface, it might seem like they were merely theological debates, but in the culture of the time, these were honor challenges. The Pharisees frequently questioned Jesus in public, trying to discredit him and diminish his standing. When Jesus responded sharply, he wasn’t just defending doctrine, he was maintaining his public honor in front of the people, which was crucial in an honor-shame society.

Jesus Redefines Honor and Shame

While honor and shame were essential to ancient identity, Jesus came to redefine these concepts in a radical way. Throughout his ministry, Jesus taught that true honor doesn’t come from public praise or societal status, but from God. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-6), Jesus urged his followers not to seek honor from others but to perform good deeds in secret, trusting that God sees everything. This was a significant shift from the cultural expectations of the time, where public recognition was everything.

Paul echoed this idea when he wrote that all believers must appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). This statement would have resonated deeply in an honor-shame culture, emphasizing that the final judgment of one’s honor wouldn’t come from people but from God. Paul’s message was clear: live for God’s approval, not for the fleeting praise of society.

A Biblical Example of Honor and Shame: David and Bathsheba

The story of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12) gives us a clear picture of how honor and shame played out in the ancient world. When David sinned by committing adultery and orchestrating Uriah’s death, his initial concern wasn’t guilt in the way we understand it today. Instead, he was focused on preserving his public honor. It wasn’t until the prophet Nathan publicly confronted David with a parable that he was truly shamed, and only then did David come to genuine repentance, recognizing that he had dishonored not just his people but also God.

Honor, Shame, and Us Today

Understanding how honor and shame functioned in the biblical world helps us see how radically different the teachings of Jesus were. In a culture where public recognition and communal status were everything, Jesus called people to find their worth in God’s eyes. This shift wasn’t just countercultural, it was revolutionary.

Even today, many of us still seek validation through external measures: how many likes we get on social media, the praise of others, or our achievements. But the Bible reminds us that our true identity and worth come from God alone. Just as Jesus called his followers to live for God’s honor, we too are called to prioritize God’s standards over the world’s expectations.

Conclusion: Finding Our Identity in God’s Honor

The ancient world was built on honor and shame, with identity shaped by community and public recognition. But the Bible teaches us that true honor comes from living in accordance with God’s will. By understanding the cultural context of the Bible, we can better appreciate the transformative power of Jesus’ teachings and how they continue to call us to live with our eyes fixed on God’s approval, rather than the fleeting praise of people.

In the end, the honor that truly matters is not what we earn from the world but the honor that comes from being in right relationship with God. And that is the identity we should strive for above all else.