Chronological timeline of texts tagged with Divine Honor and Shame
About This Tag
Share:
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, God is portrayed as following the rules of honor and shame culture, acting not for the benefit of Israel and other nations, but to vindicate and restore the honor of His own reputation. This reflects an ancient Near Eastern cultural context in which concepts of honor and shame held central social significance. When Israel’s actions bring public dishonor to God, divine intervention is often framed as a means of preserving or restoring His reputation among the nations.
Note: Dates shown in this timeline are approximate and based on scholarly estimates.
Back to Tag5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Exodus 20:12
Hebrew Bible
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery.
5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Exodus 32:12
Hebrew Bible
10 So now, leave me alone so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them, and I will make from you a great nation.” 11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘For evil he led them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger, and relent of this evil against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel your servants, to whom you swore by yourself and told them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken about I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever.’” 14 Then the Lord relented over the evil that he had said he would do to his people.
5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Numbers 14:13
Hebrew Bible
12 I will strike them with the pestilence, and I will disinherit them—I will make you into a nation that is greater and mightier than they!” 13 Moses said to the Lord, “When the Egyptians hear it—for you brought up this people by your power from among them— 14 then they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, Lord, are among this people, that you, Lord, are seen face to face, that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them by day in a pillar of cloud and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 If you kill this entire people at once, then the nations that have heard of your fame will say, 16 ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to them, he killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 So now, let the power of my Lord be great, just as you have said,
5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Numbers 14:15
Hebrew Bible
14 then they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, Lord, are among this people, that you, Lord, are seen face to face, that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them by day in a pillar of cloud and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 If you kill this entire people at once, then the nations that have heard of your fame will say, 16 ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to them, he killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 So now, let the power of my Lord be great, just as you have said,
6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Deuteronomy 5:16
Hebrew Bible
14 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. On that day you must not do any work, you, your son, your daughter, your male slave, your female slave, your ox, your donkey, any other animal, or the resident foreigner who lives with you, so that your male and female slaves, like yourself, may have rest. 15 Recall that you were slaves in the land of Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there by strength and power. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. 16 “Honor your father and your mother just as the Lord your God has commanded you to do, so that your days may be extended and that it may go well with you in the land that he is about to give you. 17 “You must not murder. 18 “You must not commit adultery.
6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Deuteronomy 9:28
Hebrew Bible
27 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; ignore the stubbornness, wickedness, and sin of these people. 28 Otherwise the people of the land from which you brought us will say, “The Lord was unable to bring them to the land he promised them, and because of his hatred for them he has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.” 29 They are your people, your valued property, whom you brought out with great strength and power.
6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Joshua 7:9
Hebrew Bible
7 Joshua prayed, “O, Sovereign Lord! Why did you bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us? If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated before its enemies? 9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will turn against us and destroy the very memory of us from the earth. What will you do to protect your great reputation?” 10 The Lord responded to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying there face down?
6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
1 Samuel 12:22
Hebrew Bible
20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed sinned. However, don’t turn aside from the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver, since they are empty. 22 The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The Lord was pleased to make you his own people. 23 As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright. 24 However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!
6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
2 Kings 19:34
Hebrew Bible
33 He will go back the way he came. He will not enter this city,” says the Lord. 34 “‘I will shield this city and rescue it for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.’” 35 That very night the angel of the Lord went out and killed 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. When they got up early the next morning, there were all the corpses.
7th-5th Centuries B.C.E.
Isaiah 43:25
Hebrew Bible
24 You did not buy me aromatic reeds; you did not present to me the fat of your sacrifices. Yet you burdened me with your sins; you made me weary with your evil deeds. 25 I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake; your sins I do not remember. 26 Remind me of what happened. Let’s debate! You, prove to me that you are right!
7th-5th Centuries B.C.E.
Isaiah 48:11
Hebrew Bible
8 You did not hear, you do not know, you were not told beforehand. For I know that you are very deceitful; you were labeled a rebel from birth. 9 For the sake of my reputation I hold back my anger; for the sake of my prestige I restrain myself from destroying you. 10 Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have purified you in the furnace of misery. 11 For my sake alone I will act, for how can I allow my name to be defiled? I will not share my glory with anyone else! 12 Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I summoned. I am the one; I am present at the very beginning and at the very end.
7th-5th Centuries B.C.E.
Isaiah 52:5
Hebrew Bible
4 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “In the beginning my people went to live temporarily in Egypt; Assyria oppressed them for no good reason. 5 And now, what do we have here?” says the Lord. “Indeed my people have been carried away for nothing, those who rule over them taunt,” says the Lord, “and my name is constantly slandered all day long. 6 For this reason my people will know my name; for this reason they will know at that time that I am the one who says,‘Here I am.’”
6th Century B.C.E.
Ezekiel 20:9
Hebrew Bible
7 I said to them, “Each of you must get rid of the detestable idols you keep before you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.” 8 But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me; no one got rid of their detestable idols, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my rage on them and fully vent my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations among whom they lived, before whom I revealed myself by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 “‘So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them to the wilderness. 11 I gave them my statutes and revealed my regulations to them. The one who carries them out will live by them!
6th Century B.C.E.
Ezekiel 20:44
Hebrew Bible
42 Then you will know that I am the Lord when I bring you to the land of Israel, to the land I swore to give to your fathers. 43 And there you will remember your conduct and all your deeds by which you defiled yourselves. You will despise yourselves because of all the evil deeds you have done. 44 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for the sake of my reputation and not according to your wicked conduct and corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” 45 (21:1) The Lord’s message came to me: 46 “Son of man, turn toward the south, and speak out against the south. Prophesy against the open scrub land of the Negev,
6th Century B.C.E.
Ezekiel 36:21
Hebrew Bible
20 But when they arrived in the nations where they went, they profaned my holy name. It was said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, yet they have departed from his land.’ 21 I was concerned for my holy reputation, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went. 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake that I am about to act, O house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy reputation, which you profaned among the nations where you went.
6th Century B.C.E.
Ezekiel 36:22
Hebrew Bible
21 I was concerned for my holy reputation, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went. 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake that I am about to act, O house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy reputation, which you profaned among the nations where you went. 23 I will magnify my great name that has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I magnify myself among you in their sight.
6th Century B.C.E.
Ezekiel 39:7
Hebrew Bible
6 I will send fire on Magog and those who live securely in the coastlands; then they will know that I am the Lord. 7 “‘I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 8 Realize that it is coming and it will be done, declares the Sovereign Lord. It is the day I have spoken about.
6th Century B.C.E.
Ezekiel 39:21
Hebrew Bible
19 You will eat fat until you are full and drink blood until you are drunk at my slaughter that I have made for you. 20 You will fill up at my table with horses and charioteers, with warriors and all the soldiers,’ declares the Sovereign Lord. 21 “I will display my majesty among the nations. All the nations will witness the judgment I have executed and the power I have exhibited among them. 22 Then the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward.
5th Century B.C.E.
Zechariah 2:8
Hebrew Bible
6 “You there! Flee from the northland!” says the Lord, “for like the four winds of heaven I have scattered you,” says the Lord. 7 “Escape, Zion, you who live among the Babylonians!” 8 For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “For his own glory he has sent me to the nations that plundered you—for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye. 9 Yes, look here, I am about to punish them so that they will be looted by their own slaves.” Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.
5th Century B.C.E.
Malachi 1:6
Hebrew Bible
4 Edom says, “Though we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.” So the Lord of Heaven’s Armies responds, “They indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known as the land of evil, the people with whom the Lord is permanently displeased. 5 Your eyes will see it, and then you will say, ‘May the Lord be magnified even beyond the border of Israel!’” 6 “A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects his master. If I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, ‘How have we made light of your name?’ 7 You are offering improper sacrifices on my altar, yet you ask, ‘How have we offended you?’ By treating the table of the Lord as if it is of no importance. 8 For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E.
Psalm 25:11
Hebrew Bible
9 May he show the humble what is right. May he teach the humble his way. 10 The Lord always proves faithful and reliable to those who follow the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your reputation, O Lord, forgive my sin, because it is great. 12 The Lord shows his faithful followers the way they should live. 13 They experience his favor; their descendants inherit the land.
6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E.
Psalm 74:22
Hebrew Bible
20 Remember your covenant promises, for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules. 21 Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame. Let the oppressed and poor praise your name. 22 Rise up, O God. Defend your honor. Remember how fools insult you all day long. 23 Do not disregard what your enemies say or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you.
6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E.
Psalm 79:9
Hebrew Bible
8 Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations. Quickly send your compassion our way, for we are in serious trouble. 9 Help us, O God, our deliverer! For the sake of your glorious reputation, rescue us. Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation. 10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Before our very eyes may the shed blood of your servants be avenged among the nations.
6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E.
Psalm 79:10
Hebrew Bible
8 Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations. Quickly send your compassion our way, for we are in serious trouble. 9 Help us, O God, our deliverer! For the sake of your glorious reputation, rescue us. Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation. 10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Before our very eyes may the shed blood of your servants be avenged among the nations. 11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners. Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die. 12 Pay back our neighbors in full. May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O Lord.
6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E.
Psalm 94:14
Hebrew Bible
12 How blessed is the one whom you instruct, O Lord, the one whom you teach from your law 13 in order to protect him from times of trouble, until the wicked are destroyed. 14 Certainly the Lord does not forsake his people; he does not abandon the nation that belongs to him. 15 For justice will prevail, and all the morally upright will be vindicated. 16 Who will rise up to defend me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evildoers?
6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E.
Psalm 106:8
Hebrew Bible
6 We have sinned like our ancestors; we have done wrong, we have done evil. 7 Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds. They failed to remember your many acts of loyal love, and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea. 8 Yet he delivered them for the sake of his reputation that he might reveal his power. 9 He shouted at the Red Sea and it dried up; he led them through the deep water as if it were a desert. 10 He delivered them from the power of the one who hated them and rescued them from the power of the enemy.
6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E.
Psalm 115:2
Hebrew Bible
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name bring honor, for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness. 2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven. He does whatever he pleases. 4 Their idols are made of silver and gold—they are man-made.
2nd Century B.C.E.
Daniel 9:19
Hebrew Bible
17 “So now, our God, accept the prayer and requests of your servant, and show favor to your devastated sanctuary for your own sake. 18 Listen attentively, my God, and hear! Open your eyes and look on our desolated ruins and the city called by your name. For it is not because of our own righteous deeds that we are praying to you, but because your compassion is abundant. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, pay attention, and act! Don’t delay, for your own sake, O my God! For your city and your people are called by your name.” 20 While I was still speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my request before the Lord my God concerning his holy mountain— 21 yes, while I was still praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen previously in a vision, was approaching me in my state of extreme weariness, around the time of the evening offering.
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Ezekiel 36:22
Septuagint
19 and scattered them among the nations and drove them away among the territories. I judged them according to their way and according to their sin. And they entered among the nations where they entered there, and they profaned my holy name when they said, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and they have come from his land. 21 And I had pity on them on account of my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations wherever they entered there. 22 “On account of this, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I shall act not for you, O house of Israel, but rather on account of my holy name, which you profaned among the nations where you went there.
100-50 B.C.E.
Wisdom of Solomon 16:8
Deuterocanon
6 they were troubled for a little while as a warning, and received a symbol of deliverance to remind them of your law's command. 7 For the one who turned toward it was saved, not by the thing they looked at, but by you, the Savior of all. 8 By this also you convinced our enemies that it is you who deliver from every evil. 9 For they were killed by the bites of locusts and flies, and no healing was found for them, because they deserved to be punished by such things. 10 But your children were not conquered even by the fangs of venomous serpents, for your mercy came to their help and healed them.
55-58 C.E.
Romans 2:24
New Testament
22 You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! 24 For just as it is written, “the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
75-85 C.E.
Luke 6:46
New Testament
45 The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart. 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you? 47 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice—I will show you what he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built.
100 C.E.
3 John 1:7
New Testament
5 Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). 6 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans. 8 Therefore we ought to support such people so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth. 9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing—the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church!
200-300 C.E.
Jonathan Isaiah 48:11
Targum
10 I have refined you, but not in the crucible of silver; I tested you in the distress of poverty. 11 For my name’s sake, for the sake of my Memra, that it may not be profaned, I will do it, and my glory, in which I have revealed myself to you, I will not give to another people. 12 Listen to my Memra, you who are of the house of Jacob and Israel, my called: I am He who was of old; yes, ages upon ages are mine, and besides me there is no God. 13 Yes, by my Memra I laid the foundation of the earth, and by my might I suspended the heavens; when I call to them, they stand up together.