10 Reasons Why Beauty Points Back to God in the Old Testament, by Joseph Mattera

By Joseph Mattera, The Stream, March 15, 2025

Dr. Joseph Mattera is an internationally known author, consultant, and theologian whose mission is to influence leaders who influence culture. He is the founding pastor of Resurrection Church, and leads several organizations, including The U.S. Coalition of Apostolic Leaders and Christ Covenant Coalition. He also is the author of 13 bestselling books, including his latest The Global Apostolic Movement and the Progress of the Gospel, and is renowned for applying Scripture to contemporary culture. To order one of his books or to subscribe to his weekly newsletter go to www.josephmattera.org.

The concept of beauty in the Old Testament, particularly as understood by conservative Jewish and Christian scholars, reflects a holistic view deeply rooted in God’s nature, creation, and redemptive purposes. The term “glory” (from the Hebrew “kabod” and the Greek “doxa”) encapsulates the idea of divine beauty.

Below are key elements of how the Hebrew Scriptures define beauty.

Beauty as a Reflection of God’s Character

Conservative Jewish and Christian scholars agree that beauty originates from God, who is the ultimate source of all that is good, true, and beautiful. Beauty is not merely aesthetic but a reflection of God’s perfection, order, and glory. Passages such as Psalm 27:4, “One thing I ask from the Lord … that I may gaze on the beauty of the Lord,” show that God’s beauty is moral, spiritual, and transcendent. His holiness, righteousness, and majesty embody beauty in its purest form. ….

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