The religious title “Reverend” is typically used by well-meaning people as a designation of honor and dignity for a minister or preacher. In the urgency of people to append a title of honor to those of a sacerdotal caste in the sectarian world, they have gone far beyond the Bible in so doing. No preacher should allow himself to be called “Reverend” or by any other title. The word “holy” is also misused as a title of religious significance as in “Holy See.” Some even use “Brother” as a title. The reason such titles are wrong is because there is no “clergy and laity” distinction in the church of Christ. Jesus condemned all titles of honor in religion (Matthew 23:8-9).
In their refusal to apply the title of “Reverend” to men, well-intended brethren often cite Psalm 111:9 and say that this is the only time the word is used in the Bible, and further, that it is used here only in reference to God, not man. The problem is that this argument is true only after a fashion. The word “Reverend” appears only once in the King James Version of the Bible. The Hebrew word from which “Reverend” is translated appears over three hundred times in the Old Testament.
It is true that the word “Reverend” comes from the Hebrew word yare. This word occurs 373 times in the Old Testament. It is translated in the King James Version by “be afraid” (76 times), “dread” (1 time), “fear” (242 times), “reverence” (2 times), “afraid” (3 times), “be feared” (4 times), “be had in reverence” (1 time), “dreadful” (5 times), “fearful” (2 times), “fearfull” (1 time), “reverend” (1 time), “terrible” (24 times), “terrible acts” (1 time), “terribleness” (1 time), “terrible things” (4 times), “affright” (1 time), “make afraid” (2 times) and “put in fear” (2 times).
In Genesis 19:30, Lot “feared [yare] to dwell in Zoar.” The word is used two times in Deuteronomy 28:58, “…that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, the LORD thy God.” A form of yare is used in Isaiah 18:2 to describe the Ethiopians as “terrible.” David employed a form of yare in Psalm 139:14 to say, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
The words “Holy” and “Reverend” are not used as titles for God, but as terms descriptive of His character. Psalm 111:9 is a text exalting the name of God. The name of God is deserving of respect, godly fear and awe. Where is the deep veneration that we ought to feel toward the name of God Almighty? Is it evident among us when we speak His name, when we approach Him in worship and when we live before Him?
