You have a point, Holy Brother. But why, then is there no word or phrase in loshon kodesh (not ivrit, loshon kodesh) for the concept? I’m not trying to negate the concept; its just the word “esteem” is not one we usualy link to people.
And by the way, is your tag “holy brother” indicitive of your Carlebach leanings? If so, you are indeed a holy brother!