גָּבַהּ
𐤂𐤁𐤄
gâbahh
H1361 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be high, exalted, or elevated in a physical, social, or metaphorical sense. The verb describes spatial height (such as elevated places or lofty objects) and, by extension, social prominence or pride. In negative contexts, it connotes haughtiness or arrogance. In positive contexts, it may describe the act of being set on high or honored.
Semantic Range
to be high, lofty; to be exalted; to rise (in rank or position); to be haughty or proud; to act arrogantly; to be made or set high; to make (someone) proud or arrogant
Root / Etymology
Root is ג־ב־ה (g-b-h), meaning 'to be high, lofty'. The word derives from this root and refers to a state of elevation, whether literal or figurative. Its primary semantic field is spatial elevation; metaphorical uses stem from this concrete sense.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early biblical Hebrew, גָּבַהּ often appears in connection with physical height (e.g., mountains, buildings) but is also frequently used figuratively to describe personal or communal pride or arrogance (e.g., the heart being 'lifted up'). Passages in Deuteronomy, Kings, and Isaiah associate the term with haughtiness, especially in relation to individuals or nations who exalt themselves contrary to Israelite values of humility before the deity. In some Psalms and prophetic texts, the term describes the act of exalting or raising up, whether by the deity or in self-assertion. The contrast with שָפֵל (shaphel, 'to be low, humble') is significant, especially in wisdom and prophetic literature. English translations often render the positive sense as 'exalt,' the negative as 'be haughty' or 'proud,' but these glosses do not fully capture the underlying image of vertical elevation. The verb's usage does not carry specific religious or ethnic identity but may acquire nuance based on context (individual versus collective, God versus human, etc.).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to soar, i.e. be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty; exalt, be haughty, be (make) high(-er), lift up, mount up, be proud, raise up great height, upward.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גבה (g-b-h) — height, loftiness, exaltation, rising
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1362 | גָּבָהּ | loftiness |
| H1363 | גֹּבַהּ | in their loftiness |
| H1364 | גָּבֹהַּ | lofty |
| H1365 | גַּבְהוּת | loftiness of |
| H3011 | יׇגְבְּהָה | High-Place |
Word Forms
22 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1361-01 |
גָּבַ֤הּ | gavah | HVqp3ms |
is lifted up | he was lofty | 5 |
H1361-16 |
וַ/יִּגְבַּהּ֙ | vayigebah | HC/Vqw3ms |
and has been lifted up | and he rose high | 4 |
H1361-04 |
גָֽבְהוּ֙ | gavehu | HVqp3cp |
are higher | they were lofty | 4 |
H1361-11 |
תַגְבִּ֤יהַ | tagebiha | HVhi2ms |
you exalt | you raise high | 2 |
H1361-05 |
הַגְבֵּ֥הַּ | hagebeha | HVha |
exalt | to make high | 2 |
H1361-15 |
וַ/יַּגְבִּיהֶ֖/הָ | vayagebiheha | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3fs |
and-he-made-it-high | and he raised her high | 1 |
H1361-22 |
יִגְבְּה֨וּ | yigebehu | HVqi3mp |
they may become tall | they will be lofty | 1 |
H1361-20 |
יַגְבִּ֥יהוּ | yagebihu | HVhi3mp |
fly upward | they will raise high | 1 |
H1361-17 |
וַ/יִּגְבָּֽהוּ | vayigebahu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they are exalted | and they rose high | 1 |
H1361-10 |
מַגְבִּ֥יהַּ | magebiha | HVhrmsa |
exalts | one who raises high | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
34 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1361-16 |
1 Samuel 10:23 | וַ/יִּגְבַּהּ֙ | vayigebah | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he was taller | and he rose high |
H1361-04 |
Isaiah 3:16 | גָֽבְהוּ֙ | gavehu | HVqp3cp |
they are haughty | they were lofty |
H1361-16 |
Isaiah 5:16 | וַ/יִּגְבַּ֛ה | vayigebah | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-will-be-exalted | and he rose high |
H1361-05 |
Isaiah 7:11 | הַגְבֵּ֥הַּ | hagebeha | HVha |
make high | to make high |
H1361-18 |
Isaiah 52:13 | וְ/גָבַ֖הּ | vegavah | HC/Vqq3ms |
and greatly exalted | and he rose high |
H1361-04 |
Isaiah 55:9 | גָבְה֥וּ | gavehu | HVqp3cp |
are higher | they were lofty |
H1361-04 |
Isaiah 55:9 | גָּבְה֤וּ | gavehu-2 | HVqp3cp |
are higher | they were lofty |
H1361-12 |
Jeremiah 13:15 | תִּגְבָּ֑הוּ | tigebahu | HVqj2mp |
be haughty | may you be lofty |
H1361-11 |
Jeremiah 49:16 | תַגְבִּ֤יהַ | tagebiha | HVhi2ms |
you make high | you raise high |
H1361-14 |
Ezekiel 16:50 | וַֽ/תִּגְבְּהֶ֔ינָה | vatigebeheynah | HC/Vqw3fp |
they were haughty | they became lofty |