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עֶלְיוֹן

𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤅𐤍

ʻelyôwn

H5945 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root עלה to go up, to ascend, to be high

Definition

ʻelyôwn functions primarily as an adjective meaning 'high, upper, exalted.' As a substantive or title, it refers to 'the Most High,' indicating the highest status, most often applied to deities, especially the God of Israel. It is employed in geographic, architectural, and social contexts to denote something set above others. As a divine title, it emphasizes supreme authority or position.

Semantic Range

high, upper, exalted, uppermost, highest, Most High (divine title), upper part (of a place or structure), highest rank or position

Root / Etymology

The word derives from the root ע־ל־ה (עלה), meaning 'to go up, ascend, be high.' ʻelyôwn is the qal adjective form denoting the quality of height or loftiness, applied literally or metaphorically.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ʻelyôwn appears throughout the Hebrew Bible to indicate physical height (e.g., upper rooms, upper regions), but its most prominent use is as a divine epithet, particularly in psalms and poetic passages (e.g., Psalm 7:18[17], 78:35), emphasizing the transcendent status of Israel's deity over all other gods, rulers, or powers. In non-Israelite literature and some inscriptions from surrounding cultures, comparable titles are given to supreme gods, which may reflect near eastern concepts of divine hierarchy. Early Israelite texts use 'Elohim ʻelyôwn' (God Most High), sometimes seen alongside El Elyon, which may reflect a period when divine titles were more fluidly applied. English translations traditionally render ʻelyôwn as 'Most High,' particularly when it refers to the God of Israel; however, in architectural or geographic contexts (as in 'upper city' or 'upper room'), this is rendered as 'upper' or 'highest.' Care must be taken not to read later theological connotations of 'supreme being' or 'monotheistic uniqueness' back into every occurrence. In post-exilic and Second Temple literature, ʻelyôwn as a title becomes more prominent and increasingly specialized as the supreme divine epithet, often reflected in Greek as 'Hypsistos.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָלָה; an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme; (Most, on) high(-er, -est), upper(-most).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עלה (ʿ-l-h) — to go up, to ascend, to be high

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H421 אָלָה Lofty One
H422 אָלָה he ascended
H4605 מַעַל upward
H4607 מֹעַל in hand-raising
H4608 מַעֲלֶה at the ascent

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5945-01 עֶלְיֽוֹן eleyon HAamsa Most High Highest One 32
H5945-02 הָֽ/עֶלְי֔וֹן haeleyon HTd/Aamsa the upper the Most High 11
H5945-03 הָֽ/עֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה haeleyonah HTd/Aafsa the upper the uppermost 4
H5945-06 וְ/עֶלְי֖וֹן veeleyon HC/Aamsa and the Most High Exalted One 3
H5945-05 לְ/עֶלְיֽוֹן leeleyon HR/Aamsa the Most High to the Highest One 2
H5945-04 הָ/עֶלְיוֹנֹ֖ת haeleyonot HTd/Aafpa upper the upper ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

53 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5945-01 Genesis 14:18 עֶלְיֽוֹן eleyon HAamsa Most High Highest One
H5945-01 Genesis 14:19 עֶלְי֔וֹן eleyon HAamsa Most High Highest One
H5945-01 Genesis 14:20 עֶלְי֔וֹן eleyon HAamsa Most High Highest One
H5945-01 Genesis 14:22 עֶלְי֔וֹן eleyon HAamsa Most High Highest One
H5945-02 Genesis 40:17 הָֽ/עֶלְי֔וֹן haeleyon HTd/Aamsa uppermost the Most High
H5945-01 Numbers 24:16 עֶלְי֑וֹן eleyon HAamsa of the Most High Highest One
H5945-01 Deuteronomy 26:19 עֶלְי֗וֹן eleyon HAamsa high Highest One
H5945-01 Deuteronomy 28:1 עֶלְי֔וֹן eleyon HAamsa high Highest One
H5945-01 Deuteronomy 32:8 עֶלְיוֹן֙ eleyon HAamsa the Most High Highest One
H5945-01 Joshua 16:5 עֶלְיֽוֹן eleyon HAamsa the upper Highest One
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