What does גַּאֲוָה (bəḡa’ăwaṯ) mean in the Bible?
גַּאֲוָה (bəḡa’ăwaṯ): Majesty's corruption: divine splendor becomes human arrogance when claimed rather than ascribed to God alone.
Hebrew · H1346
גַּאֲוָה
Arrogance or majesty ; by implication, (concretely) ornament
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
גַּאֲוָה H1346
Pronunciation bəḡa’ăwaṯ
What does גַּאֲוָה (bəḡa’ăwaṯ) mean in the Bible?
גַּאֲוָה (bəḡa’ăwaṯ): Majesty's corruption: divine splendor becomes human arrogance when claimed rather than ascribed to God alone.
Full entry for גַּאֲוָה (H1346) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1346?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include pride (2), . . . (1), [and] conceit (1), [his] pride (1), arrogance (1).
Where does גַּאֲוָה (bəḡa’ăwaṯ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 33:26. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (7), Isaiah (5), Deuteronomy (2), Proverbs (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It pride 2× Psalms 73:6, Proverbs 29:23
. . . 1× Psalms 31:23
[and] conceit 1× Isaiah 16:6
[his] pride 1× Job 41:15
arrogance 1× Jeremiah 48:29
full of pride 1× Psalms 31:18
His pride 1× Isaiah 25:11
in His majesty 1× Deuteronomy 33:26
in My triumph 1× Isaiah 13:3
In pride 1× Psalms 10:2
in the surge 1× Psalms 46:3
in their pride 1× Zephaniah 3:11
in which you boast 1× Deuteronomy 33:29
of the proud 1× Psalms 36:11
the pride 1× Isaiah 13:11
The proud 1× Proverbs 14:3
whose majesty 1× Psalms 68:34
With pride 1× Isaiah 9:9
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 33:26 וּבְגַאֲוָת֖וֹ to in His majesty Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 33:29 גַּאֲוָתֶ֑ךָ to in which you boast Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Job 41:15 גַּ֭אֲוָה to [his] pride Noun - feminine singular Psalms 10:2 בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת to In pride Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Psalms 31:18 בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה to full of pride Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular Psalms 31:23 גַאֲוָֽה׃ to . . . Noun - feminine singular Psalms 36:11 גַּאֲוָ֑ה to of the proud Noun - feminine singular Psalms 46:3 בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ to in the surge Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Psalms 68:34 גַּאֲוָת֑וֹ to whose majesty Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Psalms 73:6 גַאֲוָ֑ה to pride Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Deuteronomy 33:26
Aligned rows 19
Books represented 7
Deuteronomy 2 Job 1 Psalms 7 Proverbs 2 Isaiah 5 Jeremiah 1 Zephaniah 1
Source forms
גַּאֲוָ֑ה 2x ga·’ă·wāh Psalms 36:11, Proverbs 14:3
בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה 1x bə·ḡa·’ă·wāh Psalms 31:18
בְּגַאֲוָ֛ה 1x bə·ḡa·’ă·wāh Isaiah 9:9
בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת 1x bə·ḡa·’ă·waṯ Psalms 10:2
בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ 1x bə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw Psalms 46:3
גַאֲוָ֑ה 1x ḡa·’ă·wāh Psalms 73:6
גַּ֭אֲוָה 1x ga·’ă·wāh Job 41:15
גַאֲוָֽה׃ 1x ḡa·’ă·wāh Psalms 31:23
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular 5x Job 41:15, Psalms 31:23, Psalms 36:11, Psalms 73:6
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 3x Psalms 68:34, Isaiah 16:6, Isaiah 25:11
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular 2x Psalms 31:18, Isaiah 9:9
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct 1x Isaiah 13:11
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 1x Jeremiah 48:29
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 1x Deuteronomy 33:26
Noun - feminine singular construct 1x Proverbs 29:23
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular 1x Isaiah 13:3
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Majesty's corruption: divine splendor becomes human arrogance when claimed rather than ascribed to God alone.
Source Gloss
arrogance or majesty ; by implication, (concretely) ornament
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Majesty's corruption: divine splendor becomes human arrogance when claimed rather than ascribed to God alone.
arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament BDB: majesty Usage: excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly, swelling.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
In pride or arrogance; a rising up or swelling of the self
Showing 1 selected witness from 19 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גַּאֲוָה is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain