What does גָּבַהּ (gābah) mean in the Bible?
גָּבַהּ (gābah): Physical elevation to metaphorical pride: ascending literally becomes ascending in arrogance and self-exaltation against God's supremacy.
Hebrew · H1361
גָּבַהּ
To soar , i.e. be lofty ; figuratively, to be haughty
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גָּבַהּH1361
Pronunciationgābah
What does גָּבַהּ (gābah) mean in the Bible?
גָּבַהּ (gābah): Physical elevation to metaphorical pride: ascending literally becomes ascending in arrogance and self-exaltation against God's supremacy.
Full entry for גָּבַהּ (H1361) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1361?
The BSB source-word alignment has 34 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include are higher (2), high (2), is proud (2), It towered (2), and exalts them (1).
Where does גָּבַהּ (gābah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 10:23. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (10), Isaiah (6), 2 Chronicles (4), Job (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itare higher2×Isaiah 55:9
high2×Job 35:5, Proverbs 17:19
is proud2×Proverbs 18:12, Ezekiel 28:2
It towered2×Ezekiel 19:11, Ezekiel 31:5
and exalts them1×Job 36:7
and heightened it1×2 Chronicles 33:14
are haughty1×Isaiah 3:16
as high1×Psalms 103:11
be arrogant1×Jeremiah 13:15
be haughty1×Zephaniah 3:11
Exalt1×Ezekiel 21:26
exalted1×Isaiah 52:13
grew proud1×Ezekiel 28:17
has grown proud1×Ezekiel 28:5
his arrogance1×2 Chronicles 26:16
it became great1×Ezekiel 31:10
on high1×Psalms 113:5
proud1×Psalms 131:1
soar1×Job 39:27
tall1×Ezekiel 17:24
taller1×1 Samuel 10:23
the heights1×Isaiah 7:11
Thus they were haughty1×Ezekiel 16:50
took delight1×2 Chronicles 17:6
upward1×Job 5:7
was proud1×2 Chronicles 32:25
will be exalted1×Isaiah 5:16
would become great1×Ezekiel 31:14
you elevate1×Jeremiah 49:16
you soar1×Obadiah 1:4
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 10:23וַיִּגְבַּהּ֙totallerConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 17:6וַיִּגְבַּ֥הּtotook delightConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 26:16גָּבַ֤הּtohis arroganceVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 32:25גָבַ֖הּtowas proudVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 33:14וַיַּגְבִּיהֶ֖הָtoand heightened itConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularJob 5:7יַגְבִּ֥יהוּtoupwardVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralJob 35:5גָּבְה֥וּtohighVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralJob 36:7וַיִּגְבָּֽהוּ׃toand exalts themConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralJob 39:27יַגְבִּ֣יהַּtosoarVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 103:11כִגְבֹ֣הַּtoas highPreposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Samuel 10:23
Aligned rows34
Books represented10
1 Samuel12 Chronicles4Job4Psalms3Proverbs2Isaiah6Jeremiah2Ezekiel10Obadiah1Zephaniah1
Source forms
גָּבַ֤הּ3xgā·ḇah2 Chronicles 26:16, Ezekiel 28:2, Ezekiel 28:17
וַיִּגְבַּ֥הּ2xway·yiḡ·bah2 Chronicles 17:6, Ezekiel 28:5
גָבַ֖הּ1xḡā·ḇah2 Chronicles 32:25
גָבַ֣הּ1xḡā·ḇahPsalms 131:1
גָּבְהָ֣א1xgā·ḇə·hāEzekiel 31:5
גָֽבְהוּ֙1xḡā·ḇə·hūIsaiah 3:16
גָבְה֥וּ1xḡā·ḇə·hūIsaiah 55:9
גָּבְה֥וּ1xgā·ḇə·hūJob 35:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular5x2 Chronicles 26:16, 2 Chronicles 32:25, Psalms 131:1, Ezekiel 28:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular4x1 Samuel 10:23, 2 Chronicles 17:6, Isaiah 5:16, Ezekiel 28:5
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural4xJob 35:5, Isaiah 3:16, Isaiah 55:9
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xJeremiah 49:16, Obadiah 1:4
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute2xIsaiah 7:11, Ezekiel 21:26
Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct1xPsalms 113:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular1x2 Chronicles 33:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 52:13
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical elevation to metaphorical pride: ascending literally becomes ascending in arrogance and self-exaltation against God's supremacy.
Strong'sH1361
Lexical occurrences34 versesWord forms2 forms22 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 13:1-8Source Gloss
to soar , i.e. be lofty ; figuratively, to be haughty
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical elevation to metaphorical pride: ascending literally becomes ascending in arrogance and self-exaltation against God's supremacy.
to soar, i.e. be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty BDB: be high Usage: exalt, be haughty, be (make) high(-er), lift up, mount up, be proud, raise up great height, upward.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms22
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense14×
Perfect2Chr 26:16 · 2Chr 32:25 · Ezek 28:2 · Ezek 28:17 · Ps 131:1 · Isa 3:16 · Isa 55:9 · Job 35:5 · Ezek 31:5 · Ezek 31:1011×
ImperfectEzek 31:14 · Prov 18:122×
JussiveJer 13:151×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action8×
ImperfectJer 49:16 · Obad 1:4 · Job 5:7 · Job 39:274×
Infinitive absoluteEzek 21:31 · Isa 7:112×
PerfectEzek 17:241×
Participle activeProv 17:191×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to be high, exalted
To be high or exalted, often describing arrogance or self-elevation.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 34 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גָּבַהּ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The term captures the posture that provokes divine opposition and eventual humbling.Hosea 13:1-8
Prosperity breeds self-exaltation.Isaiah 3:16-4:1
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.