גָּאוֹן (H1347) — Hebrew Lexicon

גָּאוֹן

𐤂𐤀𐤅𐤍

gâʼôwn

H1347 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גאה to rise, be exalted, be lofty

Definition

Majestic self-exaltation, proud bearing, or overwhelming greatness; frequently denotes pride (in a negative ethical sense), grandeur or splendor (of God, nations, or nature), sometimes extending to the concrete aspect of adornment or prominent feature (e.g., of the Jordan's flood). It conveys both the concept of human pride or arrogance and the manifestation of majesty, especially in poetic or prophetic contexts.

Semantic Range

pride, arrogance, haughtiness, majesty, splendor, greatness, ornament, swelling (of river), prominent feature, excellence

Root / Etymology

From the root גָּאָה (g-ʼ-h), meaning 'to rise, be lofty, be exalted.' גָּאוֹן is a noun formation indicating a quality or state associated with being high, lofty, or exalted. The lexical sense derives from the physical notion of rising or swelling (as of water) and figuratively extends to emotional or social elevation (pride, majesty). The relationship to גַּאֲוָה (ga'avah, 'pride') is immediate and the words are often synonymous, though גָּאוֹן may more frequently emphasize grandeur or outward display.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גָּאוֹן frequently describes both positive and negative qualities, depending on the referent. When applied to Israel, Judah, or other nations, it often signifies pride, arrogance, or unwarranted self-exaltation, subject to prophetic rebuke—especially in exilic and post-exilic writings. When referring to God or something divinely related (e.g. 'the majesty of YHWH'), the term overwhelmingly conveys honor, splendor, or overwhelming greatness. In some metaphorical or poetic contexts, as in references to the 'pride' or 'swelling' of the Jordan (Jer 12:5; 49:19), it indicates a literal rising or increased volume of water as a prominent or impressive feature. Later biblical and post-biblical usage (including the Dead Sea Scrolls) can retain both the positive and negative connotations. English translations often select 'pride' or 'arrogance' for negative contexts, and 'majesty,' 'excellence,' or 'glory' for positive, but rarely capture the original's capacity to encompass both prideful self-exaltation and awe-inspiring grandeur.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גָּאָה; the same as גַּאֲוָהxlit gaʻăvâh corrected to gaʼăvâh; {arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament}; arrogancy, excellency(-lent), majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling.

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Root Family

גאה (g-ʾ-h) — to rise, be exalted, be lofty

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1341	גֵּא	proud one
H1342	גָּאָה	he rose high
H1343	גֵּאֶה	lofty
H1344	גֵּאָה	self-exaltation
H1345	גְּאוּאֵל	El has exalted
H1346	גַּאֲוָה	in loftiness
H1348	גֵּאוּת	in exaltedness of
H1349	גַּאֲיוֹן	to exalted ones
H1406	גָּג	elevated roof of
H1460	גֵּו	back
H1467	גֵּוָה	in self-exaltation

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H1347-03`	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of	23
`H1347-01`	בִּ/גְא֣וֹן	bigeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	by-the-pride-of	loftiness of	5
`H1347-07`	גְּאֹנֽ/וֹ	geono	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his majesty	his loftiness	4
`H1347-02`	גָּא֨וֹן	gaon	`HNcmsa`	pride	lofty exaltation	3
`H1347-06`	גְּאוֹנְ/ךָ֖	geonekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	of your majesty	your loftiness	2
`H1347-09`	לְ/גָא֣וֹן	legaon	`HR/Ncmsa`	for pride	for exalted loftiness	2
`H1347-12`	וּ/גְאוֹנ֛/וֹ	ugeono	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and his pride	and his loftiness	2
`H1347-11`	מִ/גְּא֣וֹן	migeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the thicket	rising-exaltation of	2
`H1347-08`	כִּ/גְא֖וֹן	kigeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	like the pride	like the loftiness of	1
`H1347-14`	בִ/גְאוֹנָ֑/ם	vigeonam	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp`	in their pride	in their loftiness	1
`H1347-13`	וְ/גָא֨וֹן	vegaon	`HC/Ncmsa`	and arrogancy	and exalted grandeur	1
`H1347-05`	גְּאוֹנָֽיִ/ךְ	geonayikhe	`HNcmpc/Sp2fs`	your-prides	your loftinesses	1
`H1347-10`	לִ/גְא֣וֹן	ligeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	a pride	lofty majesty of	1
`H1347-04`	גְּאוֹנָ֑/ם	geonam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their pride	their loftiness	1

Occurrences in Scripture

49 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H1347-06`	Exodus 15:7	גְּאוֹנְ/ךָ֖	geonekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	of your majesty	your loftiness
`H1347-03`	Leviticus 26:19	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-07`	Isaiah 2:10	גְּאֹנֽ/וֹ	geono	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his majesty	his loftiness
`H1347-07`	Isaiah 2:19	גְּאוֹנ֔/וֹ	geono	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his majesty	his loftiness
`H1347-07`	Isaiah 2:21	גְּאוֹנ֔/וֹ	geono	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his majesty	his loftiness
`H1347-09`	Isaiah 4:2	לְ/גָא֣וֹן	legaon	`HR/Ncmsa`	for pride	for exalted loftiness
`H1347-03`	Isaiah 13:11	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	arrogance	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Isaiah 13:19	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	of pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-06`	Isaiah 14:11	גְּאוֹנֶ֖/ךָ	geonekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	your pomp	your loftiness
`H1347-03`	Isaiah 16:6	גְאוֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-12`	Isaiah 16:6	וּ/גְאוֹנ֛/וֹ	ugeono	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and his pride	and his loftiness
`H1347-03`	Isaiah 23:9	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-01`	Isaiah 24:14	בִּ/גְא֣וֹן	bigeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the majesty	loftiness of
`H1347-10`	Isaiah 60:15	לִ/גְא֣וֹן	ligeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	a pride	lofty majesty of
`H1347-01`	Jeremiah 12:5	בִּ/גְא֥וֹן	bigeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the pride	loftiness of
`H1347-03`	Jeremiah 13:9	גְּא֧וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Jeremiah 13:9	גְּא֥וֹן	geon-2	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Jeremiah 48:29	גְאוֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	of the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-12`	Jeremiah 48:29	וּ/גְאוֹנ֛/וֹ	ugeono	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and his pride	and his loftiness
`H1347-11`	Jeremiah 49:19	מִ/גְּא֣וֹן	migeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the thicket	rising-exaltation of
`H1347-11`	Jeremiah 50:44	מִ/גְּא֣וֹן	migeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the thicket	rising-exaltation of
`H1347-09`	Ezekiel 7:20	לְ/גָא֣וֹן	legaon	`HR/Ncmsa`	for pride	for exalted loftiness
`H1347-03`	Ezekiel 7:24	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-02`	Ezekiel 16:49	גָּא֨וֹן	gaon	`HNcmsa`	pride	lofty exaltation
`H1347-05`	Ezekiel 16:56	גְּאוֹנָֽיִ/ךְ	geonayikhe	`HNcmpc/Sp2fs`	your-prides	your loftinesses
`H1347-03`	Ezekiel 24:21	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Ezekiel 30:6	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride-of	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Ezekiel 30:18	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Ezekiel 32:12	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Ezekiel 33:28	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Hosea 5:5	גְאֽוֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Hosea 7:10	גְאֽוֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Amos 6:8	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-01`	Amos 8:7	בִּ/גְא֣וֹן	bigeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	by-the-pride-of	loftiness of
`H1347-01`	Micah 5:3	בִּ/גְא֕וֹן	bigeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	in-majesty	loftiness of
`H1347-03`	Nahum 2:3	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-08`	Nahum 2:3	כִּ/גְא֖וֹן	kigeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	like the pride	like the loftiness of
`H1347-04`	Zephaniah 2:10	גְּאוֹנָ֑/ם	geonam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their pride	their loftiness
`H1347-03`	Zechariah 9:6	גְּא֥וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Zechariah 10:11	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Zechariah 11:3	גְּא֥וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-03`	Psalms 47:5	גְּא֨וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-14`	Psalms 59:13	בִ/גְאוֹנָ֑/ם	vigeonam	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp`	in their pride	in their loftiness
`H1347-13`	Proverbs 8:13	וְ/גָא֨וֹן	vegaon	`HC/Ncmsa`	and arrogancy	and exalted grandeur
`H1347-02`	Proverbs 16:18	גָּא֑וֹן	gaon	`HNcmsa`	pride	lofty exaltation
`H1347-03`	Job 35:12	גְּא֣וֹן	geon	`HNcmsc`	the pride	lofty grandeur of
`H1347-07`	Job 37:4	גְּאוֹנ֑/וֹ	geono	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his majesty	his loftiness
`H1347-01`	Job 38:11	בִּ/גְא֥וֹן	bigeon	`HR/Ncmsc`	on the pride	loftiness of
`H1347-02`	Job 40:10	גָֽא֣וֹן	gaon	`HNcmsa`	majesty	lofty exaltation

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