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גֵּאוּת

𐤂𐤀𐤅𐤕

gêʼûwth

H1348 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גאה to rise, to be high, to be exalted

Definition

Exaltation, majesty, or loftiness, especially as a quality describing status, stature, or splendor. In some contexts, it can also refer to pride or arrogance as a negative quality. The word is used to convey both positive and negative connotations, depending on whether the exaltation is attributed to deity, royalty, or an individual boasting against proper humility.

Semantic Range

exaltation, majesty (especially for deity or royalty), pride, arrogance, stately splendor, metaphorical surging (of sea or waves), excellence, ornamentation

Root / Etymology

From the root גאה (gʼh), meaning 'to be high, exalted, to rise up.' גֵּאוּת is a feminine noun form of the root, referring specifically to an abstract or quality of 'height' or 'majesty,' but at times also 'pride' depending on context.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גֵּאוּת typically appears in poetic texts, including Psalms and prophetic literature. When attributed to the deity of Israel, it describes divine majesty, exaltation, or unassailable splendor (e.g., Exodus 15:7, Psalm 68:34), often connoting the overwhelming power or sovereign grandeur of God. In contrast, when applied to human qualities, it may mark hubris or pride (e.g., Amos 6:8), especially pride that provokes downfall or is perceived as illegitimate. The translation as 'majesty' for deity and 'pride' or 'arrogance' for humans reflects these contextual nuances. The related nominal form גַּאֲוָה (ga'avah) tends to emphasize pride or arrogance, but the two terms greatly overlap and are sometimes interchangeable. English translations sometimes render גֵּאוּת as 'majesty,' 'excellence,' 'pride,' or 'raging' (for metaphorical surges like the sea, cf. Job 38:11). Notably, in poetic passages describing the sea's surging or foaming, the word can denote the literal or metaphorical high waves, indicating a semantic extension of 'loftiness.' Over time, the term continued to mark both legitimate and illegitimate 'elevation' in status or character.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גָּאָה; the same as גַּאֲוָהxlit gaʻăvâh corrected to gaʼăvâh; {arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament}; excellent things, lifting up, majesty, pride, proudly, raging.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

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

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1348-02 גֵּא֥וּת geut HNcfsc majesty exalted-majesty of 6
H1348-01 בְּ/גֵא֣וּת begeut HR/Ncfsc over the pride in exaltedness of 1
H1348-03 בְ/גֵאֽוּת vegeut HR/Ncfsa in arrogance in exaltation 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1348-02 Isaiah 9:17 גֵּא֥וּת geut HNcfsc pride exalted-majesty of
H1348-02 Isaiah 12:5 גֵא֖וּת geut HNcfsa glorious things exalted-majesty of
H1348-02 Isaiah 26:10 גֵּא֥וּת geut HNcfsc majesty exalted-majesty of
H1348-02 Isaiah 28:1 גֵּאוּת֙ geut HNcfsc pride exalted-majesty of
H1348-02 Isaiah 28:3 גֵּא֖וּת geut HNcfsc of pride exalted-majesty of
H1348-03 Psalms 17:10 בְ/גֵאֽוּת vegeut HR/Ncfsa in arrogance in exaltation
H1348-01 Psalms 89:10 בְּ/גֵא֣וּת begeut HR/Ncfsc over the pride in exaltedness of
H1348-02 Psalms 93:1 גֵּא֪וּת geut HNcfsa majesty exalted-majesty of
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