גַּאֲיוֹן
𐤂𐤀𐤉𐤅𐤍
gaʼăyôwn
H1349 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Elevated state, pride, or majesty—refers to an exalted condition, whether literal (elevation, loftiness) or figurative (pride, arrogance, self-exaltation, or majesty). The term is applied both to positive qualities such as majesty or splendor, particularly ascribed to YHWH, and negative qualities such as arrogance or haughtiness in humans or nations.
Semantic Range
loftiness, majesty, grandeur, self-exaltation, pride, arrogance, haughtiness, exalted state (literal or figurative)
Root / Etymology
From the root גאה (g-'-h), meaning 'to rise, to be high, to be exalted.' The noun form גַּאֲיוֹן derives from the core notion of elevation, with a shift to abstract qualities (pride, majesty, arrogance).
Historical & Contextual Notes
גַּאֲיוֹן occurs relatively infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in both singular and plural forms. In poetic texts (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos), it is used to denote the majesty or exaltedness of YHWH as well as the pride or arrogance of peoples (including foreign nations like Egypt or Moab, or Israelites themselves). The term's range covers both positive and negative qualities depending on context, and is not strictly limited to 'haughtiness'—as in Strong's—but incorporates splendor or grandeur as recognized by modern lexicons (cf. HALOT, BDB). It may be paralleled or contrasted with גָּאוֹן (ga'ōn), a closely related noun. Later translations (especially KJV) predominantly stress negative senses (pride, haughtiness), but the term can equally denote majesty or exalted state where the referent is YHWH or something praiseworthy. Usage outside the Tanakh is rare; in Rabbinic and post-biblical Hebrew, distinctions became more pronounced.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּאָה; haughty; proud.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot 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
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1349-01 |
לִ/גְאֵ֥יוֹנִֽים | ligeeyonim | HR/Aampa |
of the proud | to exalted ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1349-01 |
Psalms 123:4 | לִ/גְאֵ֥יוֹנִֽים | ligeeyonim | HR/Aampa |
of the proud | to exalted ones |