גֹּבַהּ
𐤂𐤁𐤄
gôbahh
H1363 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or quality of being high, tall, or elevated; by extension, figuratively denotes loftiness or grandeur, often in reference to physical stature, social rank, or perceived self-importance. In negative contexts, it can refer to arrogance or prideful attitude. The semantic range encompasses both literal elevation (such as height or high places) and metaphorical elevation (exaltedness or pride).
Semantic Range
height, physical tallness, stature, high position, loftiness, exalted state, grandeur, pride, arrogance, haughtiness
Root / Etymology
From the root גָּבַהּ (g-b-h), which generally means 'to be high, lofty, exalted.' גֹּבַהּ is a noun formation indicating the state or condition of being high or elevated. The lexical meaning thus extends from the concrete 'height' to abstract qualities such as 'loftiness' and 'arrogance.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, גֹּבַהּ is used both in a neutral or positive sense (literal height, physical stature, or majesty) and in a negative or metaphorical sense (pride, arrogance). The most common referent is physical height—of people, trees, buildings, or hills. In the Prophets, it is often used metaphorically for the pride or haughtiness of individuals, nations, or the 'hearts' of rulers, frequently in texts warning against overweening pride before the divine. The term is largely neutral in descriptive passages but acquires negative connotations in prophetic critique. Related terms include רוּם (rum, 'to be high, exalted') but גֹּבַהּ is more frequently associated with potentially negative overtones of self-exaltation when compared to the more neutral or positive usages of רוּם. In subsequent Hebrew literature, including later biblical and Second Temple texts, the sense of pride or arrogance can predominate. English translations often render it as 'height' or 'loftiness,' but may use 'pride' in negative contexts; thus, readers should be aware that the semantic range includes both literal and metaphorical uses, and distinguishing context is essential.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּבַהּ; elation, grandeur, arrogance; excellency, haughty, height, high, loftiness, pride.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
גבה (Ygebehah) — to be high, to be lofty, to be exalted
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1361 | גָּבַהּ | he was lofty |
| H1362 | גָּבָהּ | loftiness |
| H1364 | גָּבֹהַּ | lofty |
| H1365 | גַּבְהוּת | loftiness of |
| H3011 | יׇגְבְּהָה | High-Place |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1363-05 |
גָּבְה֕/וֹ | gaveho | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his-height | his loftiness | his loftiness | 3 |
H1363-06 |
גֹּ֖בַהּ | govah | HNcmsa |
haughty | loftiness | height | 3 |
H1363-07 |
כְּ/גֹ֤בַהּ | kegovah | HR/Ncmsc |
in-the-haughtiness-of | like the height of | in the haughtiness of | 2 |
H1363-10 |
וְ/גֹ֥בַהּ | vegovah | HC/Ncmsa |
and-height | and height | and height | 2 |
H1363-01 |
בְּ/גָבְהָ֖/ם | begaveham | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp |
in their height | in their loftiness | in their height | 1 |
H1363-02 |
בְּ/גָבְהֽ/וֹ | begaveho | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in its loftiness | in his loftiness | in his loftiness | 1 |
H1363-03 |
בְּ/גֹ֣בַהּ | begovah | HR/Ncmsc |
for the pride | in loftiness of | for the pride | 1 |
H1363-04 |
גָּבְהֵ֣י | gavehey | HNcmpc |
higher than | heights of | heights of | 1 |
H1363-08 |
וָ/גֹ֑בַהּ | vagovah | HC/Ncmsa |
and dignity | and loftiness | and dignity | 1 |
H1363-09 |
בְ/גָבְה֔/וֹ | vegaveho | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in its height | in his height | in his height | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
17 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1363-05 |
1 Samuel 17:4 | גָּבְה֕/וֹ | gaveho | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
whose height | his loftiness | his height |
H1363-05 |
Jeremiah 48:29 | גָּבְה֧/וֹ | gaveho | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his loftiness | his loftiness | his loftiness |
H1363-10 |
Ezekiel 1:18 | וְ/גֹ֥בַהּ | vegovah | HC/Ncmsa |
they were high | and height | and their height |
H1363-09 |
Ezekiel 19:11 | בְ/גָבְה֔/וֹ | vegaveho | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in its height | in his height | in his height |
H1363-02 |
Ezekiel 31:10 | בְּ/גָבְהֽ/וֹ | begaveho | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in its loftiness | in his loftiness | in his loftiness |
H1363-01 |
Ezekiel 31:14 | בְּ/גָבְהָ֖/ם | begaveham | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp |
in their height | in their loftiness | in their height |
H1363-10 |
Ezekiel 40:42 | וְ/גֹ֖בַהּ | vegovah | HC/Ncmsa |
and-height | and height | and height |
H1363-06 |
Ezekiel 41:8 | גֹּ֖בַהּ | govah | HNcmsa |
height | loftiness | height |
H1363-07 |
Amos 2:9 | כְּ/גֹ֤בַהּ | kegovah | HR/Ncmsc |
like-height | like the height of | like the height of |
H1363-05 |
Amos 2:9 | גָּבְה֔/וֹ | gaveho | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his-height | his loftiness | his loftiness |
H1363-07 |
Psalms 10:4 | כְּ/גֹ֣בַהּ | kegovah | HR/Ncmsc |
in-the-haughtiness-of | like the height of | in the haughtiness of |
H1363-06 |
Proverbs 16:18 | גֹּ֣בַהּ | govah | HNcmsc |
haughty | loftiness | loftiness |
H1363-04 |
Job 11:8 | גָּבְהֵ֣י | gavehey | HNcmpc |
higher than | heights of | heights of |
H1363-06 |
Job 22:12 | גֹּ֣בַהּ | govah | HNcmsc |
in the height | loftiness | height |
H1363-08 |
Job 40:10 | וָ/גֹ֑בַהּ | vagovah | HC/Ncmsa |
and dignity | and loftiness | and dignity |
H1363-11 |
2 Chronicles 3:4 | וְ/הַ/גֹּ֖בַהּ | vehagovah | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and-the-height | and the loftiness | and the height |
H1363-03 |
2 Chronicles 32:26 | בְּ/גֹ֣בַהּ | begovah | HR/Ncmsc |
for the pride | in loftiness of | for the pride |