1344. geah
Lexical Summary
geah: pride and arrogance

Original Word: גֵּאָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ge'ah
Pronunciation: geh-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (gay-aw')
KJV: pride
NASB: pride and arrogance
Word Origin: [feminine from H1342 (גָּאָה - highly exalted)]

1. arrogance

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
pride

Feminine from ga'ah; arrogance -- pride.

see HEBREW ga'ah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from gaah
Definition
pride
NASB Translation
pride and arrogance (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גֵּאָה noun feminine pride, Proverbs 8:13.

גֵּוָה noun feminine pride (ᵑ7 גֵּיוָה; Biblical Hebrew גֵּאָה; compare K§ 55, l (but also 6 a)); — absolute ׳בְּג Daniel 4:34 in pride.

Topical Lexicon
Occurrence and Immediate Context

The word appears once in Scripture, situated in Proverbs 8:13 within the discourse where Wisdom is personified and speaks: “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech” (Proverbs 8:13). In this single verse the vice is placed in stark contrast to the fear of the LORD, highlighting that true reverence for God necessarily involves hostility toward every manifestation of self-exaltation.

Moral and Spiritual Profile

Pride here is more than an inner attitude; it is a tangible moral stance that opposes God’s character. Wisdom’s hatred of pride shows that arrogance is fundamentally incompatible with the divine nature. This word therefore functions as a barometer of spiritual health—where it is present, genuine fear of the LORD is absent.

Place within Wisdom Literature

Proverbs repeatedly juxtaposes humility and pride (for example, Proverbs 11:2; 16:18; 29:23). The solitary use of this specific term intensifies the point: Wisdom singles out pride first in her list of hated evils, signaling its foundational role in all other sin. It is the root that nourishes “evil conduct” and “perverse speech,” the next items in the verse.

Canonical Theology of Pride

Scripture consistently treats pride as a primeval rebellion. Isaiah 14:13–15 portrays the fall of the king of Babylon with language that later Christian interpretation associates with satanic arrogance. James 4:6 teaches, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” echoing Proverbs 3:34. Both Testaments agree: pride summons divine resistance, whereas humility attracts divine favor.

Historical Witness in Israel’s Story

Israel’s national narrative repeatedly illustrates the danger. Uzziah’s rise and fall (2 Chronicles 26:16) shows how prosperity can breed pride that ends in disgrace. Conversely, Josiah’s tender heart (2 Chronicles 34:27) exemplifies humility’s blessing. These accounts embody the principle announced by Wisdom.

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus Christ embodies perfect humility (Philippians 2:5–8). His life, death, and exaltation reverse the trajectory of pride. Where human arrogance sought equality with God, the Son willingly emptied Himself, providing both the model and the means for believers to escape pride’s grip.

Ministry Implications

1. Personal Formation: Spiritual disciplines such as regular confession, fasting, and service cultivate humility, undermining pride at its root.
2. Leadership: Elders are warned against becoming “conceited” (1 Timothy 3:6); a proud leader invites the downfall of both self and flock.
3. Preaching: Sermons should expose pride’s subtle forms—self-reliance, doctrinal superiority, or cultural elitism—and point to Christ’s humility as the cure.
4. Pastoral Care: Counseling must confront pride that masquerades as wounded self-esteem, steering counselees toward Gospel-grounded identity.
5. Corporate Worship: Liturgies that emphasize God’s greatness and human dependence—such as historic confessions and doxologies—help communities guard against collective arrogance.

Discipleship and Homiletical Use

Proverbs 8:13 serves well as a thematic anchor for lessons on the fear of the LORD. A teaching outline might (1) define true fear, (2) expose pride’s manifestations, (3) highlight Christ’s humility, and (4) call for Spirit-enabled repentance. Memory work with this verse trains believers to discern and detest pride reflexively.

Prayer and Intercession

Intercessors can employ Proverbs 8:13 as a lens for national and congregational repentance, asking the Lord to uproot pride in civic leaders (Jeremiah 9:23–24) and in the church (Revelation 3:17–19). Personal prayer may adapt the verse: “Lord, teach me to hate arrogant pride as You do, and fill me with the fear of Your name.”

Summary

Though the term occurs only once, its placement in Proverbs 8:13 magnifies its importance. Pride is a frontal assault on the fear of the LORD; humility is the indispensable companion of wisdom. Recognizing, resisting, and repenting of pride remain central tasks for every believer and every ministry that seeks to walk in the way of Wisdom incarnate—Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
גֵּ֘אָ֤ה גאה gê’āh gê·’āh geAh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Proverbs 8:13
HEB: שְֽׂנֹ֫את רָ֥ע גֵּ֘אָ֤ה וְגָא֨וֹן ׀ וְדֶ֣רֶךְ
NAS: evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil
KJV: evil: pride, and arrogancy,
INT: hate evil Pride and arrogancy way

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1344
1 Occurrence


gê·’āh — 1 Occ.

1343
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