1346. gaavah
Lexical Summary
gaavah: Pride, arrogance, majesty, exaltation

Original Word: גַּאֲוָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ga`avah
Pronunciation: gah-ah-VAH
Phonetic Spelling: (gah-av-aw')
KJV: excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly, swelling
NASB: pride, majesty, arrogance, proud, back, haughtiness, proudly
Word Origin: [from H1342 (גָּאָה - highly exalted)]

1. arrogance or majesty
2. (by implication, concretely) ornament

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly, swelling

From ga'ah; arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament -- excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly, swelling.

see HEBREW ga'ah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from gaah
Definition
majesty, pride
NASB Translation
arrogance (2), back (1), haughtiness (1), majesty (3), pride (8), proud (2), proudly (1), swelling pride (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גַּאֲוָה noun feminine majesty, pride (compare Syriac ) — Job 41:7 6t.; construct גַּאֲוַת Proverbs 29:23 2t.; suffix גַּאֲוָתִי Isaiah 13:3 8t.; —

1 rising up, swelling of the sea Psalm 46:4.

2 majesty, of Israel Deuteronomy 33:29, Moab Isaiah 16:6 = Jeremiah 48:29, scales of crocodile Job 41:7, of God Deuteronomy 33:26; Psalm 68:35.

3 pride, haughtiness Psalm 10:2; Psalm 31:19; Psalm 31:24; Psalm 36:12; Psalm 73:6; Proverbs 14:3; Proverbs 29:23; Isaiah 9:8; Isaiah 13:11; Isaiah 25:11; עליזי גאותי my proudly exulting ones Isaiah 13:3 compare Zephaniah 3:11.

Topical Lexicon
Scope of the Word in Scripture

Across its nineteen occurrences the term moves on a spectrum from noble “majesty” (of God) to condemnable “pride” (of creatures). The same root that celebrates the splendor of the LORD unmasks the self-exaltation that provokes His judgment.

Divine Majesty

Deuteronomy 33:26: “There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid.”
Psalm 68:34: “Ascribe the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.”

When applied to God the word extols His unrivaled greatness, inviting Israel to trust the One whose loftiness is life-giving, not oppressive. Moses anchors covenant security in this majestic character, while the psalmist makes God’s exaltation the rallying cry for worship.

Human Arrogance Exposed

Psalm 10:2: “In pride the wicked pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.”
Psalm 31:18: “Let lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly.”
Proverbs 29:23: “A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.”

Used of people, the word diagnoses a heart posture that displaces dependence on God. The wisdom books repeatedly contrast such arrogance with humility, showing that downfall, not dignity, is its harvest.

Cosmic and Poetic Imagery

Job 41:15 views Leviathan’s interlocking scales as “his pride,” portraying untamable chaos clothed in insolent strength.
Psalm 46:3 pictures roaring seas and quaking mountains, harnessing the term to describe nature’s turbulent “pride.” Even creation’s upheavals cannot unseat God’s secure city, underscoring His supremacy over every threatening elevation.

National Haughtiness and Divine Judgment

Isaiah 16:6; Jeremiah 48:29 catalog Moab’s overbearing self-confidence.
Isaiah 13:11 pledges, “I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud.”
Zephaniah 3:11 foretells the removal of “those who rejoice in their pride” from Zion.

The prophets expose collective arrogance as a covenant violation. Whether Moab, Babylon, or even Jerusalem, national exaltation that ignores the Holy One invites decisive humbling. God’s sovereignty over history ensures that pride never has the last word.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Worship: Magnifying the LORD’s majesty redirects attention from self to the throne (Deuteronomy 33:26).
2. Discipleship: Repeated warnings establish pride as a root sin. Believers are summoned to cultivate humility through confession and service (Proverbs 14:3; 1 Peter 5:5).
3. Social Justice: Psalm 10 links arrogance with oppression of the poor, urging ministries to confront injustice born of self-exaltation.
4. National Life: Prophetic oracles against proud nations call churches to pray for civic humility and to resist any cultural boasting that eclipses reliance on God.

Christological Fulfillment

Pride’s antithesis is found in Jesus Christ, who “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death” (Philippians 2:8). The incarnate Lord embodies the true “majesty” of God while embracing utter lowliness, thereby overturning sinful arrogance and inviting His people into the same pattern (Matthew 11:29).

Summary

The word gathers two seemingly opposite realities—God’s incomparable loftiness and humanity’s illegitimate self-exaltation. Scripture upholds divine majesty as the ground of salvation and exposes creaturely pride as the seed of ruin. The gospel finally answers both themes: God stoops in Christ to save, and the proud are called to bow before the One whose exaltation alone brings life.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת בְּגַאֲוָ֛ה בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ בגאוה בגאות בגאותו גַּ֭אֲוָה גַּֽאֲוָת֔וֹ גַּאֲוַ֣ת גַּאֲוָ֑ה גַּאֲוָת֑וֹ גַּאֲוָת֧וֹ גַּאֲוָתִֽי׃ גַּאֲוָתֵ֔ךְ גַּאֲוָתֶ֑ךָ גַאֲוָ֑ה גַאֲוָֽה׃ גאוה גאוה׃ גאות גאותו גאותי׃ גאותך וְגַאֲוַ֥ת וְגַאֲוָת֖וֹ וּבְגַאֲוָת֖וֹ ובגאותו וגאות וגאותו bə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw bə·ḡa·’ă·wāh bə·ḡa·’ă·waṯ bəḡa’ăwāh bəḡa’ăwaṯ bəḡa’ăwāṯōw begaaVah begaaVat begaavaTo ga’ăwāh ḡa’ăwāh ga’ăwaṯ ga’ăwāṯêḵ ga’ăwāṯeḵā ga’ăwāṯî ga’ăwāṯōw ga·’ă·wā·ṯe·ḵā ga·’ă·wā·ṯêḵ ga·’ă·wā·ṯî ga·’ă·wā·ṯōw ga·’ă·wāh ḡa·’ă·wāh ga·’ă·waṯ Gaavah gaaVat gaavaTech gaavaTecha gaavaTi gaavaTo ū·ḇə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw ūḇəḡa’ăwāṯōw uvegaavaTo vegaaVat vegaavaTo wə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw wə·ḡa·’ă·waṯ wəḡa’ăwaṯ wəḡa’ăwāṯōw
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Deuteronomy 33:26
HEB: שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ בְעֶזְרֶ֔ךָ וּבְגַאֲוָת֖וֹ שְׁחָקִֽים׃
NAS: And through the skies in His majesty.
KJV: in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
INT: the heavens to your help his majesty the skies

Deuteronomy 33:29
HEB: וַאֲשֶׁר־ חֶ֖רֶב גַּאֲוָתֶ֑ךָ וְיִכָּֽחֲשׁ֤וּ אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙
NAS: And the sword of your majesty! So your enemies
KJV: and who [is] the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies
INT: and sword of your majesty will cringe enemies

Job 41:15
HEB: גַּ֭אֲוָה אֲפִיקֵ֣י מָֽגִנִּ֑ים
NAS: scales are [his] pride, Shut
KJV: [His] scales [are his] pride, shut up together
INT: are pride brook scales

Psalm 10:2
HEB: בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק
NAS: In pride the wicked hotly pursue
KJV: The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute
INT: pride the wicked hotly

Psalm 31:18
HEB: צַדִּ֥יק עָתָ֗ק בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה וָבֽוּז׃
NAS: the righteous With pride and contempt.
KJV: grievous things proudly and contemptuously
INT: the righteous arrogantly pride and contempt

Psalm 31:23
HEB: יֶ֝֗תֶר עֹשֵׂ֥ה גַאֲוָֽה׃
NAS: And fully recompenses the proud doer.
KJV: rewardeth the proud doer.
INT: and plentifully doer the proud

Psalm 36:11
HEB: תְּ֭בוֹאֵנִי רֶ֣גֶל גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְיַד־ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים
NAS: Let not the foot of pride come
KJV: Let not the foot of pride come
INT: come the foot of pride the hand of the wicked

Psalm 46:3
HEB: יִֽרְעֲשֽׁוּ־ הָרִ֖ים בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃
NAS: quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
KJV: shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
INT: quake the mountains swelling Selah

Psalm 68:34
HEB: עַֽל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל גַּאֲוָת֑וֹ וְ֝עֻזּ֗וֹ בַּשְּׁחָקִֽים׃
NAS: to God; His majesty is over
KJV: unto God: his excellency [is] over Israel,
INT: is over Israel his majesty and his strength the skies

Psalm 73:6
HEB: לָ֭כֵן עֲנָקַ֣תְמוֹ גַאֲוָ֑ה יַעֲטָף־ שִׁ֝֗ית
NAS: Therefore pride is their necklace;
KJV: Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain;
INT: Therefore is their necklace pride covers the garment

Proverbs 14:3
HEB: אֱ֭וִיל חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים
NAS: is a rod for [his] back, But the lips
KJV: [is] a rod of pride: but the lips
INT: of the foolish rod for back the lips of the wise

Proverbs 29:23
HEB: גַּאֲוַ֣ת אָ֭דָם תַּשְׁפִּילֶ֑נּוּ
NAS: A man's pride will bring him low,
KJV: A man's pride shall bring him low:
INT: pride A man's will bring

Isaiah 9:9
HEB: וְיוֹשֵׁ֣ב שֹׁמְר֑וֹן בְּגַאֲוָ֛ה וּבְגֹ֥דֶל לֵבָ֖ב
NAS: Asserting in pride and in arrogance
KJV: that say in the pride and stoutness
INT: and the inhabitants of Samaria pride arrogance of heart

Isaiah 13:3
HEB: לְאַפִּ֔י עַלִּיזֵ֖י גַּאֲוָתִֽי׃
NAS: My mighty warriors, My proudly exulting ones,
KJV: [even] them that rejoice in my highness.
INT: To my anger exulting my proudly

Isaiah 13:11
HEB: גְּא֣וֹן זֵדִ֔ים וְגַאֲוַ֥ת עָרִיצִ֖ים אַשְׁפִּֽיל׃
NAS: And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.
KJV: and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
INT: to the arrogance of the proud the haughtiness of the ruthless and abase

Isaiah 16:6
HEB: גֵּ֣א מְאֹ֑ד גַּאֲוָת֧וֹ וּגְאוֹנ֛וֹ וְעֶבְרָת֖וֹ
NAS: pride; [Even] of his arrogance, pride,
KJV: proud: [even] of his haughtiness, and his pride,
INT: proud an excessive his arrogance pride and fury

Isaiah 25:11
HEB: לִשְׂח֑וֹת וְהִשְׁפִּיל֙ גַּֽאֲוָת֔וֹ עִ֖ם אָרְבּ֥וֹת
NAS: But [the Lord] will lay low his pride together
KJV: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils
INT: swim will lay his pride together the trickery

Jeremiah 48:29
HEB: גָּבְה֧וֹ וּגְאוֹנ֛וֹ וְגַאֲוָת֖וֹ וְרֻ֥ם לִבּֽוֹ׃
NAS: his pride, his arrogance and his self-exaltation.
KJV: his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride,
INT: excellency his pride his arrogance and the haughtiness of his heart

Zephaniah 3:11
HEB: מִקִּרְבֵּ֗ךְ עַלִּיזֵי֙ גַּאֲוָתֵ֔ךְ וְלֹֽא־ תוֹסִ֧פִי
NAS: from your midst Your proud, exulting ones,
KJV: of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more
INT: your midst exulting your proud no again

19 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1346
19 Occurrences


bə·ḡa·’ă·wāh — 2 Occ.
bə·ḡa·’ă·waṯ — 1 Occ.
bə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
ga·’ă·wāh — 5 Occ.
ga·’ă·waṯ — 1 Occ.
ga·’ă·wā·ṯêḵ — 1 Occ.
ga·’ă·wā·ṯe·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ga·’ă·wā·ṯî — 1 Occ.
ga·’ă·wā·ṯōw — 3 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
wə·ḡa·’ă·waṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·ḡa·’ă·wā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.

1345
Top of Page
Top of Page