1362. gabah
Lexical Summary
gabah: To be high, exalted, lofty, proud

Original Word: גָּבָהּ
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: gabahh
Pronunciation: gah-VAH
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-bawh')
KJV: high, proud
Word Origin: [from H1361 (גָּבַהּ - To be high)]

1. lofty (literally or figuratively)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
high, proud

From gabahh; lofty (literally or figuratively) -- high, proud.

see HEBREW gabahh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
the same as gaboah, q.v.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope

Strong’s Hebrew 1362 describes a moral and attitudinal condition of being “high,” “lofty,” or “haughty.” While the root idea can denote elevated position, all four occurrences carry an ethical nuance: elevation of self in opposition to God’s standards of humility.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Psalm 101:5 – “Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.”
2. Proverbs 16:5 – “Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.”
3. Ecclesiastes 7:8 – “The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.”
4. Ezekiel 31:3 – “Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade, and of lofty height; its top was among the clouds.”

Literary and Poetic Nuance

In Psalm 101:5 the proud heart is paired with “haughty eyes,” a Hebrew parallelism that links inner disposition and outward bearing. Proverbs 16:5 uses courtroom language (“detestable,” “not go unpunished”) to stress divine judgment. Ecclesiastes 7:8 contrasts pride with patience, showing that self-exaltation undermines perseverance. Ezekiel 31:3 shifts to imagery: the towering cedar personifies Assyria’s imperial pride, indicating that moral arrogance and national hubris share the same root.

Theological Significance

Pride is consistently portrayed as antagonistic to God. These verses stand within a wider biblical witness that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The word group connects the physical idea of height with the spiritual peril of self-promotion, underscoring that attempting to rise above rightful creaturely limits invites divine resistance.

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Near Eastern kings often adopted lofty titles and monumental architecture to proclaim greatness. Israel’s prophets employed the language of height to critique such self-glorification. Ezekiel’s reference to Assyria’s cedar would have reminded exiles in Babylon that even the mightiest empire fell when it exalted itself. The wisdom writers, living amid surrounding cultures that prized honor, argued that true honor is found in humility before God (see Proverbs 15:33).

Ministry and Practical Application

• Personal discipleship: Believers are called to cultivate a “lowly” heart, recognizing that hidden pride is as offensive as overt arrogance.
• Corporate worship: Liturgies and hymns that magnify God’s greatness place the congregation in proper relational stance, countering cultural self-exaltation.
• Pastoral care: Counsel should expose pride’s subtle forms—defensiveness, entitlement, impatience—using passages such as Ecclesiastes 7:8 to encourage a patient spirit.
• Preaching and teaching: Proverbs 16:5 serves as a warning text when addressing ethical issues like social status, wealth, or leadership roles.

Christological Perspective

Jesus Christ embodies the antithesis of גָּבָהּ. Though “existing in the form of God,” He “emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:6-7), modeling humility and providing the atonement for human pride. Union with Christ enables believers to “have this mind” (Philippians 2:5), overthrowing the tyranny of self-exaltation.

Related Terms and Concepts

• “Pride” (Hebrew gaon, Greek hubris) – the broader semantic field.
• “Lifted up” (Hebrew rum) – physical or status elevation that can be positive or negative.
• “Humility” (Hebrew anavah) – the virtue set opposite גָּבָהּ in wisdom literature.

Summary

Strong’s Hebrew 1362 confronts the perennial temptation to elevate self above God and others. Whether in personal attitudes, societal structures, or imperial ambitions, Scripture declares such loftiness detestable and destined for judgment. The remedy is continual submission to the One who “dwells in the high and holy place” yet is “with the contrite and lowly of spirit” (Isaiah 57:15).

Forms and Transliterations
גְּֽבַהּ־ גְּבַהּ־ גבה־ וּגְבַ֣הּ וגבה מִגְּבַהּ־ מגבה־ gə·ḇah- gəḇah- gevah mig·gə·ḇah- miggəḇah- miggevah ū·ḡə·ḇah ūḡəḇah ugeVah
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Psalm 101:5
HEB: אוֹת֪וֹ אַ֫צְמִ֥ית גְּֽבַהּ־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַ֣ב
KJV: him will I cut off: him that hath an high look
INT: his neighbor will destroy an high look and an arrogant

Proverbs 16:5
HEB: יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ גְּבַהּ־ לֵ֑ב יָ֥ד
KJV: Every one [that is] proud in heart
INT: to the LORD Everyone proud heart Assuredly

Ecclesiastes 7:8
HEB: אֶֽרֶךְ־ ר֖וּחַ מִגְּבַהּ־ רֽוּחַ׃
KJV: [is] better than the proud in spirit.
INT: Patience of spirit the proud of spirit

Ezekiel 31:3
HEB: וְחֹ֥רֶשׁ מֵצַ֖ל וּגְבַ֣הּ קוֹמָ֑ה וּבֵ֣ין
KJV: shroud, and of an high stature;
INT: and forest shade an high and very was among

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1362
4 Occurrences


gə·ḇah- — 2 Occ.
mig·gə·ḇah- — 1 Occ.
ū·ḡə·ḇah — 1 Occ.

1361b
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