ὑπερβολ-ή G5236
Surpassing degree, excess, extraordinary measure; used by Paul to express what goes beyond all normal scale.
A noun denoting something that exceeds normal limits—an extraordinary degree or surplus. Paul uses it almost exclusively, often in the frozen phrase 'kath' hyperbolen' (beyond measure, exceedingly). He speaks of sin becoming 'sinful beyond measure' (Rom 7:13), of affliction in Asia that was 'beyond measure, beyond strength' (2 Cor 1:8), and most strikingly of an 'eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison' (2 Cor 4:17). English borrowed this word directly as 'hyperbole,' but in Paul's hands it is no rhetorical exaggeration—it describes realities that genuinely surpass human categories.
Senses
1. surpassing degree, excess, extraordinary measure — A surpassing or extraordinary degree, an excess that goes beyond normal measure. Used almost exclusively by Paul in the adverbial phrase 'kath' hyperbolen' (beyond measure, exceedingly) or in genitive constructions expressing superlative quality. In Romans 7:13 sin becomes 'exceedingly sinful'; in 2 Corinthians 1:8 Paul's affliction pressed 'beyond measure, beyond strength'; in 2 Corinthians 4:17 momentary affliction produces an 'eternal weight of glory' that is 'beyond all comparison' (kath' hyperbolen eis hyperbolen). The French 'au-delà' (beyond) and Spanish 'excesivamente' both register the idea of breaking past limits. Paul also uses it to commend a 'still more excellent way' (1 Cor 12:31). 8×
AR["-","الْحَدِّ","طاقَةٍ","على-فَيْضٍ","فائِقَةٍ","فَرْطِ","فَيْضٍ","فَيْضُ"]·ben["অতিশয়","অতিশয়।","অতিশয়ে","মাত্রাতিরিক্ত,"]·DE["Uebermaass"]·EN["excellence","excess","measure","surpassing-greatness","surpassingness"]·FR["au-delà","excès"]·heb["מְאֹד","מִדָּה","עַל-יִתְרוֹן","עֹדֶף","שֶׁפַע-הַ-"]·HI["अत्यंत","अत्यधिकता","अत्यन्त","बहुतायत-के-कारण","बहुतायत-से","श्रेष्ठता","हद-तक,"]·ID["batas","berlebihan","kelimpahan","luar-biasa","mulia"]·IT["eccedere","uperbolēn"]·jav["kalangkungan","kalangkungan.","kaluwihan","langkung","langkung,","linangkung","sanget"]·KO["극도로","극심하게,","넘치는","뛰어남","뛰어남에","뛰어남을","뛰어남이","탁월한"]·PT["acima-de-toda-medida","excelente","excelência","excesso","medida","sobremaneira","toda-medida"]·RU["-заповеди","превосходно","превосходство","превосходству","сверхмерно","чрезвычайно","чрезмерностью"]·ES["excelencia","excesivamente","exceso","grandeza"]·SW["kiasi","kiasi.","kupita-kiasi","sana","wingi"]·TR["aşırı","aşırılığına","derecede","o-","yol"]·urd["اعلیٰ","افزونی","افضلیت","بہتایت","حد-سے-زیادہ","زیادہ"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὑπερβολ-ή, ἡ, (ὑπερβάλλω) a throwing beyond others, δίσκων ὑπερβολαῖς Refs 2nd c.AD+: in intransitive sense, altitude of a star, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 overshooting, superiority, χερῶν ὑπερβολαῖς Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 excess, τοῦ μεγέθεος Refs 4th c.BC+; opposed to ἔλλειψις or ἔνδεια, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὑπερβολὴν τῆς ἐπιθυμίας ἔχειν with accusative et infinitive, Refs 5th c.BC+ at an extravagant price,…