ὑψηλός G5308
High, lofty, elevated in space; figuratively proud, haughty, or arrogant in attitude.
In its literal sense, this adjective marks the dramatic high places of the Gospel narratives -- the exceedingly high mountain where Satan shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world (Matt 4:8), and the high mountain of the Transfiguration (Matt 17:1, Mark 9:2). Spanish 'alto' and French 'haut' reflect the spatial meaning directly. But Scripture regularly pivots from physical height to moral pride: Luke 16:15 warns that 'what is exalted among men is an abomination before God,' and Romans 12:16 counsels believers not to set their minds on 'high things' but to associate with the lowly.
Senses
1. high, lofty (physical or spatial) — Physically elevated, tall, or spatially high. Used predominantly of mountains in key narrative moments: the mountain of temptation (Matt 4:8, Luke 4:5), the mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17:1, Mark 9:2), and God raising Israel to greatness during the Egyptian sojourn (Acts 13:17). Spanish 'alto' and 'alturas,' French 'haut,' and German 'hoch' all converge on the straightforward spatial meaning. The high arm of God in Acts 13:17 begins to shade toward metaphor but retains the image of physical elevation. 9×
AR["الأَعَالِي", "شامِخٌ", "شامِخٍ", "صَائِرًا-أَعْلَى", "عالٍ", "عَالٍ", "مَرفوعَةٍ"]·ben["উঁচু", "উচ্চ", "উচ্চতর", "উত্তোলিত", "ঊর্ধ্বলোকে"]·DE["hoch", "ὑψηλοῦ", "ὑψηλὸν", "ὑψηλὸν>"]·EN["heights", "high", "higher-than", "uplifted"]·FR["haut"]·heb["גָּבֹהַ", "גָּבֹהַּ", "מְרוֹמִים", "נְטוּיָה", "נִשְׂא-יוֹתֵר", "רָם", "רָמָה"]·HI["ऊँचा", "ऊँची", "ऊँचे", "ऊंचा", "ऊंची", "ऊंचे", "ऊंचे-स्थानों-पर", "ओओनच"]·ID["lebih-tinggi", "tempat-tinggi", "tinggi", "yang-terangkat"]·IT["alto", "upsēlois", "upsēlon", "upsēloteros"]·jav["dhuwur,", "inggil", "inggil>,", "ingkang-inggil", "langkung-inggil"]·KO["높은", "높은-곳에", "높이-든", "더-높아진-이라", "매우-높은"]·PT["alto", "alturas", "erguido,", "mais-alto"]·RU["возвышенный-над", "высокой", "высокую", "высокую,", "высотах"]·ES["alto", "alto,", "alturas", "más-alto"]·SW["juu", "juu-zaidi-ya-", "mrefu", "mrefu,", "ulioinuliwa,"]·TR["daha-yüksek", "yüceliklerde", "yüksek", "yükseltilmiş"]·urd["اونچا", "اونچی", "اونچے", "اُونچا>-", "بلندیوں"]
2. proud, haughty, exalted (figurative/moral) — Figuratively high in the sense of proud, haughty, or morally arrogant. Paul warns Roman believers not to be 'high-minded' (Rom 11:20) and not to aspire to 'high things' (Rom 12:16, ta hypsela). Jesus declares in Luke 16:15 that what is 'exalted' among humans is detestable to God. The Spanish rendering 'altivas cosas' (haughty things) and 'altivamente' (haughtily) captures the moral overtone absent from the spatial sense. This shift from physical height to spiritual pride is a well-attested pattern across biblical Greek and Hebrew alike. 3×
AR["المُرْتَفِعُ", "الْعَالِيَاتِ", "عَالِيًا"]·ben["উঁচু", "উচ্চ"]·DE["hoch", "ὑψηλὸν"]·EN["exalted", "high-things"]·FR["haut"]·heb["גְּבֹהוֹת", "גְּבוֹהִים", "גָּבֹהַ"]·HI["ऊंचा", "ऊंची"]·ID["tinggi"]·IT["alto"]·jav["inggil,", "nginggil"]·KO["높은-것들을", "높은-것은", "높은-마음을"]·PT["altivamente", "altivas-coisas", "elevado"]·RU["бойся", "высокое", "но"]·ES["altivamente", "altivas-cosas", "exaltado"]·SW["juu", "kilichoinuliwa", "vya-juu"]·TR["yüce", "yüksek"]·urd["اونچی", "بلند"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὑψηλός, ή, όν (also -ός, όν Demetr.Troezen. 1 Diels): comparative and superlative -ότερος, -ότατος, and irregular -έστατοςRefs 2nd c.AD+: (ὕψι, ὕψος): —high, lofty, θάλαμος Refs 8th c.BC+; of a highland country, χώρη ὀρεινὴ.. καὶ ὑψηλή Refs 5th c.BC+; and ὑψηλά alone, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐφ᾽ ὑψηλοῦ εἶναι, καθῆσθαι, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐποικοδομήσαντες ὑψηλότερον [τὸ τεῖχος] Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb, -λῶς…