גָּבַהּ H1361
Be high, exalted; to rise in height, status, or pride — ranging from physical tallness to divine exaltation to human arrogance
This verb captures the full vertical axis of biblical thought — from the literal height of Saul who stood head and shoulders above all Israel (1 Sam 10:23), to the theological exaltation of God who 'dwells on high' (Ps 113:5), to the moral condemnation of hearts that are 'lifted up' in pride (2 Chr 26:16). French 's'élever' and German 'sich erheben' beautifully mirror this same semantic range from rising physically to rising in arrogance. The verb warns that what rises by human pride will be brought low, while what God exalts will endure — a theme that runs from Proverbs through Isaiah to Obadiah's eagle who soars but cannot escape judgment.
3. be physically high or tall — The Qal stative sense of being physically high, tall, or elevated — describing Saul's impressive stature (1 Sam 10:23), the heavens that are higher than the earth (Job 35:5; Ps 103:11; Isa 55:9), or a tree that grew tall (Ezek 31:5,10). Multilingual glosses consistently use terms for physical tallness or height here, distinct from the moral and theological senses. 7×
AR["أَرفَعُ","ارْتَفَعَتِ","ارْتَفَعَتْ","كَ-ارتِفاع","وَ-كَانَ-أَطْوَلَ","وَارْتَفَعَتْ","ٱرْتَفَعَتْ"]·ben["আর-উঁচু-হল","আর-তিনি-লম্বা-ছিলেন","উঁচু","উঁচু-হয়েছিল","উচ্চ","সেই-উচ্চতার-মতো"]·DE["[גבהו]","sich-erheben","und-er-war-taller","und-sich-erheben","wie-der-Höhe-von"]·EN["and-he-was-taller","and-was-high","are-higher","as-the-height-of","they-are-higher","was-exalted"]·FR["comme-être-hautain","et-il-fut-taller","et-s'élever","s'élever","s’élever","être-élevé"]·heb["גבהה","גבהו","ו-תגבה","וַ-יִּגְבַּהּ","כ-גבוה"]·HI["ऊँचे-हैं","और-ऊँचा-था","और-ऊँची-थी","जैसे-ऊंचाई-है","बढ़ी"]·ID["dan-lebih-tinggilah-ia","dan-tinggi","lebih tinggi","setinggi","tinggi"]·IT["come-l'altezza","e-egli-era-taller","e-essere-alto","essere-alto"]·jav["dados-inggil","kados-inggilipun","lan-dhuwur","lan-piyambakipun-langkung-dhuwur","langkung-inggil"]·KO["그리고-높아졌다","그리고-키가-커서","높다","높았다","높으니","높으니라","높음-처럼"]·PT["altas","como-a-altura","e-elevou-se","e-foi-alto","elevou-se","se-elevam"]·RU["возвысился","возвышены","выше","и-был-выше","и-поднялся","как-высота"]·ES["altas","como-altura-de","se-elevó","son-más-altos","y-era-más-alto","y-se-elevó"]·SW["kama-urefu","na-akawa-mrefu","na-ukainuka","ulikuwa-mrefu","yaliyojuu","ziko-juu"]·TR["ve-uzundu","ve-yükseldi","yuksek","yüceldi","yüksekler","yüksekliği-kadar"]·urd["اور-بڑھی","اور-لمبا-تھا","بلند ہیں","بلند-ہیں","بڑھ-گیا","جیسا-بلند"]
▼ 4 more senses below
Senses
1. be exalted, rise in honor — The Qal sense of being exalted in honor, status, or glory — used positively of God whose justice 'is exalted' (Isa 5:16) and of the Servant who 'shall be high and lifted up' (Isa 52:13). Jehoshaphat's heart 'was exalted in the ways of the LORD' (2 Chr 17:6) — a rare positive human instance. French 's'élever' and Spanish 'se enalteció' reflect the upward movement in dignity. 9×
AR["تَتَعَالَى","تَعَالَى","تَعَالَيْتَ","فَتَعَالَى","وَ-يَتَعَالَى","وَ-يَرتَفِعونَ","وَارْتَفَعَ"]·ben["-এবং-মহান","আর-উদ্ধত","আর-উন্নত-হল","আর-তারা-উন্নত-হয়","উঁচু-হয়","উদ্ধত","ও-উন্নীত-হবেন","তুমি-উঁচু-হয়েছ"]·DE["Hoehe","[ויגבהו]","sich-erheben","und-hoch","und-sich-erheben"]·EN["and-exalted","and-is-exalted","and-they-are-exalted","and-was-exalted","is-exalted","may-be-exalted","was-exalted","you-were-exalted"]·FR["[ויגבה]","et-s'élever","et-s’élever","et-élevé","et-être-élevé","hauteur","s'élever"]·heb["גבה","גבהת","ו-גבה","ו-יגבה","ו-יגבהו","ו-ייגבה","יגבהו"]·HI["ऊंचा-हुआ","ऊंचा-हुआ-तू","ऊंचे-हों","और-ऊँचा-हुआ","और-ऊंचा-हुआ","और-ऊंचा-होगा","और-ऊंचे-होते-हैं","और-बहुत-महान-होगा"]·ID["Dan-ditinggikan","Menjadi-tinggi","dan-menjadi-tinggi","dan-mereka ditinggikan","meninggikan-diri","menjadi-tinggi","tinggi"]·IT["[ויגבה]","e-essere-alto","essere-alto"]·jav["Lan-ageng","Lan-dipuninggil-aken","Ngangkat","dados-dhuwur","lan-dipuninggahaken","lan-ngangkat","lan-piyambak-ipun-kaluhuraken","ngangkat","panjenengan-dados-dhuwur"]·KO["그리고-높아졌다","그리고-높아지다","그리고-높아지리라","높아졌다","높아지도록-","높아지시리라","높았다-너는"]·PT["E-exaltado","Elevou-se","e-elevou-se","e-muito-elevado","e-são-exaltados.","elevou-se","se-exaltem","te-elevaste"]·RU["возвысился-ты","возвышались","вознеслось","и-возвеличится","и-возвысились","и-возвысилось","и-возвысится","и-вознеслось"]·ES["Se-enalteció","Y-será-exaltado","se-eleven","se-enalteció","te-elevaste","y-se-elevó","y-se-enalteció","y-será-muy-alto","y-son-exaltados"]·SW["Umejikweza","jikweza","na-atainuliwa","na-kuwa-juu","na-ukainuliwa","na-umejikweza","na-wanainuliwa","umejikweza"]·TR["Ve-yükseldi","ve-cok-yuce-olacak","ve-yuceltilecek","ve-yüceldi","ve-yükseltilirler","yüceldi","yüceldin","yükselsinler"]·urd["اور-اونچا-ہو-گا","اور-بلند-ہو-گا","اور-بلند-ہوا","اور-وہ بلند ہوتے ہیں","بلند-ہوا","بلند-ہوا-تُو","بلند-ہوں"]
2. be haughty, act proudly — The Qal sense of sinful haughtiness or arrogance — when the heart 'is high' in self-exaltation against God. Uzziah's heart 'was lifted up to his destruction' (2 Chr 26:16); Proverbs 18:12 warns 'before destruction the heart of man is haughty'; the psalmist protests 'my heart is not haughty' (Ps 131:1). Isaiah 3:16 describes the daughters of Zion walking with 'haughty' necks. The same root that describes divine glory condemns human presumption. 8×
AR["ارْتَفَعَ","تَتَكَبَّرُوا","تَكَبَّرنَ","تَكَبَّرَ","لِلتَّكَبُّرِ","وَتَكَبَّرْنَ","يَتَكَبَّرُ","يَتَكَبَّرْ"]·ben["অহংকারী-হয়েছে","আর-উদ্ধত-হল-তারা","উদ্ধত-হতে","উদ্ধত-হয়","উন্নত","উন্নত-হল","গর্বিত-হও","গর্বিত-হল"]·DE["Hoehe","[יגבה]","[לגבהה]","ist-haughty","sich-erheben","und-sich-erheben"]·EN["and-they-were-haughty","be-haughty","daughters-of","exalted","is-haughty","was-lifted-up"]·FR["[גבה]","et-s'élever","s'élever","s’élever","être-hautain","être-élevé"]·heb["גבה","גבהו","ו-תיגבהינה","יגבה","ל-גבוה","תגבהו"]·HI["उठा","ऊंचा-होता-है","और-घमंडी-हुईं","के-लिए-अहंकार-करना","घमण्डी-हुआ","घमण्डी-हैं","घमण्डी-हो","घमण्डी-हो-गया"]·ID["Dan-mereka-menjadi-tinggi-hati,","berlaku-sombong","meninggikan-diri","menyombongkan-diri","sombong","tinggi","tinggi-hati"]·IT["[גבה]","e-essere-alto","essere-alto","fu-alto"]·jav["Lan-piyambakipun-dados-kumalungkung","dhuwur","gumunggung","kumalungkung","nginggil"]·KO["교만하다","교만해하라","그리고-그들이-교만하였다","높아졌나이다","높아졌다","높아지느니라","에게-높이기"]·PT["a-ser-altiva","e-se-ensoberbeceram","exaltou-se","se-elevou","se-exalta","são-altivas","vos-ensoberbeceis,"]·RU["возвышается","возгордились","возгордилось","вознеслось","возноситесь","высокомерной-быть","и-возгордились"]·ES["Y-se-ensoberbecieron","se-elevó","se-enaltece","se-enalteció","se-ensoberbezcan","se-ha-enaltecido","siendo-altiva","son-altivas"]·SW["Na-wakajivuna","gabahּ","jisifu","kujikuza","uliinuka","unajivuna","wamejikweza","wenye-kiburi"]·TR["büyüklür","kibirlendi","kibirlenmeyin","ve-kibirlendiler","yükseldi","yükselmek"]·urd["اور-وہ-مغرور-ہوئیں","بلند-ہوا","بلند-ہوتا-ہے","بلندی-کرنا","غرور","غرور-کرو","غرور-کیا","غرور-ہوا"]
4. make high, exalt (causative) — The Hifil causative sense of making something high, raising up, or actively exalting. God 'raises the poor from the dust' (Ps 113:5 context); Manasseh 'raised the height' of the wall (2 Chr 33:14); whoever 'raises his gate invites ruin' (Prov 17:19). Jeremiah 49:16 and Isaiah 7:11 use this stem for asking or placing things at a great height. The causative adds agency — someone actively produces the elevation. 7×
AR["أَرْفَعْتُ","أَعلِ","ارْفَعْ","المُرتَفِع","تُعْلِي","مُعلٍ","وَ-عَلَّاهُ"]·ben["উঁচু-কর","উঁচু-করেছি","উঁচু-করো","ও-উঁচু-করলেন-তাকে","তুমি-উঁচু-করবে","যিনি-উঁচুতে-বসেন","যে-উঁচু-করে"]·DE["[מגביה]","der-einer-enthroned-auf-hoch","der-hoch","sich-erheben","und-sich-erheben"]·EN["and-he-made-it-high","exalt","exalting","have-made-high","make-high","the-One-enthroned-on-high","you-make-high"]·FR["[ויגביהה]","le-élevé","le-être-hautain","s'élever","s’élever","être-élevé"]·heb["ה-מגביהי","הגבה","הגבהתי","ו-יגביהה-ה","מגביה","תגביה"]·HI["ऊँचा-कर","ऊँचा-करनेवाला","ऊँचा-किया-मैंने","ऊंचाई-में","और-उसने-ऊँची-की-उसे","जो-ऊँचा-उठता-है","तू-ऊंचा-करेगी"]·ID["Aku-meninggikan","dan-meninggikannya","engkau-meninggikan","setinggi-tingginya","siapa-meninggikan","tinggikanlah","yang-meninggikan-diri"]·IT["[ויגביהה]","essere-alto","fu-alto"]·jav["dipun-inggahaken","ingkang-ngadeg-inggil","lan-nginggil-aken","ndadosaken-inggil","panjenengan-nginggil","sampun-nginggahaken","tiyang-kang-nginggil"]·KO["그리고-그가-높였다-그것을","높였다","높이-계시는","높이-세울지라도-네가","높이-하라","높이고","높이는-자는"]·PT["e-ergueu-o","eleva","elevares","exaltei","o-que-eleva","que-se-eleva","será-exaltado"]·RU["возвысил","возвысь","возвышающий","если-вознесёшь","и-высокое","и-поднял-её","обитающий-высоте"]·ES["el-que-eleva","el-que-se-eleva","eleves-en-alto","ensalcé","ensalza","hazla-alta","y-la-elevó"]·SW["anayeinua","anayejikweza","inua","juu","nimeinua","unakipandisha","wayaּgbiּyheha"]·TR["ve-yüceltti-onu","yukselt","yücelttim","yükselen","yükselt","yükselten","yükseltsende"]·urd["اور-بلند-کیا","اونچا-کر","اونچا-کیا-ہے","بلند-کرنے-والا","بلندی-پر","تو-اونچا-کرے-گا","جو-بلندی-پر-بیٹھا-ہے"]
5. soar high, fly upward — A specialized Hifil usage for soaring or flying at great height, applied to birds. Job 39:27 asks whether the eagle 'mounts up' at God's command; Obadiah 1:4 warns Edom that 'though you soar high like the eagle,' God will bring you down. Job 5:7 describes sparks that 'fly upward.' This vivid avian application extends the causative 'make high' into the domain of flight. 3×
amh["ከፍ-ታደርግ"]·AR["ترتفع","يَعْلونَ","يَعْلُو"]·ben["উঁচুতে-ওঠ","উড়ে","সে-উড়ে"]·ces["bys-vystávoval-se"]·dan["du-hæver-dig"]·DE["[יגביה]","[יגביהו]","du-erhöhst"]·ell["υψώσεις"]·EN["fly","soars-high","you-soar-high"]·FR["tu-t'élèves","être-élevé"]·guj["ઊંચો-થાય"]·hat["monte-wo"]·hau["ka-ɗaga"]·heb["יגביה","יגביהו","תגביה"]·HI["ऊँचा-उड़ता-है","ऊँचे-उड़ते-हैं","तू-ऊंचा-हो"]·hun["magasra-emeled"]·ID["engkau-meninggikan-diri","melayang tinggi","terbang"]·IT["essere-alto","ti-innalzassi"]·jav["munggah-inggil","nginggil","panjenengan-nginggilaken"]·JA["あなたが高くなっても"]·KO["높이-날겠느냐","높이-날다-그들이","높이면"]·mar["उंच-केलेस"]·mya["အမြင့်တက်စေ"]·nld["verhoogt-gij-u"]·nor["du-løfter-høyt"]·pnb["اُچا-کریں"]·pol["wzniesiesz-się"]·PT["eleva-se","elevam","te-elevares"]·ron["te-vei-înălța"]·RU["взлетает","возвысишься","возносятся"]·ES["se-eleva","se-elevan","te-elevas"]·SW["anapaa-juu","utainuka-juu","wanaruka-juu"]·swe["du-höjer-dig"]·tam["நீ-உயர்த்தினாலும்"]·tel["ఎత్తుకొనినను"]·tgl["itaas-mo"]·TH["เจ้าขึ้นไปสูง"]·TR["yükselir","yükselirler","yükselirsen"]·ukr["піднесешся"]·urd["اونچا-اُڑتا-ہے","اونچا-کرے","اونچے-اڑتے-ہیں"]·VI["ngươi-lên-cao"]·yor["gbé-ga"]·yue["你飛高"]·ZH["你高飞"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
גָּבַהּ vb. be high, exalted (NH id. (Hiph.), Aramaic גְּבַהּ, cf. Arabic جَبْهَةٌ forehead, جَبَةٌ prominence of forehead; compare perhaps also Assyrian gabâni, heights (?) LotzTP 133)— Qal Pf. ג׳ 2 Ch 26:16 + 5 times; גָּֽבְהָא֯ Ez 31:5 (א = ה); גָּבַהְתָּ Ez 31:10, גָּֽבְהוּ Jb 35:5 + 3 times; Impf. יִגְבַּהּ Pr 18:12 + 5 times; sf. יִגְבְּהוּ Ez 31:14, יִגְבָּ֑הוּ Jb 36:7, תִּגְבָּ֑הוּ Je…