H5945a H5945a
Upper or uppermost in position; high or exalted in rank; Most High as a divine title
Whether describing the upper gate of the temple or the supreme God of Israel, this adjective moves along a vertical axis from architecture to theology. Most frequently it identifies the higher of two matching features: the upper pool (2 Kgs 18:17), the upper chambers (Ezek 41:7), or Upper Beth-horon (Josh 16:5). Deuteronomy 26:19 and 28:1 use it for Israel's exalted status above the nations, a superlative rank. At its theological peak in Psalm 89:27 and 97:9, it becomes a divine epithet: the Most High, supreme over all gods and all the earth. Spanish Altisimo and French Tres-Haut preserve this devotional resonance.
Senses
1. upper, uppermost (spatial) — Upper or uppermost in physical location, used attributively to distinguish the higher of two features: gates, pools, chambers, baskets, springs, or cities. The topmost basket in Genesis 40:17, Upper Beth-horon in Joshua 16:5, and the upper gate of 2 Kings 15:35 all rely on this concrete spatial sense. 17×
AR["العُليا", "العُليَا", "العُلْيَا", "الـ-عُلويّ", "الـ-عُلْيا", "الـ-عُلْيَا", "الْ-أَعْلَى", "الْ-عُلْيا", "الْ-عُلْيَا", "الْأَعْلَى", "الْعُلْوِيَّ", "الْعُلْوِيِّ", "الْعُلْيَا", "ٱلْعُلْوِيَّ"]·ben["-উচ্চের", "-উপরের", "-উপরেরটাতে", "উচ্চ", "উপরের"]·DE["[העליון]", "[העליונה]", "dem-obersten", "der-Hoechste", "der-upper", "upper"]·EN["pool", "the-highest", "the-top", "the-upper", "upper"]·FR["[העליון]", "[העליונה]", "[העליונת]", "le-Très-Haut", "le-sommet", "le-supérieur", "supérieur"]·heb["ה-עליון", "ה-עליונה", "ה-עליונות", "עליון"]·HI["-का-ऊपरी", "ऊपर", "ऊपरले", "ऊपरवाली", "ऊपरवाले", "ऊपरी", "हएल्योन"]·ID["Atas", "atas", "paling-atas", "yang-atas"]·IT["[העליון]", "[העליונה]", "il-superiore", "il-top", "l'Altissimo", "upper"]·jav["inggil", "nginggil", "nginggil-punika", "wonten-ing-Padaleman"]·KO["그-높은", "그-높은-것을", "그-위의", "그-위쪽의", "그-윗-", "그-윗-의", "그-윗쪽의", "위의", "윈-", "윗-", "윗-것의", "윗의"]·PT["a-superior", "as-superiores", "o-alto", "o-superior", "o-superior,", "superior"]·RU["верхнего", "верхней", "верхнем", "верхние", "верхний", "верхних", "верхнюю"]·ES["el-superior", "la-alta", "la-de-arriba", "la-superior", "las-superiores", "superior"]·SW["haelywon", "juu", "la-juu", "vya-juu", "wa-juu", "ya-Juu", "ya-juu"]·TR["-yukarı", "-üst", "-üstteki", "Yukarı", "yukari", "yukariki", "yukarı", "yukarıdaki", "yukarıdakine", "üst"]·urd["اوپر", "اوپر-والا", "اوپر-والی", "اوپر-والے", "اوپر-کا", "اوپرلا", "اوپری"]
Gen 40:17, Josh 16:5, 2 Kgs 15:35, 2 Kgs 18:17, 1 Chr 7:24, 2 Chr 8:5, 2 Chr 23:20, 2 Chr 27:3, 2 Chr 32:30, Neh 3:25, Isa 7:3, Isa 36:2 (+5 more)
2. high, exalted, lofty — High, exalted, or lofty in rank or status, used predicatively of nations or structures elevated above others. Deuteronomy 26:19 and 28:1 promise that God will set Israel high above all nations. This sense carries the verticality of the first meaning into the realm of honor and prestige, distinct from the specifically divine usage. 4×
AR["أَعْلَى", "عَالِيًا", "عَلِيًّا"]·ben["উচ্চ"]·DE["der-Hoechste", "hoch"]·EN["exalted", "high"]·FR["[עליון]", "haut"]·heb["עֶלְיוֹן", "עליון"]·HI["उच्च", "ऊँचा", "ऊँचे"]·ID["reruntuhan", "tinggi"]·IT["alto", "l'Altissimo"]·jav["dhuwur", "inggil", "langkung-inggil"]·KO["높은", "높은-것으로", "높은-자로"]·PT["elevada", "exaltada", "no-alto"]·RU["высоким", "высоко", "высшим"]·ES["alto", "excelsa", "ruinas"]·SW["juu", "magofu", "ya-juu"]·TR["yüce", "yüksek", "yükselmiş"]·urd["بلند", "کھنڈر"]
3. Most High (divine epithet) — The Most High, a superlative divine epithet designating God as supreme over all other powers and beings. Psalm 97:9 declares the LORD most high over all the earth, and Psalm 89:27 applies it to the Davidic king as a reflection of divine sovereignty. French Tres-Haut and Spanish Altisimo preserve the devotional and liturgical weight of this title. 2×
AR["أَعْلَى", "عَلِيٌّ"]·ben["পরম-প্রধান", "পরাৎপর"]·DE["der-highest", "meist-hoch"]·EN["Most-High", "the-highest"]·FR["Très-Haut"]·heb["עליון"]·HI["सर्वोच्च"]·ID["Yang-Mahatinggi"]·IT["l'Altissimo"]·jav["Ingkang-Mahaluhur", "paling-luhur"]·KO["지극히-높으신-이시도다", "지존자-로"]·PT["o-mais-alto", "és-o-Altíssimo"]·RU["Всевышний", "всевышним"]·ES["Altísimo", "el-más-alto"]·SW["Aliye-Juu", "aliye-juu-sana"]·TR["Yüceler-Yücesi"]·urd["حق-تعالیٰ-ہے", "حقتعالیٰ"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)G2316 1. God, the true God (1315×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H6635b 1. hosts, armies (of YHWH) (286×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. עֶלְיוֹן22 adj. 1. high;—ms. ע׳ Dt 26:19; 28:1; 1 K 9:8 (? reading הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה הָע׳ as 𝔊L Benz) = 2 Ch 7:21, of י׳ ψ 97:9. 2. upper Bethhoron, ע׳ Jos 16:5 העליון 1 Ch 7:24; 2 Ch 8:5, the upper (opp. lower), of house Ne 3:25; cf. 2 K 15:35; 2 Ch 23:20 + 5 times, + Gn 40:17 (uppermost basket); fs. הָעֶלְיוֹנָה the upper pool 2 K 18:17 = Is 36:2; Is 7:3; the highest side-chamber (צֵלָע) Ez…