ὑπερβάλλω (huperballō)
huperballō
to surpass
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb huperballō means to go beyond or surpass something else. It comes from two parts: huper, meaning "over" or "above," and ballo, meaning "to throw." Literally, it describes throwing something over a boundary. In the New Testament, this physical image becomes a metaphor for exceeding limits, whether in power, grace, or love.
This word appears five times in Scripture, mostly in Ephesians and 2 Corinthians. For example, Paul uses it to describe God’s power at work in believers (Ephesians 1:19) and His kindness shown through Christ (Ephesians 2:7). In 2 Corinthians 9:14, it describes the overwhelming gratitude Christians feel for God’s indescribable gift. The word suggests not just beating a standard, but rising far above it.
Translators often render huperballō as "surpass," "exceed," or "excel." These choices capture its sense of going beyond what is expected or measured. Unlike words that simply mean "to be better," huperballō carries the idea of overflow—grace, power, or love that cannot be contained by ordinary limits.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word huperballō paints a picture of grace that refuses to stay within boundaries. It describes a love or power that spills over, exceeding every measure we might set for it. When Scripture speaks of God’s exceeding greatness, it reminds us that His resources are not limited by human capacity or failure.
This overflow is not reserved for spiritual elites but is available to everyone who believes. In Ephesians, Paul prays that believers would grasp a love surpassing knowledge. It invites you to rest in the assurance that God’s kindness and strength are abundant enough to cover your deepest needs.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- surpassing3×
- surpassing [it]1×
- is surpassing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑπερβάλλουσαν2×
- ὑπερβάλλον2×
- ὑπερβαλλούσης1×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 1:19
and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
Paul uses this term to describe the immense power available to believers, emphasizing that divine strength is far greater than any earthly limitation.
-
Ephesians 3:19
and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The verse highlights Christ’s love as something that transcends human understanding, inviting believers into a deeper spiritual fullness.
-
Ephesians 2:7
that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
Here the word underscores the boundless nature of God's grace, showing that His kindness in Christ is intended to last through all ages.