גָּבֹהַּ (ga.vo.ah)
ga.vo.ah
high
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 28 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word gāvōah describes something that is physically elevated, whether it is a towering tree, a lofty mountain, or a person of great stature. In Genesis 7:19, it characterizes the floodwaters rising above the highest peaks, while in 1 Samuel 9:2, it notes that Saul was taller than anyone else in Israel. This concrete sense of vertical height often extends metaphorically to social status, referring to those who hold positions of authority or power.
However, the term carries a significant moral weight when applied to people. It frequently translates as "proud" or "haughty," indicating an arrogance that places oneself above others. This dual nature is clear in 1 Samuel 2:3, where the text warns against speaking with pride, and in Isaiah 5:15, where it describes the haughty eyes of the proud being humbled. The word captures both the physical reality of elevation and the spiritual danger of self-exaltation.
Its root relates to rising or lifting up, suggesting a movement from low to high. Translators often render it as "high," "lofty," or "proud" depending on whether the context is geographical or ethical. In Ecclesiastes 5:8, it even appears in a plural form to describe authorities who are higher than other authorities, highlighting a hierarchy of power rather than just physical height.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word describes height, but it carries a heavy warning about where we place our trust. When people are called "high," it often signals pride that separates us from God. Scripture reminds us that God sees the heart, not just outward stature or social standing. He stands near those who are humble and aware of their need for Him.
Yet the same word also describes God’s own majesty. In Psalm 138:6, we see a beautiful balance: though the Lord is high above all, He pays attention to the lowly. This means our humility does not make us invisible to Him. Instead, it positions us to receive His care and guidance in daily life.
We can find peace in knowing that God values sincerity over status. Whether we face physical challenges or social pressures, we are invited to rest in His presence. He lifts up the humble and brings down the proud, offering grace to all who seek Him with honest hearts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 28 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- high11×
- <the>/ high6×
- haughty2×
- proud [people]1×
- more than/ a [person] proud of1×
- from/ a high [place]1×
- and/ the/ tall [ones]1×
- and/ the/ high [one]1×
- and/ [the] proud1×
- [were] high1×
- [was] high1×
- [the] height of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גְבֹהָ֔ה3×
- הַ/גְּבֹהֽוֹת\׃2×
- גָּבֹ֖הַּ2×
- גְּבֹהָ֣ה2×
- מִ/גָּבֹ֤הַּ1×
- מִ/גְּבַהּ\־1×
- וְ֝/גָבֹ֗הַּ1×
- וְ/הַ֨/גְּבֹהָ֔ה1×
- וְ/הַ/גְּבֹהִ֖ים1×
- הַ֭/גְּבֹהִים1×
- הַ/גְּבֹהִ֖ים1×
- הַ/גְּבֹהִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 16:7
But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”
This verse contrasts human focus on outward appearance with God’s attention to the inner heart.
-
Psalms 138:6
For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.
It highlights the paradox that God, though exalted, closely watches over those who are humble.
-
Isaiah 5:15
So man is brought low, mankind is humbled, and the eyes of the arrogant ones are humbled;
The word describes the eyes of the arrogant being humbled when God acts in judgment.
-
Genesis 7:19
The waters rose very high on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered.
It depicts the physical height of floodwaters covering the highest mountains, showing nature’s overwhelming power.