"high, lofty, elevated, Mt. 4:8; 17:1; τὰ ὑψηλά, the highest heaven, Heb. 1:3; upraised, Acts 13:17; met. highly esteemed, Lk. 16:15; φρονεῖν τὰ ὑψηλά, to have lofty thoughts, be proud, arrogant, Rom. 12:16"
Definition and meaning
high, lofty, elevated, Mt. 4:8; 17:1; τὰ ὑψηλά, the highest heaven, Heb. 1:3; upraised, Acts 13:17; met. highly esteemed, Lk. 16:15; φρονεῖν τὰ ὑψηλά, to have lofty thoughts, be proud, arrogant, Rom. 12:16
In the original Greek the word is written: ὑψηλός
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of hypselos (G5308) across the King James Bible.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
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Common questions
Strong's G5308 (hypselos) is a Greek word that means: high, lofty, elevated, Mt. 4:8; 17:1; τὰ ὑψηλά, the highest heaven, Heb. 1:3; upraised, Acts 13:17; met. highly esteemed, Lk. 16:15; φρονεῖν τὰ ὑψηλά, to have lofty thoughts, be proud, arrogant, Rom. ... It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word hypselos (G5308) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5308 is hypselos, a Greek word defined as: high, lofty, elevated, Mt. 4:8; 17:1; τὰ ὑψηλά, the highest heaven, Heb. 1:3; upraised, Acts 13:17; met. highly esteemed, Lk. 16:15; φρονεῖν τὰ ὑψηλά,. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
hypselos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.