Greek word · G5243
ὑπερηφανία
hyperēphania
pride
Arrogance or haughtiness. The word is usually explained as 'showing oneself above' (hyper, 'above', + phainesthai, 'to appear'). It means a sense of superiority that treats others with contempt.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament.
What it means
ὑπερηφανία, -ας, ἡ
(ὑπερήφανος, which see), [in LXX chiefly for גָּאוֹן and cogn. forms ;]
haughtiness, arrogance, disdain: Mark 7:22 (Plat., Xen.).†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
Arrogance or haughtiness. The word is usually explained as 'showing oneself above' (hyper, 'above', + phainesthai, 'to appear'). It means a sense of superiority that treats others with contempt.
- Against the English
'Pride' (KJV, WEB, ESV) is a fair rendering, but modern 'pride' can be positive (self-respect, 'proud of my children'). 'Arrogance' (BSB, NIV) points more clearly to the contempt in the word.
- How it drifted
In English, 'pride' has shifted toward healthy self-regard, so it no longer always names a vice.
- Used elsewhere in the period
The noun appears only here in the New Testament. The adjective hyperēphanos appears in LXX Proverbs 3:34, 'the Lord opposes the arrogant', quoted in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. It also appears in Luke 1:51 (Mary's song: God scatters the arrogant), Romans 1:30 and 2 Timothy 3:2. Sirach 10:7, 12–13 says arrogance is hateful to God and people, and calls it the beginning of sin.
Similar words
Where it appears
Mark · 1
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Mark 7:22 ὑπερηφανία, pride,
greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.
Here: Setting yourself above others and looking down on them. This noun appears only here in the New Testament. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), the related adjective describes the people God opposes.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.