Greek word · G5244
ὑπερήφανος
hyperēphanos
arrogant
Literally 'showing oneself above' (hyper + phainomai). Arrogant, haughty, overbearing, disdainful of others. In classical Greek it is close to hubris, the arrogance that insults people and gods alike.
Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ὑπερήφανος, -ον
(ὑπέρ, φαίνομαι, with η pleonast., see Kühner3, I, 189) [in LXX for זֵד, גֵּאֶה, לוּץ, etc. ;]
showing oneself above others;
(a) in good sense (Plat., al.), pre-eminent, splendid;
(b) more frequently in had sense, and so always in Scr., arrogant, haughty, disdainful (see Westc. Epp. Jo., 65b): Romans 1:30, 2 Timothy 3:2; διανοίᾳ καρδίας, Luke 1:51; opposite to ταπεινός (as in Proverbs 3:34), James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5" (LXX) .†
SYN.: ἀλαζών, ὑβριστής, see Tr., Syn., § xxix (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
Literally 'showing oneself above' (hyper + phainomai). Arrogant, haughty, overbearing, disdainful of others. In classical Greek it is close to hubris, the arrogance that insults people and gods alike.
- Against the English
English 'proud' can be positive ('proud of my daughter', 'a proud tradition'). Hyperēphanos never is. It describes the person who sets himself above others and treats them with contempt.
- How it drifted
English 'pride' covers everything from healthy self-respect to arrogance. The Greek word covers only the vicious end.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In Proverbs 3:34 LXX it translates Hebrew lēṣîm, 'scoffers' or 'mockers'. Sirach 10:7, 12–18 says arrogance is hateful to the Lord and its beginning is to depart from him. Luke 1:51 has 'he scattered the arrogant'. Romans 1:30 and 2 Timothy 3:2 list it among the vices. Psalms of Solomon 2 attacks arrogant rulers.
- Range of meaning
From hyper ('above') + phainomai ('appear'): 'showing oneself above others'. Haughty, arrogant, disdainful. It is consistently negative in biblical Greek and describes an inner posture of superiority that looks down on others.
- Against the English
KJV 'proud'; most modern versions 'arrogant' or 'haughty'. Modern 'proud' is often positive ('proud of my daughter', 'proud to serve'). Hyperēphanos never is.
- How it drifted
English 'pride' has picked up positive senses (self-respect, legitimate satisfaction) that the Greek word never had.
- Used elsewhere in the period
LXX Prov 3:34 'The Lord resists the arrogant (hyperēphanois), but gives grace to the humble', quoted in James 4:6 and 1 Pet 5:5. Mary's song: God 'scattered the arrogant' (Luke 1:51). The same pairing with alazones occurs in 2 Tim 3:2. Psalms of Solomon and Sirach use it of the arrogant rich and of gentile oppressors (Sir 10:7, 'arrogance is hateful before the Lord').
From the study of 4 Maccabees 4:15
- Range of meaning
Usually explained as ὑπέρ ("above, over") + φαίνομαι ("appear"): literally "showing oneself above others." The senses are (1) conspicuous, magnificent (mostly in early Greek), and (2) far more often, arrogant, haughty, disdainful, overbearing toward others. In Jewish Greek the word carries a strong moral and religious charge: the proud person who sets himself against God and crushes the humble.
- Against the English
"Proud," "haughty," and "arrogant" all fit. Modern "proud" can be positive ("proud of my kids"), which this word never is in biblical Greek. "Arrogant pride" (WEB) and "haughty pride" (Brenton) keep the negative sense.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Greek Old Testament: Prov 3:34, "The Lord resists the hyperēphanoi, but gives grace to the humble," quoted in James 4:6 and 1 Pet 5:5. It is also common in Psalms (e.g. Ps 93[94]:2) and Sirach (e.g. Sir 10:7, 12–18 on the pride of rulers). NT: Luke 1:51; Rom 1:30; 2 Tim 3:2. Daniel's portrait of the arrogant king who "speaks great things" (Dan 7:8; 11:36), widely read as Antiochus, belongs to the same line of thought.
Similar words
Where it appears
Luke · 1
-
Luke 1:51 ὑπερηφάνους [the] proud
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
Here: Literally "showing oneself above" others: people who rank themselves over others and over God. It is the opposite of the "lowly" whom God lifts up in v. 52. In Israel's Scriptures it often describes powerful oppressors and enemies, not just people with a private vanity.
Romans · 1
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Romans 1:30 ὑπερηφάνους, arrogant,
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.
Here: Literally 'showing oneself above' others. It describes the inner stance of superiority and contempt. In Jewish scripture this is the type God personally opposes: 'The Lord resists the arrogant' (Prov 3:34 LXX).
2 Timothy · 1
-
2 Timothy 3:2 ὑπερήφανοι, proud,
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
Here: 'Showing oneself above' others: an inward haughtiness that looks down on people. The braggart before it is loud. This one is contemptuous, and may say nothing at all.
James · 1
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James 4:6 ὑπερηφάνοις [the] proud
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Here: Literally people who 'show themselves above' others: the haughty and contemptuous, who claim a higher place than they have and look down on everyone else. Always a vice. In James's setting this means the rich who exploit others and the ambitious who scramble for position.
1 Peter · 1
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1 Peter 5:5 ὑπερηφάνοις [the] proud
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Here: Literally someone who "shows himself above" others: putting oneself on display as superior. The opposite of the lowly-minded person just described.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.