Greek word · G5247
ὑπεροχή
hyperochē
authority
From hyper-echō, 'to stand out above'. Its senses are (1) superiority or excellence (1 Cor 2:1, 'excellence of speech'); (2) a prominent position, high rank, eminence. The phrase 'those in huperochē' means people of high standing: officials, magistrates, the elite.
Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ὑπεροχή, -ῆς, ἡ
(ὑπερέχω) [in LXX: Jeremiah 52:22 (קוֹמָה), 2Ma.3:11, al. ;]
a projection, eminence, as the peak of a mountain. Metaphorical (Arist.), excellence, pre-eminence: λόγου ἢ σοφίας, 1 Corinthians 2:1; οἱ ἐν ὑ (for a parallel to this phrase, see Deiss., BS, 255, and cf. 2Mac, l.with), 1 Timothy 2:2.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
From the study of 1 Timothy 2:2
- Range of meaning
From hyper-echō, 'to stand out above'. Its senses are (1) superiority or excellence (1 Cor 2:1, 'excellence of speech'); (2) a prominent position, high rank, eminence. The phrase 'those in huperochē' means people of high standing: officials, magistrates, the elite.
- Against the English
BSB, KJV, YLT and most modern versions have 'in authority'. WEB's 'in high places' is closer to the word's picture of elevation and rank. 'Authority' is not wrong, but it leans toward legal power to command, where the Greek stresses social and official eminence.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Common in Hellenistic honorary inscriptions and in Polybius for people of rank. 2 Maccabees 3:11 describes Hyrcanus as a man 'in very high position' (en huperochē). The related verb appears in Romans 13:1, 'the governing authorities' (exousiais huperechousais, literally 'authorities that stand above'), and in 1 Peter 2:13, 'the king as supreme' (huperechonti).
From the study of 1 Corinthians 2:1
- Range of meaning
From hyperechō, 'to stand out above, surpass'. It means (1) prominence or excellence, and (2) a position of rank or authority. Paul uses it in 1 Tim 2:2 ('all who are in high positions'). The phrase kath' huperochēn means 'in a superior manner' or 'by way of preeminence' (BDAG).
- Against the English
KJV 'excellency of speech' sounds like plain quality, as if Paul only meant he was not very good at speaking. Translations like 'lofty speech' or 'superiority' keep the idea of rising above and outranking others. BSB 'eloquence' is accurate but drops the overtone of status.
- How it drifted
'Excellency' in KJV English carried a sense of eminence and dignity, as in the title 'His Excellency'. Today 'excellence' just means 'very good', so the note of social rank has faded.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In Hellenistic Greek, inscriptions and papyri use it for people of high standing (compare 1 Tim 2:2; 2 Macc 3:11, 'a man of eminence'). Polybius and others use it for preeminence or advantage.
Similar words
Where it appears
1 Corinthians · 1
-
1 Corinthians 2:1 ὑπεροχὴν excellency
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
Here: Literally 'standing out above'. This is speech that puts the speaker above his hearers, the kind of superiority that wins status. Paul denies coming with that kind of rank-claiming polish.
1 Timothy · 1
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1 Timothy 2:2 ὑπεροχῇ authority
for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
Here: Literally 'a standing-above'. It refers to high rank: governors, magistrates, officials, the people who were honoured in civic inscriptions. It is about status and position more than the bare legal right to command.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.