Greek word · G5310

ὕψιστος

hypsistos

highest

Literally 'highest' (the superlative of 'high'). Used as a noun, it names the supreme God. In Jewish Greek it renders the Hebrew title ʿElyon, 'the Most High', God as ruler over all nations and over every heavenly being.

Appears 13 times in 13 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ὕψιστος, -η, -ον superlat., without positive in use, in cl. chiefly poët. (Æsch., Soph., al.),

[in LXX chiefly for עֶלְיוֹן, also for מָרוֹם, etc. ;]

highest, most high: of place, τὰ ὕ. (of the heavens), Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:10, Luke 2:14 19:38 (cf. Joshua 16:19, Isaiah 57:15); of God (in cl., of Zeus; Pind., Æsch., al.), ὕ., Luke 1:32, 35 1:76 6:35 (as frequently in Sirach 4:10, al.); ὁ ὕ., Acts 7:48; ὁ θεὸς ὁ ὕ., Mark 5:7, Luke 8:28, Acts 16:17, Hebrews 7:1 (cf. Genesis 14:18).†

(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 Luke 1:32

Range of meaning

Literally 'highest' (the superlative of 'high'). Used as a noun, it names the supreme God. In Jewish Greek it renders the Hebrew title ʿElyon, 'the Most High', God as ruler over all nations and over every heavenly being.

Against the English

KJV 'the Highest' and modern 'the Most High' are both accurate. The English loses the fact that this is a recognisable old title with a history, not just a compliment.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX): Melchizedek, priest of 'God Most High' (Gen 14:18–20). The Most High 'divided the nations' (Deut 32:8). 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you' (Ps 82:6). It is common in Daniel and Sirach. In the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Aramaic text 4Q246 says of a coming figure, 'he will be called son of God, and they will call him son of the Most High'. Gentiles also used 'Theos Hypsistos' (God Most High), both for the Jewish God and for Zeus, and in Acts 16:17 a pagan slave girl calls Paul's God by this name. Luke uses the word more than any other New Testament writer: Luke 1:32, 35, 76; 6:35; 8:28; Acts 7:48; 16:17.

From the study of Mark 5:7

Range of meaning

"Highest, Most High". Used of God, it is the standard Greek rendering of Hebrew Elyon, an ancient title stressing God's supremacy over all other powers, divine and earthly.

Against the English

All the major English versions render it "Most High" accurately. What English readers miss is the social colour of the title: it was the name by which the God of Israel was known and addressed in places where Jews and gentiles met.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 14:18–22 (Melchizedek, a non-Israelite priest of "God Most High"); Deut 32:8; often in Psalms and Daniel, where the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar uses it (Dan 3:26; 4:2, 34). In Jewish writings of the period and in many inscriptions across the eastern Mediterranean, Theos Hypsistos ("Highest God") was a common name for the Jewish God among gentiles and God-fearers, and was sometimes blended with Zeus Hypsistos. In the NT, a possessed slave girl in Philippi uses it of "the Most High God" (Acts 16:17). Luke uses it of Jesus' identity: "Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32).

From the study of Sirach 26:16

Range of meaning

'Highest'. As a noun in the plural it means 'the heights', the upper heavens. In the singular it is a title for God, 'the Most High', which Sirach uses far more than most biblical books.

Against the English

Brenton and the KJV say 'the high heaven' and drop 'of the Lord'. WEB's 'the highest places of the Lord' keeps it. The same plural phrase sits behind 'Glory to God in the highest' (Luke 2:14) and 'praise him in the heights' (Psalm 148:1).

Used elsewhere in the period

Sirach uses ὕψιστος as a name for God dozens of times (e.g. 4:10; 7:15; 50:7). The plural 'in the highest' appears in Psalm 148:1 (Greek), Job 16:19, and the Gospels' 'Hosanna in the highest'.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 21:9 ὑψίστοις.¶ highest!

    The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

    Here: Plural 'the highest places', meaning heaven, where God dwells (compare Hebrew bammeromim, 'in the heights', Psalm 148:1). It names a place, not a degree of intensity.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 5:7 ὑψίστου; Most High?

    And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”

    Here: "Most High" is Israel's old title for God (Hebrew Elyon). It was the name commonly used for the Jewish God in mixed Jewish and gentile settings, and fits this gentile region east of the lake.

  2. Mark 11:10 ὑψίστοις.¶ highest!

    “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

    Here: Plural, 'the highest places', meaning heaven, where God lives and the angels worship. The shout on the road is meant to be taken up in heaven itself.

Luke · 7

  1. Luke 1:32 ὑψίστου of [the] Most High

    He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

    Here: 'Highest', used as a title for God. It is the Greek Old Testament's word for the Hebrew title Elyon, God as supreme over all powers and nations.

  2. Luke 1:35 ὑψίστου of [the] Most High

    The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

    Here: "Of the Most High." This is the Greek Old Testament's word for God as Elyon, the supreme God over all. It echoes 1:32, where the child is "Son of the Most High."

  3. Luke 1:76 ὑψίστου of [the] Most High

    And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

    Here: A title for God that stands for the Hebrew ʿElyon. It deliberately echoes 1:32, where Jesus 'will be called Son of the Most High'. Jesus is the Most High's son; John is the Most High's prophet.

  4. Luke 2:14 ὑψίστοις [the] highest

    “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”

    Here: A plural: 'the highest places', meaning the heavens. It is a place, set against 'on earth' in the next line, and not a statement of degree ('to the utmost').

  5. Luke 6:35 ὑψίστου, Most High,

    But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

    Here: An old Jewish title for God, used often by Luke (1:32, 35, 76; 8:28). It stresses God's supreme rank, which makes his kindness to the unworthy all the more striking.

  6. Luke 8:28 ὑψίστου; Most High?

    When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”

    Here: The Greek for Hebrew 'Elyon'. It is the title for Israel's God as supreme over every other power, and it was often used where Gentiles were present. Fitting, since this is Gentile territory.

  7. Luke 19:38 ὑψίστοις. [the] highest.

    “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

    Here: A plural adjective used as a noun: 'the highest heights', meaning the uppermost heavens. It follows Hebrew phrasing (bamromim, 'in the heights'). It tells you where the glory is, not how much of it there is.

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 7:48 ὕψιστος Most High

    However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:

    Here: The Greek Bible's word for the Hebrew title Elyon. Here the name itself makes the argument: the Highest, whose throne is heaven (v. 49), is not lodged down here in something people made.

  2. Acts 16:17 ὑψίστου Most High

    This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”

    Here: "Most High": the Greek Bible's word for the Hebrew title Elyon. It was also a common title in pagan worship ("Highest God", "Zeus the Highest"), so the phrase meant different things to different listeners.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 7:1 ὑψίστου, Most High,

    This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

    Here: The Greek Old Testament's rendering of the Hebrew Elyon in Genesis 14:18: God as supreme over all powers and nations, not one local god among many.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.