Greek word · G5311

ὕψος

hypsos

height

Height, a high place, and so heaven as God's dwelling. 'The Most High' (hypsistos, from the same root) is a frequent name for God in Luke 1 (vv. 32, 35, 76).

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ὕψος, -ους, τό

[in LXX for קוֹמָה, מָרוֹם, etc. ;]

height: Ephesians 3:18 James 1:9, Revelation 21:16; of heaven (EV, on high), ἐξ ὕ., Luke 1:78 24:49; εἰς ὕ., Ephesians 4:8 (LXX)†

(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 1:78

Range of meaning

Height, a high place, and so heaven as God's dwelling. 'The Most High' (hypsistos, from the same root) is a frequent name for God in Luke 1 (vv. 32, 35, 76).

Against the English

'From on high' (KJV, ESV, NASB, BSB, WEB) is accurate. NIV and NLT 'from heaven' make the meaning plain but lose the link with 'Most High' in v. 76.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Ps 102:19 [101:20 LXX] ('the Lord looked down from his holy height'); Isa 32:15 (the Spirit poured out 'from on high'); Luke 24:49.

From the study of 1 Maccabees 12:36

Range of meaning

ὕψος means "height", and concretely "a high place" or "a high structure". Paired with ὑψόω ("raise"), it gives the phrase "raise a great height", which says the thing built was tall without saying what it was made of.

Against the English

KJV and Brenton say "a great mount" and WEB "a great mound". Both suggest an earthen bank. RSV and NRSV say "a high barrier". The Greek is open: it could be a wall, an earthwork, or both.

How it drifted

"Mount" in KJV English could mean an artificial bank or siege mound. Today it suggests a hill or mountain, which is misleading.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), ὕψος usually means height or a high place. Josephus retells the episode in Antiquities 13.5.11 and describes Jonathan's plan as building a wall to cut the Akra off from the city so the garrison could not get supplies.

From the study of James 1:9

Range of meaning

Height (physical). A high place or 'on high' (heaven, Luke 1:78; 24:49). Figuratively, high rank, elevation or exaltation.

Against the English

BSB, NASB, WEB and NIV have 'high position', ESV and YLT 'exaltation', KJV 'in that he is exalted', NLT 'God has honored them'. 'High position' can sound like a promotion at work or in society. 'Exaltation' better suggests something done to him from above.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint, Job 5:11 praises God as the one 'who sets the lowly on high (eis hypsos)'. The cognate verb hypsoō is the standard word for God's reversal of fortunes: 1 Sam 2:7–8; Ezek 17:24; Ps 113:7–8; Luke 1:52; 14:11. James uses the same pairing in 4:10: 'Be humbled (tapeinōthēte) before the Lord, and he will exalt (hypsōsei) you.'

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 1:78 ὕψους, on high,

    because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,

    Here: 'The height,' meaning heaven, God's realm. Jews often used it as a reverent way to refer to God without naming him (compare Luke 24:49, 'power from on high'). The dawn breaks from above, not from the horizon.

  2. Luke 24:49 ὕψους on high

    And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

    Here: 'From the height', meaning from heaven, God's dwelling. Saying 'on high' instead of naming God is a reverent Jewish way of speaking, and it echoes Isa 32:15, 'until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high.'

Ephesians · 2

  1. Ephesians 3:18 ὕψος height

    will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth

    Here: The third dimension. It moves the picture from a flat plan to a full space. Height is also the language of heaven and of God's exalted place.

  2. Ephesians 4:8 ὕψος high

    This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”

    Here: 'The height', meaning the exalted place of God's throne. In the Greek Old Testament this word translates the Hebrew marom ('the high place, the heights'). It does not mean a physical altitude. It is the place of rule.

James · 1

  1. James 1:9 ὕψει exaltation

    The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.

    Here: Literally 'height'. Here it is the high standing God has given the lowly believer, which he has now and which will be shown in full later. It is a deliberate paradox: the low man boasts of his height.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 21:16 ὕψος height

    The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height.

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