Lexical Summary huperbolé: Excess, surpassing, extraordinary, beyond measure Original Word: ὑπερβολή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance abundance, excessFrom huperballo; a throwing beyond others, i.e. (figuratively) supereminence; adverbially (with eis or kata) pre- eminently -- abundance, (far more) exceeding, excellency, more excellent, beyond (out of) measure. see GREEK huperballo see GREEK eis see GREEK kata HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 5236 hyperbolḗ – This very emphatic term means "superlatively, beyond, measure" (Souter). See 5235 (hyperbállō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom huperballó Definition a throwing beyond, excess, superiority NASB Translation all comparison (1), beyond* (1), excessively* (1), far...all comparison (1), measure (1), more excellent (1), surpassing greatness (2), utterly (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5236: ὑπερβολήὑπερβολή, ὑπερβολης, ἡ (ὑπερβάλλω, which see), from Herodotus (8, 112, 4) and Thucydides down; 1. properly, a throwing beyond. 2. metaphorically, superiority, excellence, preeminence (R. V. exceeding greatness): with a genitive of the thing, 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 12:7; καθ' ὑπερβολήν, beyond measure, exceedingly, preeminently: Romans 7:13; 1 Corinthians 12:31 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 54, 2b.; Buttmann, § 125, 11 at the end); 2 Corinthians 1:8; Galatians 1:13 (4 Macc. 3:18; Sophocles O. R. 1196; Isocrates, p. 84 d. (i. e. πρός Φιλ. 5); Polybius 3, 92, 10; Diodorus 2, 16; 17, 47); καθ' ὑπέρ εἰς ὑπερβολήν, beyond all measure (R. V. more and more exceedingly), 2 Corinthians 4:17. STRONGS NT 5236a: ὑπερεγώὑπερεγώ (Lachmann), equivalent to ὑπέρ ἐγώ (see ὑπέρ, II. 2 c.): 2 Corinthians 11:23. Cf. Winer's Grammar, 46 (45). The term denotes something that goes beyond the ordinary measure—an excess, an extraordinary degree, or a surpassing quality. Whether it modifies power, suffering, sin, gifts, or glory, it stresses an intensity that cannot be explained by normal human categories. Occurrences in Scripture • 2 Corinthians 4:7 employs the word to highlight “this surpassing power… from God and not from us,” underscoring divine origin versus human frailty. Theological Significance 1. Divine Power versus Human Weakness: 2 Corinthians 4:7 juxtaposes fragile “jars of clay” with “surpassing power,” teaching that God intentionally places His greatest treasure in weak vessels so that all credit returns to Him. Historical and Ministry Context Paul writes as a missionary-theologian whose life oscillated between astonishing miracles and crushing hardship. His vocabulary of excess mirrors the extremes of his experience: miraculous revelations, fierce opposition, intense persecution, and triumphant church planting. By choosing this word, he invites believers of every era to interpret both victories and trials through the lens of God’s surpassing purposes rather than human metrics. Pastoral Applications • Encourage believers facing overwhelming trials that such burdens, though “far beyond” their strength, press them into deeper dependence on the God who raises the dead. Summary Throughout the New Testament the word portrays realities that stretch past ordinary limits—sin’s depth, grace’s power, suffering’s weight, love’s excellence, and glory’s magnitude. Each occurrence magnifies the contrast between human inadequacy and God’s superabundant provision, inviting believers to rest in His surpassing sufficiency. Englishman's Concordance Romans 7:13 N-AFSGRK: γένηται καθ' ὑπερβολὴν ἁμαρτωλὸς ἡ NAS: sin would become utterly sinful. INT: might become beyond excessively sinful 1 Corinthians 12:31 N-AFS 2 Corinthians 1:8 N-AFS 2 Corinthians 4:7 N-NFS 2 Corinthians 4:17 N-AFS 2 Corinthians 4:17 N-AFS 2 Corinthians 12:7 N-DFS Galatians 1:13 N-AFS Strong's Greek 5236 |
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