Lexical Summary hupsoó: To lift up, to exalt, to raise high Original Word: ὑψόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance exalt, lift up. From hupsos; to elevate (literally or figuratively) -- exalt, lift up. see GREEK hupsos HELPS Word-studies 5312 hypsóō (from 5311 /hýpsos, "height") – properly, raise high (elevate), exalt. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hupsos Definition to lift or raise up, to exalt, uplift NASB Translation exalt (2), exalted (9), exalts (3), lift (1), lifted (4), made...great (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5312: ὑψόωὑψόω, ὑψῶ; future ὑψώσω; 1 aorist ὕψωσα; passive, 1 aorist ὑψωθην; 1 future ὑψωθήσομαι; (ὕψος); (Batr. 81; Hippocrates, others); the Sept. very often for רוּם, also for גָּבַהּ, נָשָׂא, גָּדַל, etc.; to lift up on high, to exalt, (Vulg.exalto): τινα or τί, properly, of place, John 3:14{a}; used of the elevation of Jesus on the cross, John 3:14{b}; Topical Lexicon Thematic Overview Hypsóō speaks of elevation in every sense: literal lifting, the enthronement of the Messiah, and the moral-spiritual raising of the humble. Across the New Testament it reveals a divine pattern—God alone grants true exaltation, and He does so through the paradox of humility, suffering, and obedient faith. Exaltation of Christ The climactic use of hypsóō concerns Jesus Christ. Peter’s Pentecost sermon proclaims, “Exalted, therefore, to the right hand of God…” (Acts 2:33). Later the apostles testify that God “exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior” (Acts 5:31). These texts anchor Christ’s supremacy in the historical resurrection-ascension, affirming His present reign and the certainty of His future return. Prophetic ‘Lifting Up’ and the Cross John’s Gospel links hypsóō to the crucifixion in four key verses. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up” (John 3:14). The bronze serpent (Numbers 21) prefigured substitutionary atonement; Christ’s lifting draws sinners to look and live. John 8:28, 12:32, and 12:34 progressively reveal that the cross is both the place of Jesus’ greatest humiliation and the moment His saving glory is most displayed—“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” Christ’s Ascension and Heavenly Enthronement Hypsóō in Acts 2:33 and 5:31 reaches beyond Calvary to the ascension. The exalted Christ receives the Spirit from the Father and pours Him out, inaugurating the last days and empowering Gospel witness. The ascended Lord therefore sustains and governs the church’s mission until He appears again. Exaltation Reserved for the Humble The Synoptic parables and apostolic exhortations unite in declaring an ironclad principle: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11; cf. Luke 18:14; Matthew 23:12). James echoes the promise—“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10)—as does Peter: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). The future-passive form underscores that the coming exaltation is God’s prerogative, often eschatological, always gracious. Divine Humbling of the Proud Self-aggrandizement invites certain judgment. Capernaum, proud of its messianic privileges, hears the warning, “Will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades” (Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15). The scribes and Pharisees incur the same threat in Matthew 23:12. God’s kingdom reverses worldly hierarchies; boastful elevation collapses under His justice. Corporate Elevation of Israel and the Early Church Paul reminds the Corinthians that he “preached the gospel of God to you free of charge in order to exalt you” (2 Corinthians 11:7), showing how apostolic self-denial raises believers into maturity. Stephen’s survey of Israel’s history notes that God “exalted the people during their sojourn in Egypt” (Acts 13:17), a national hypsóō that foreshadowed final redemption in Christ. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Preaching must present a crucified yet exalted Christ, trusting His promise to draw all people. Doctrinal Reflections Hypsóō weaves together Christology (the two stages of humiliation and exaltation), Soteriology (the cross as redemptive lifting), Pneumatology (Spirit outpoured by the exalted Christ), and Eschatology (future exaltation of the saints). Scripture’s unified testimony confirms that God’s glory and human salvation meet at the point where He alone does the lifting. Key Occurrences Matthew 11:23; Matthew 23:12 (two forms) Luke 1:52; Luke 10:15; Luke 14:11 (two forms); Luke 18:14 John 3:14 (two forms); John 8:28; John 12:32, 34 Acts 2:33; Acts 5:31; Acts 13:17 Forms and Transliterations υψοί ύψου υψούνται υψούσθωσαν υψούται υψούτε υψωθεις υψωθείς ὑψωθεὶς υψωθείσα υψωθή υψώθη υψωθηναι υψωθήναι ὑψωθῆναι υψωθής υψώθης υψώθησαν υψωθησεται υψωθήσεται ὑψωθήσεται υψωθηση ὑψωθήσῃ υψωθήσομαι υψωθήσονται υψωθητε υψωθήτε ὑψωθῆτε υψώθητι υψωθήτω υψωθω υψωθώ ὑψωθῶ υψωθώσι υψωθώσιν υψωμένος υψων υψών ὑψῶν ύψωσα ύψωσά υψώσαι υψώσαί ύψωσαν ύψωσας ύψωσάς υψώσατε ύψωσατε υψωσάτωσαν ύψωσε ύψωσέ υψωσει υψώσει ὑψώσει υψώσεις υψωσεν ύψωσεν ὕψωσεν υψωση υψώση ὑψώσῃ υψώσης υψωσητε υψώσητε ὑψώσητε ύψωσον υψώσουσιν υψώσω υψώσωμεν hypson hypsôn hypsōn hypsō̂n hypsose hypsōsē hypsosei hypsōsei hypsṓsei hypsṓsēi hypsosen hypsōsen hýpsosen hýpsōsen hypsosete hypsōsēte hypsṓsete hypsṓsēte hypsotheis hypsotheìs hypsōtheis hypsōtheìs hypsothenai hypsothênai hypsōthēnai hypsōthē̂nai hypsothese hypsōthēsē hypsothḗsei hypsōthḗsēi hypsothesetai hypsothḗsetai hypsōthēsetai hypsōthḗsetai hypsothete hypsothête hypsōthēte hypsōthē̂te hypsotho hypsothô hypsōthō hypsōthō̂ upson upsōn upsose upsōsē upsosei upsōsei upsosen upsōsen upsosete upsōsēte upsotheis upsōtheis upsothenai upsōthēnai upsothese upsōthēsē upsothesetai upsōthēsetai upsothete upsōthēte upsotho upsōthōLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 11:23 V-FIP-2SGRK: ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ ἕως ᾅδου NAS: And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, KJV: which art exalted unto INT: to heaven have been lifted up to Hades Matthew 23:12 V-FIA-3S Matthew 23:12 V-FIP-3S Luke 1:52 V-AIA-3S Luke 10:15 V-FIP-2S Luke 14:11 V-PPA-NMS Luke 14:11 V-FIP-3S Luke 18:14 V-PPA-NMS Luke 18:14 V-FIP-3S John 3:14 V-AIA-3S John 3:14 V-ANP John 8:28 V-ASA-2P John 12:32 V-ASP-1S John 12:34 V-ANP Acts 2:33 V-APP-NMS Acts 5:31 V-AIA-3S Acts 13:17 V-AIA-3S 2 Corinthians 11:7 V-ASP-2P James 4:10 V-FIA-3S 1 Peter 5:6 V-ASA-3S Strong's Greek 5312 |
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