Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "exalt" in the biblical context generally means to lift up, glorify, or raise in rank, power, or character. It is used both in reference to God and to humans, often highlighting the act of giving honor or elevating someone or something to a higher status.
Exaltation of God:Exaltation is frequently associated with the worship and reverence of God. The Bible emphasizes the importance of exalting God above all else, recognizing His supreme authority and majesty. In
Psalm 46:10, the psalmist declares, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." This verse underscores the inevitability and universality of God's exaltation.
The exaltation of God is also a response to His mighty works and attributes.
Psalm 99:5 states, "Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy." Here, the holiness of God is a reason for His exaltation, calling believers to worship and honor Him.
Exaltation of Christ:The New Testament frequently speaks of the exaltation of Jesus Christ, particularly in relation to His resurrection and ascension.
Philippians 2:9-11 highlights this: "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This passage illustrates the divine act of exalting Christ due to His obedience and sacrifice, affirming His lordship and authority.
Exaltation of the Humble:The Bible also teaches that God exalts the humble, a theme that runs counter to worldly values of self-promotion and pride.
James 4:10 advises, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." Similarly,
1 Peter 5:6 encourages believers to "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you." These passages reflect the biblical principle that true exaltation comes from God and is often a result of humility and submission to His will.
Warnings Against Self-Exaltation:Scripture warns against the dangers of self-exaltation and pride.
Proverbs 16:18 cautions, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." The Bible consistently teaches that self-exaltation leads to downfall, while humility leads to honor. Jesus Himself taught this principle in
Luke 14:11, saying, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Exaltation in Worship and Praise:Exaltation is a key component of worship and praise, where believers lift up the name of the Lord through song, prayer, and proclamation.
Psalm 34:3 invites the community of faith to join in this act: "Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together." This communal aspect of exaltation emphasizes the collective acknowledgment of God's greatness and the shared joy in His presence.
Conclusion:The concept of exaltation in the Bible encompasses the glorification of God, the elevation of Christ, the honoring of the humble, and the rejection of pride. It is a central theme that calls believers to recognize and respond to the majesty and authority of God, while also living lives marked by humility and service.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To raise high; to elevate; to lift up.
2. (v. t.) To elevate in rank, dignity, power, wealth, character, or the like; to dignify; to promote; as, to exalt a prince to the throne, a citizen to the presidency.
3. (v. t.) To elevate by prise or estimation; to magnify; to extol; to glorify.
4. (v. t.) To lift up with joy, pride, or success; to inspire with delight or satisfaction; to elate.
5. (v. t.) To elevate the tone of, as of the voice or a musical instrument.
6. (v. t.) To render pure or refined; to intensify or concentrate; as, to exalt the juices of bodies.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
EXALTeg-zolt' (rum, gabhah (mappiq he), nasa'; hupsoo):
The Hebrew word most often translated "exalt," "exalted," is rum; "to lift up," "to be or become high." It is used with reference to both God and man, eg.Exodus 15:2, "My father's God, and I will exalt him";Psalm 99:5, 9, "Exalt ye Yahweh our God"; compare 107:32; 118:28:00;1 Samuel 2:10, "Exalt the horn of his anointed";Job 17:4, "Therefore shalt thou not exalt them"; compareIsaiah 13:2 the King James Version; 14:13; gabhah, "to be high," figuratively "to be exalted," occurs inJob 36:7Proverbs 17:19 the King James Version;Isaiah 5:16, etc.; nasa', "to lift up," occurs inNumbers 24:71 Chronicles 29:11, etc.; other words are calal, "to raise up" (Exodus 9:17Proverbs 4:8), saghabh (Job 5:11;Job 36:22 the King James Version;Isaiah 2:11, 17;Isaiah 12:4;Isaiah 33:5), ramam, "to be high" (Job 24:24Psalm 118:16).
In the New Testament "exalt" is the translation of hupsoo, "to elevate" (not used with reference to God) (Matthew 11:23;Matthew 23:12Acts 2:332 Corinthians 11:71 Peter 5:6, etc.); also (twice) of epairo, "to lift up, upon or against" (2 Corinthians 10:5;2 Corinthians 11:20), once of huperairo, "to lift up above" (2 Thessalonians 2:4); in2 Corinthians 12:7 bis, this word is translated "exalted above measure," the Revised Version (British and American) "exalted overmuch"; huperupsoo, "to lift up above" (Philippians 2:9), is translated "highly exalted"; hupsos, "elevation," is translated "exalted" (James 1:9, the Revised Version (British and American) "high estate").
For "it increaseth" (Job 10:16), the Revised Version (British and American) gives "and if my head exalt itself"; instead of "God exalteth by His, power" (Job 36:22), "God doeth loftily in his power"; for "though thou exalt thyself as the eagle" (Obadiah 1:4), "mount on high"; for "highly esteemed" (Luke 16:15) "exalted"; for "exalteth itself" (2 Corinthians 10:5), "is exalted"; for "He shall lift you up" (James 4:10), "He shall exalt you." Self-exaltation is strongly condemned, especially by Christ; humbleness is the way to true exaltation (Matthew 23:12Luke 14:11;Luke 18:14; compareJames 4:101 Peter 5:6); the supreme example is that of Christ Himself (Philippians 2:5-11).
W. L. Walker
Greek
5251. huperupsoo -- toexalt beyond measure... to
exalt beyond measure. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huperupsoo Phonetic
Spelling: (hoop-er-oop-so'-o) Short Definition: I highly
exalt Definition: I
...5312. hupsoo -- to lift or raise up, toexalt, uplift
... to lift or raise up, toexalt, uplift. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hupsoo
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-so'-o) Short Definition: I lift up,exalt Definition...
5229. huperairo -- to lift or raise over, mid. to uplift oneself
... Spelling: (hoop-er-ah'-ee-rom-ahee) Short Definition: I raise beyond, uplift Definition:
lit: I raise beyond, uplift; mid: I lift myself up,exalt myself, am...
1869. epairo -- to lift up
...exalt self, poise, lift up. From epi and airo; to raise up (literally or figuratively)
--exalt self, poise (lift, take) up. see GREEK epi. see GREEK airo....
3170. megaluno -- to make or declare great
... enlarge, magnify,exalt. From megas; to make (or declare) great, ie Increase or
(figuratively) extol -- enlarge, magnify, shew great. see GREEK megas....
20. agalliasis -- exultation, exuberant joy
... exultation, exhilaration. Cognate: 20 (from 21 , "toexalt") -- joy; " joy
and gladness" (, 1, 25.132; " joy" (, 135). See 21 (). Word...
21. agalliao -- to exult, rejoice greatly
... Word Origin from agallomai (to make glorious,exalt) Definition to exult, rejoice
greatly NASB Word Usage exultation (1), exulted (1), glad (2), greatly...
4888. sundoxazo -- to join in approving, hence to glorify together
... glorify together, join in praise. From sun and doxazo; toexalt to dignity in company
(ie Similarly) with -- glorify together. see GREEK sun. see GREEK doxazo....
4587. semnotes -- seriousness
... been transformed by God and exhibits "moral and spiritual gravity ()" -- like what
attends a . This sense of dignity also , who should likewiseexalt what is...
Strong's Hebrew
5542. selah -- to lift up,exalt... 5541b, 5542. selah. 5543 . to lift up,
exalt. Transliteration: selah
Phonetic Spelling: (seh'-law) Short Definition: Selah. Word
...5549. salal -- to lift up, cast up
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to lift up, cast up NASB Word Usage build (6),
exalt (1), highway (1), highway* (1), lift (1), pile (1), prize (1)....
7426. ramam -- to be exalted
... ramam. 7426a . to be exalted. Transliteration: ramam Phonetic Spelling: (raw-mam')
Short Definition:exalt.exalt, get oneself up, lift up self, mount up...
1361. gabahh -- locust
... 1360, 1361. gabahh. 1361a . locust. Transliteration: gabahh Phonetic Spelling:
(gaw-bah') Short Definition:exalt.exalt, be haughty...
7311. rum -- to be high or exalted, rise
... NASB Word Usage aloud (1), became proud (1), become proud (1), boldly* (2), brought
(1), contributed (5), defiantly* (1), display (1),exalt (11), exaltation (1...
7679. saga -- to grow, grow great
... 7678, 7679. saga. 7680 . to grow, grow great. Transliteration: saga Phonetic
Spelling: (saw-gaw') Short Definition:exalt. Word Origin a prim....
5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... 1), climbs (2), come (83), comes (2), coming (12), dawn* (1), dawned (1), depart
(1), enter (1), entered (1), erected (1), evaporated (1),exalt (1), exalted (2...
7682. sagab -- to be (inaccessibly) high
... defend,exalt, be excellent, be, set on high, lofty, be safe, set up on high,.
A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) lofty, especially...
5375. nasa -- to lift, carry, take
... 20), contain (1), continued* (1), count* (1), desire (1), desire* (2), direct (1),
ease (1), endure (4), endured (1), ever forgive (1),exalt (2), exalted (9...
7313. rum -- to rise
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to rum Definition to rise NASB Word Usage elevated
(1),exalt (1), exalted (1), lifted (1). extol, lift up self, set up....
Library
How the Desire toExalt and Magnify God Separates us from Inferior...
... CHAPTER VII. HOW THE DESIRE TOEXALT AND MAGNIFY GOD SEPARATES US FROM INFERIOR
PLEASURES, AND MAKES US ATTENTIVE TO THE DIVINE PERFECTIONS....
Nor Does this at all Too MuchExalt the Human Will...
... [Way-2-100] Nor does this at all too muchexalt the human will? Nor does
this at all too muchexalt the human will, or make our...
December 6. "Humble Yourselves Therefore under the Mighty Hand of...
... DECEMBER 6. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that He mayexalt you" (I. Peter v. 6). "Humble yourselves...
Let the Members of the Church Submit Themselves, and no oneExalt...
... Chapter XXXVIII."Let the members of the Church submit themselves, and no
oneexalt himself above another. Let our whole body, then...
Let the Members of the Church Submit Themselves, and no oneExalt...
... The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Chapter XXXVIII."Let the Members
of the Church Submit Themselves, and No OneExalt Himself Above Another....
Of the Trinity and a Christian
... of Christians should be much exercised against those high towering and self-exalting
imaginations, that within our own bosoms doexalt themselves against the...
"Ye are Christ's --Christ is God's. "
... Furthermore the demand of the hour is for us toexalt Christ.... He will be with
us and in us in the measure as weexalt Christ and walk in Him....
The Antichrist Will be a Jew
... day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the
diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same:exalt him that is...
Of the Trinity and a Christian, and of the Law and a Christian.
... of Christians should be much exercised against those high-towering and self-exalting
imaginations, that within our own bosoms doexalt themselves against the...
Christ's Exaltation
... Has God highly exalted Christ? Let us labour toexalt him. Let usexalt, (1.) His
person.... (1.) Let usexalt Christ in our hearts; believe, adore and love him....
Thesaurus
Exalt (56 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To elevate in rank, dignity, power, wealth, character, or the like; to dignify;
to promote; as, to
exalt a prince to the throne, a citizen to the
...EXALT.
...Extol (23 Occurrences)
... Let's extol him with songs! (WEB NIV). Psalms 99:5Exalt Yahweh our God. Worship
at his footstool. He is Holy! (See RSV). Psalms 99:9Exalt Yahweh, our God....
Lift (283 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To raise, elevate,exalt, improve, in rank, condition, estimation,
character, etc.; -- often with up. 4. (vt) To bear; to support....
Promote (21 Occurrences)
... venture. 2. (vt) Toexalt in station, rank, or honor; to elevate; to raise;
to prefer; to advance; as, to promote an officer. 3. (vi...
Abased (17 Occurrences)
... Abased (17 Occurrences). Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shallexalt himself shall be
abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (KJV WEY WBS)....
Erect (17 Occurrences)
... of a machine. 9. (vt) To lift up; to elevate; toexalt; to magnify. 10.
(vt) To animate; to encourage; to cheer. 11. (vt) To set...
Magnify (25 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). Psalms 34:3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us
exalt his name together. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)....
Confess (65 Occurrences)
... to the sons of men, (YLT). Psalms 118:28 My God Thou 'art', and I confess
Thee, My God, Iexalt Thee. (YLT). Psalms 119:7 I confess...
Horn (108 Occurrences)
... So to "exalt the horn" (1 Samuel 2:1, 10 Psalm 75:4, etc.) is to clothe with strength,
and to "cut off the horn" (not to be explained by Amos 3:14) is to rob...
Yah (40 Occurrences)
... Exodus 15:2 Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my
God, and I will praise him; my father's God, and I willexalt him. (WEB)....
Resources
What is the significance of Hannah's prayer? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a believer respond to the characteristics of God? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the king of the South in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.orgExalt: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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