Bible Dictionary
EXALT
To lift up, raise high, honor, or promote. Scripture calls people to exalt God, condemns proud self-exaltation, and teaches that humility leads to true exaltation.
Definition
To exalt is to lift up, raise high, honor, promote, or make prominent. The word may describe elevation by God, recognition of greatness, or proud self-elevation by a person.
Biblical Usage
Scripture calls people to exalt God, while condemning proud self-exaltation. Christ teaches that humility leads to true exaltation, and Christ himself is presented as the supreme example of exaltation.
Historical Background
The Old Testament uses several words meaning to lift up or be high. New Testament terms express elevation, being highly exalted, or being raised above measure, with revisions sometimes clarifying these senses.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>eg-zolt' (rum, gabhah (mappiq he), nasa'; hupsoo):</p><p>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. Ex 15:2, "My father's God, and I will exalt him"; Ps 99:5,9, "Exalt ye Yahweh our God"; compare 107:32; 118:28; 1Sa 2:10, "Exalt the horn of his anointed"; Job 17:4, "Therefore shalt thou not exalt them"; compare Isa 13:2 the King James Version; 14:13; gabhah, "to be high," figuratively "to be exalted," occurs in Job 36:7; Pr 17:19 the King James Version; Isa 5:16, etc.; nasa', "to lift up," occurs in Nu 24:7; 1Ch 29:11, etc.; other words are calal, "to raise up" (Ex 9:17; Pr 4:8), saghabh (Job 5:11; 36:22 the King James Version; Isa 2:11,17; 12:4; 33:5), ramam, "to be high" (Job 24:24; Ps 118:16).</p><p>In the New Testament "exalt" is the translation of hupsoo, "to elevate" (not used with reference to God) (Mt 11:23; 23:12; Ac 2:33; 2Co 11:7; 1Pe 5:6, etc.); also (twice) of epairo, "to lift up, upon or against" (2Co 10:5; 11:20), once of huperairo, "to lift up above" (2Th 2:4); in 2Co 12:7 bis, this word is translated "exalted above measure," the Revised Version (British and American) "exalted overmuch"; huperupsoo, "to lift up above" (Php 2:9), is translated "highly exalted"; hupsos, "elevation," is translated "exalted" (Jas 1:9, the Revised Version (British and American) "high estate").</p><p>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" (Ob 1:4), "mount on high"; for "highly esteemed" (Lu 16:15) "exalted"; for "exalteth itself" (2Co 10:5), "is exalted"; for "He shall lift you up" (Jas 4:10), "He shall exalt you." Self-exaltation is strongly condemned, especially by Christ; humbleness is the way to true exaltation (Mt 23:12; Lu 14:11; 18:14; compare Jas 4:10; 1Pe 5:6); the supreme example is that of Christ Himself (Php 2:5-11).</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>