Pride’s Warning: ὑπερφρονέω (Strong’s G5252: hyperphroneo) Cautions Against Self-Exaltation

Strong’s G5252: A compound verb combining hyper (beyond) with phroneo (to think), meaning to think too highly of oneself or to be haughty. Used in Pauline teaching to warn against pride and promote proper self-assessment within the body of the Messiah.

U- Unveiling the Word

ὑπερφρονέω (hyperphroneo) combines the intensifier ὑπέρ (hyper, “beyond”) with φρονέω (phroneo, “to think”), creating a powerful term that describes thinking beyond appropriate bounds—specifically, having an inflated self-opinion. In Romans 12:3, Paul employs this word to warn against spiritual pride within the church community. The early church fathers frequently referenced this term when discussing the dangers of pride and the importance of humility in Christian leadership. Today, this word continues to serve as a crucial reminder of the need for proper self-assessment and humble service within the body of believers.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑπερφρονέω, hyperphroneo, hoop-er-fro-NEH-oh
• Detailed Pronunciation: hoo (as in “hoop”) + per (as in “pair”) + fro (as in “fro”) + neh (as in “net”) + oh (as in “go”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• ὑπέρ (hyper) – prefix meaning “above, beyond”
• φρονέω (phroneo) – verb meaning “to think, mind”
• φρήν (phrēn) – base noun meaning “mind”
• -έω (-eō) – verbal suffix indicating continuous action

D – Defining Meanings

• To think too highly of oneself
• To be haughty
• To overestimate one’s importance

For compound words:

• ὑπέρ (hyper) adds the sense of “beyond proper bounds”
• φρονέω (phroneo) contributes the meaning of mental activity or attitude
• Combined, they express thinking that exceeds appropriate limits

Translation Options:

• “Think more highly than one ought” – captures the excessive nature
• “Be haughty-minded” – emphasizes the attitude
• “Overestimate oneself” – focuses on the self-assessment aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

• φρονέω (phroneo, fro-NEH-oh) – “to think, mind” – basic thought without excess
  See G5426
• ὑπερηφανία (hyperephania, hoop-er-ay-fan-EE-ah) – “pride, arrogance”
  See G5243
• τυφόω (typhoō, too-FO-oh) – “to be puffed up with pride”
  See G5187

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, ὑπερφρονέω exhibits these features:

• Tense: Present
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Infinitive
• Person: N/A (infinitive)
• Number: N/A (infinitive)
• Aspect: Continuous

This word would morph in English as:

• Present: thinks too highly
• Past: thought too highly
• Perfect: has thought too highly
• Future: will think too highly

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons provide significant insight into ὑπερφρονέω. BDAG emphasizes its use in contexts of improper self-evaluation, particularly in religious settings. Thayer’s highlights its connection to pride and arrogance, noting its contrast with proper Christian humility. LSJ documents its use in classical literature to describe those who overstepped their proper bounds. Vine’s connects it to the broader New Testament teaching on humility. Strong’s emphasizes its composition, highlighting how it describes thought that goes beyond proper limits. Moulton and Milligan note its appearance in ancient moral treatises warning against excessive pride.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Romans 12:3: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to [ὑπερφρονέω] think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

Additional References:
This word appears only once in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ὑπερφρονέω serves as a crucial reminder of the danger of spiritual pride and the importance of proper self-assessment. Paul’s use of this term in Romans perfectly balances the recognition of spiritual gifts with the need for humility. The good news is that in King Jesus, we find our true worth—not in self-exaltation, but in humble service to Him and His body. This word calls us to embrace the paradox that true greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humility.

D – Did You Know?

• ὑπερφρονέω appears in ancient Greek ethical treatises discussing the virtue of moderation
• The word influenced early Christian teachings on leadership qualifications
• It’s part of Paul’s larger vocabulary for describing proper Christian thinking patterns

Strong’s G5252: A compound verb combining hyper (beyond) with phroneo (to think), meaning to think too highly of oneself or be haughty. Used in Pauline teaching to warn against pride and promote proper self-assessment within the body of the Messiah.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: pride, humility, thinking, self-assessment, Romans, Pauline epistles, spiritual gifts, church life, Christian character, leadership, wisdom, discernment​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​