Supreme Majesty: ὕψιστος (Strong’s G5310: hypsistos) Exalts God’s Ultimate Authority

Strong’s G5310: The superlative of hypsi (high), hypsistos means highest or most high. In NT usage, it particularly serves as a divine title, “the Most High God,” emphasizing God’s supreme sovereignty and transcendent authority over all creation.

U- Unveiling the Word

The adjective ὕψιστος (hypsistos) represents the ultimate expression of elevation and supremacy, particularly in reference to God. As the superlative form of “high,” it describes that which is highest or most elevated, but in biblical usage it primarily serves as a divine title: “the Most High.” This term carries special significance in both Jewish and Christian traditions, emphasizing God’s absolute sovereignty and transcendence above all creation. Early church fathers frequently used this term to defend the deity of Messiah, noting its application to Him in the Gospels. Today, it continues to remind believers of God’s supreme authority and absolute sovereignty over all creation, challenging both secular humanism and religious pluralism.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὕψιστος, hypsistos, HUP-sis-tos
• Detailed Pronunciation: HUP (as in “hoop”) – sis (as in “sister”) – tos (as in “toss”)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:
From ὕψι (hypsi) – high:

• Root: ὕψι – high
• -ιστος (-istos) – superlative suffix meaning “most”

D – Defining Meanings

• Highest, most high
• Supreme, uppermost
• Most exalted (especially as divine title)

For compound words:
Not a compound word; formed with superlative suffix -ιστος

Translation Options:

• “Most High” – Traditional divine title
• “Highest” – Literal translation
• “Supreme” – Captures authority aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ὑψηλός (hypselos, hoop-say-LOS) – high, lofty
  See G5308
• ἀνώτατος (anotatos, an-O-ta-tos) – uppermost
  See G511
• ὕψωμα (hypsoma, HUP-so-ma) – height, exaltation
  See G5313

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As an adjective:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter
• Degree: Superlative

Example forms:

• ὕψιστος (masculine nominative singular)
• ὑψίστη (feminine nominative singular)
• ὕψιστον (neuter nominative/accusative singular)
• ὑψίστου (masculine/neuter genitive singular)

Related words:

• Noun: ὕψος (hypsos)
• Verb: ὑψόω (hypsoo)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical research reveals ὕψιστος’s profound theological significance. BDAG emphasizes its primary use as a divine title. Thayer’s notes its development from physical height to divine supremacy. LSJ documents its classical usage for both physical and metaphorical supremacy. Vine’s highlights its importance in expressing God’s sovereignty. Moulton and Milligan cite papyri showing its use in religious contexts. Strong’s emphasizes its superlative nature expressing ultimate height, while LEH notes its frequent use in the Septuagint as a translation for Hebrew El Elyon. This evidence shows a term exclusively reserved for expressing divine supremacy.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 21:9 “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest [ὕψιστος].”

Additional References:
Mark 5:7, Luke 1:32, Luke 1:35, Luke 1:76, Luke 2:14, Luke 6:35, Acts 7:48

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The word ὕψιστος powerfully proclaims God’s supreme sovereignty over all creation. As a divine title, it reminds us that there is no authority higher than God, no power beyond His control. This word proclaims the good news by showing that the Most High God has come near in Messiah Jesus, making His supreme authority available for our protection and blessing. It challenges us to recognize and submit to God’s ultimate authority while finding comfort in His sovereign care.

D – Did You Know?

1. This term was used in Greek translations of the Hebrew “El Elyon” (God Most High).
2. Demons recognized Jesus with this title, acknowledging His divine authority.
3. Early Christians used this term to defend Messiah’s deity against various heresies.

Strong’s G5310: The superlative of hypsi (high), hypsistos means highest or most high. In NT usage, it particularly serves as a divine title, “the Most High God,” emphasizing God’s supreme sovereignty and transcendent authority over all creation.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: most-high, divine-title, sovereignty, supremacy, god’s-authority, transcendence, divine-nature, supreme-god, el-elyon, highest, divine-supremacy, divine-sovereignty​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​