Bible Word Study
מִתְנַשֵּׂא
mithnassêʼ · (used as abstractly) supreme exaltation
מִתְנַשֵּׂא
(used as abstractly) supreme exaltation
Definition
The word מִתְנַשֵּׂא (mithnassêʼ) is a noun derived from the verb נָשָׂא (nasa), meaning 'to lift up' or 'to bear.' It signifies the state or quality of being supremely exalted or lifted high, used abstractly to denote supreme exaltation. In its sole biblical occurrence in 1 Chronicles 29:11, it describes the exalted majesty and sovereign rule belonging to God alone. The term encapsulates the idea of being raised to the highest position of honor and authority, emphasizing God's transcendence over all creation.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 29:11, within David's prayer of praise. It is used in a liturgical context to ascribe glory and majesty to God, specifically highlighting His exalted nature and sovereign rule. The usage is poetic and doxological, emphasizing God's supreme position above all things.
Etymology
מִתְנַשֵּׂא is a noun form derived from the root נָשָׂא (H5375), a common Hebrew verb meaning 'to lift,' 'to carry,' or 'to bear.' It is built using the Hitpael stem pattern, which often conveys a reflexive or intensive meaning, here abstracted into a noun. The development from the concrete action of lifting to the abstract concept of exaltation reflects a common semantic shift in Biblical Hebrew.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it explicitly attributes supreme exaltation solely to God, reinforcing the doctrine of His sovereignty and transcendence. In 1 Chronicles 29:11, it is part of a doxology that acknowledges God as the source of all greatness, power, and glory. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches Bible reading by highlighting the exclusive majesty of God, contrasting human authority with His ultimate, lifted-up rule over all creation. In its ancient Near Eastern context, terms for exaltation were often used for kings and deities. By applying מִתְנַשֵּׂא exclusively to God in a royal prayer (1 Chronicles 29:11), the biblical text makes a distinct theological claim: Israel's God, not any human monarch, possesses ultimate and supreme exaltation. This contrasts with surrounding cultures where rulers might be described with similar exalted language. גֹּדֶל (godel, H1433) — greatness or magnitude, often referring to size or importance, but less focused on the lifted-up position. רוֹם (rom, H7318) — height or loftiness, can refer to physical height or social/political high position. גָּאוֹן (ga'on, H1347) — majesty, pride, or excellence, sometimes with a negative connotation of arrogance, whereas מִתְנַשֵּׂא is purely positive and divine.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]