Altitude , i.e. concretely (an elevated place ), abstractly ( elevation , figuratively ( elation ), or adverbially ( aloft )
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The Hebrew noun marom speaks of height, an elevated place, what is aloft, or a lofty position. Scripture can use it for mountain heights, the heavens, a place from which God looks or acts, and figurative elevation expressed as pride or arrogance.
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Full entry for מָרוֹם (H4791) · Open the biblical lexicon
The Hebrew noun marom speaks of height, an elevated place, what is aloft, or a lofty position. Scripture can use it for mountain heights, the heavens, a place from which God looks or acts, and figurative elevation expressed as pride or arrogance.
The BSB source-word alignment has 54 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include on high (11), from on high (6), heights (3), the heights (3), in pride (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Judges 5:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (16), Psalms (13), Jeremiah (5), Job (5).
The Hebrew noun marom speaks of height, an elevated place, what is aloft, or a lofty position. Scripture can use it for mountain heights, the heavens, a place from which God looks or acts, and figurative elevation expressed as pride or arrogance. The word's vertical image does not carry one moral value by itself. The Lord is majestically on high because of who He is, while Assyria's lifted eyes reveal pride because the king boasts against the Holy One.
Isaiah says God dwells in a high and holy place and also with the oppressed and humble, so divine transcendence is not distance from contrite people. Other passages describe lofty cities or proud powers being brought low. Readers should identify whose height is in view, whether the expression is spatial or figurative, and how the surrounding passage evaluates it.
Marom does not make visibility, rank, wealth, or institutional position proof of God's favor, and it does not make ordinary lowliness proof of spiritual failure. God's incomparable exaltation cannot be transferred to human leaders or platforms.
Marom names height or what is aloft across mountains, heavens, divine majesty, elevated cities, and context-marked human pride, with the surrounding passage distinguishing rightful exaltation from arrogance.
Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
The Lord confronts Sennacherib for lifting his eyes in pride against the Holy One, so the context marks human elevation as arrogance.
For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust.
Isaiah's song says God humbles those dwelling on high and casts the lofty city down for the oppressed to tread.
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
The prophet calls hearers to lift their eyes on high and consider the Creator who numbers and names the starry host.
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
The high and holy God says He also dwells with the oppressed and humble to restore the lowly and contrite.
Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is majestic.
Above the roaring waters, the Lord on high is majestic within a psalm celebrating His eternal reign and confirmed testimonies.
I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
God plants a tender sprig on Israel's mountain heights so it grows and shelters birds within Ezekiel's restoration oracle.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Hebrew word. Expresses both physical elevation and divine/moral exaltation; God's transcendent position "on high
Expresses both physical elevation and divine/moral exaltation; God's transcendent position "on high
altitude, i.e. concretely (an elevated place), abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially (aloft) BDB: height Usage: (far) above, dignity, haughty, height, (most, on) high (one, place), loftily, upward.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 54 lexical occurrence verses.
מָרוֹם is built from this root:
Marom gives biblical writers language for what is high, but Scripture refuses to let human height imitate God's exaltation. The Lord is on high in majesty, creates and governs the heavenly host, and speaks from a position no creature can claim. Yet Isaiah joins God's high and holy dwelling with His presence among oppressed and humble people. Transcendence and compassionate nearness are not rivals.
Human powers tell a different story when they lift their eyes in pride, occupy lofty cities, or imagine their secure height places them beyond judgment. God can bring such claims down and raise what appears low according to His purpose. Physical mountains and heights can also serve prophetic imagery without becoming sacred in themselves. Faithful teaching therefore distinguishes divine majesty, ordinary elevation, poetic vision, and arrogant self-exaltation.
It should never borrow God's highness to shield a leader, institution, nation, or platform from truth and accountability. Nor should it tell suffering people that low status means God is absent. Isaiah 57 directly resists that harm by locating God's reviving presence with the humble and contrite.
Isa.57.15
Marom is a masculine Hebrew noun derived from the idea of being high. It can denote a physical height, an elevated region or realm, what is above, or figurative loftiness. Translation may render the same noun with height, high, on high, heaven, summit, pride, or arrogance according to syntax and context.
The New Testament likewise speaks of God's exaltation and Christ's lordship while teaching humble service and God's care for the lowly. Those connections should follow explicit texts rather than treating every upward image, mountain, or prominent office as an instance of marom.