Original Word: עֶלְיוֹן
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: elyown
Pronunciation: el-yone'
Phonetic Spelling: (el-yone')
KJV: (Most, on) high(-er, -est), upper(-most)
Word Origin: [from H5927 (עָלָה - went)]

1. an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.)
2. as title, the Supreme

Most high, Uppermost

From alah; an elevation, i.e. (adj.) Lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme -- (Most, on) high(-er, -est), upper(-most).

see HEBREW alah

I. עֶלְיוֺן₂₂ adjective 1 high; — masculine singular ׳ע Deuteronomy 26:19; Deuteronomy 28:1; 1 Kings 9:8 (? reading ׳הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה הָע as ᵐ5^L Benz) = 2 Chronicles 7:21, of ׳י Psalm 97:9.

2 upper Bethhoron, ׳ע Joshua 16:5 העליון 1 Chronicles 7:24; 2Chronicles 8:5, the upper (opposed to lower), of house Nehemiah 3:25; compare 2 Kings 15:35; 2Chronicles 23:20 5t., + Genesis 40:17 (uppermost basket); feminine singular הָעֶלְיוֺנָה the upper pool 2 Kings 18:17 = Isaiah 36:2; Isaiah 7:3; the highest side-chamber (צֵלָע) Ezekiel 41:7; feminine plural הָעֶלְיוֺנֹת Ezekiel 42:5 the upper chambers (לְשָׁכוֺת).

3 of Davidic king exalted above monarchs Psalm 89:28 (compare Deuteronomy 28:1, above).

II. עֶלְיוֺן noun masculine Highest, Most High (probably = foregoing); —

1 name of God Numbers 24:16; Deuteronomy 32:8; Psalm 18:14 = 2 Samuel 22:14; Psalm 9:3; Psalm 21:8; Psalm 46:5; Psalm 50:14; Psalm 73:11; Psalm 77:11; Psalm 78:17; Psalm 83:19; Psalm 87:5; Psalm 91:1; Psalm 91:9; Psalm 92:2; Psalm 107:11; Isaiah 14:14; Lamentations 3:35,38; with other divine names: אל עליון Genesis 14:18,19,20,22 (see Di) Psalm 78:35; יהוה עליון Psalm 7:18; Psalm 47:3; אלהים עליון Psalm 57:3; Psalm 78:56.

5 of rulers, either monarchs or angel-princes, בְּנֵי עֶלְיוֺן = אלהים Psalm 82:6.

[עֶלְיוֺן] adjective id. (Biblical Hebrew id.); — plural of God, קַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֺנִין (double plural, Buhl, as sometimes Biblical Hebrew, Ges^{§ 124q} Kö^{ii. 1. 438 f}) Daniel 7:18,22,25,27.

Divine Title of Supremacy

The name “Most High” declares the unrivaled sovereignty of the covenant God. Its first appearance, when Melchizedek blesses Abram, joins priestly mediation to regal authority: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19). Abram immediately echoes the title, swearing to “the LORD, God Most High” (Genesis 14:22), uniting the covenant Name with the transcendent descriptor. Throughout Scripture the phrase underscores that the God of Israel stands above every power—angelic, human, or demonic (Psalm 97:9).

Association with Covenant Blessing

The title frames moments when Yahweh covenants or reaffirms promise:

• In Balaam’s oracle, “the declaration of him who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High” (Numbers 24:16), legitimizes Balaam’s involuntary blessing of Israel.
• Moses’ song recalls creation-wide sovereignty in the allocation of the nations: “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance” (Deuteronomy 32:8).
• Hannah’s psalm anticipates messianic kingship, for “Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth” (1 Samuel 2:10), a text echoing Psalmic use of the same title.

Liturgical and Poetic Usage

Psalms employ the title about thirty times, often pairing it with imagery of secure refuge. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Hymnic contexts celebrate His exalted throne (Psalm 47:2), covenant faithfulness (Psalm 57:2), and unique trustworthiness (Psalm 78:35). This liturgical vocabulary shaped Israel’s worship, reminding singers that the One they approach is enthroned above all creation yet condescends to save.

Contrast with False Gods and Earthly Powers

Prophets juxtapose the Most High with pagan deities and arrogant kings. Isaiah condemns the Assyrian boast, “By the strength of my hand I have done this” (Isaiah 10:13), then exalts the Lord as the One who humbles human pride. Daniel, written in exile, features repeated acknowledgments by Gentile monarchs: Nebuchadnezzar confesses that His “dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 4:34), and Darius commands all peoples to “fear and reverence the God of Daniel” (Daniel 6:26). The prophetic witness insists that earthly empires rise and fall beneath the unassailable reign of the Most High.

Shelter for the Afflicted

Individual laments appeal to the title as a sanctuary for the oppressed. When David flees Saul, he prays, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me” (Psalm 57:2). The psalmist under persecution can still “declare the works of the LORD Most High” (Psalm 73:28). The name therefore fosters confidence that circumstances never outrun divine authority.

Messianic Anticipation and Christological Fulfillment

Several “Most High” passages arc forward to the Messiah. Psalm 110, rooted in the Genesis 14 encounter, entwines kingship and priesthood, themes applied directly to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 7. At the annunciation Gabriel tells Mary, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32), a deliberate echo of Old Testament usage. Demons likewise recognize Jesus’ authority: “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Mark 5:7). The title thus bridges Testaments, grounding New Covenant revelation in Old Covenant vocabulary.

Historical Trajectory

Patriarchal narrative → Sinai covenant → poetic and wisdom literature → exilic proclamation → Second Temple expectation. At every stage the term resists syncretism, maintaining that Israel’s God alone rules the cosmos. Intertestamental literature picks up the title (e.g., Sirach, 1 Enoch), preserving its theocentric weight for the New Testament authors.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Worship: Congregational singing should retain language that magnifies God’s transcendence, guarding against trivializing His holiness.
2. Prayer: Invoking “Most High” trains believers to submit personal petitions to cosmic sovereignty (cf. Psalm 57:2).
3. Evangelism: Just as Daniel’s witness elicited royal confession, modern proclamation invites rulers and nations to acknowledge the authority of the Most High.
4. Spiritual Warfare: Recognizing God’s supremacy fortifies believers against principalities, echoing Christ’s triumph over demonic forces who confess Him as Son of the Most High.

Representative References

Genesis 14:18-22; Numbers 24:16; Deuteronomy 32:8; 2 Samuel 22:14; 1 Chronicles 7:40; Psalm 7:17; Psalm 9:2; Psalm 18:13; Psalm 47:2; Psalm 57:2; Psalm 78:17; Psalm 82:6; Psalm 91:1, 9; Psalm 97:9; Psalm 107:11; Isaiah 14:14; Lamentations 3:35, 38; Daniel 3:26; Daniel 4:17, 24-25, 32, 34; Daniel 5:18, 21; Daniel 7:18, 22, 25, 27.

בְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃ בעליון׃ הָֽעֶלְי֔וֹן הָֽעֶלְי֖וֹן הָֽעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה הָעֶלְי֑וֹן הָעֶלְי֗וֹן הָעֶלְי֜וֹן הָעֶלְיֽוֹן׃ הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֖ה הָעֶלְיוֹנֹ֖ת העליון העליון׃ העליונה העליונת וְ֭עֶלְיוֹן וְעֶלְי֖וֹן ועליון לְעֶלְי֣וֹן לְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃ לעליון לעליון׃ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן עֶ֝לְיוֹן עֶלְי֑וֹן עֶלְי֔וֹן עֶלְי֗וֹן עֶלְי֣וֹן עֶלְי֥וֹן עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ עֶלְיוֹן֙ עליון עליון׃ ‘el·yō·wn ‘elyōwn ḇə‘elyōwn ḇə·‘el·yō·wn elYon hā‘elyōwn hā‘elyōwnāh hā‘elyōwnōṯ hā·‘el·yō·w·nāh hā·‘el·yō·w·nōṯ hā·‘el·yō·wn haelyOn haelyoNah haelyoNot lə‘elyōwn lə·‘el·yō·wn leelYon veelYon wə‘elyōwn wə·‘el·yō·wnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts