UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: extraordinary, extreme, supreme, far more, much greater, to a far greater degree

Semantic entry: 78.33

Semantic domains: Degree

Subdomains: More Than, Less Than [Comparative Degree]

Definition: a degree which exceeds extraordinarily a point on an implied or overt scale of extent{N:001}

Notes: There are obviously a number of problems involved in attempting to render an expression of extraordinary degree, but it is sometimes possible to express such a degree by building up a series of intensive markers. For example, in RV EPH 2:7 · LV EPH 2:7 · Read together EPH 2:7 one might translate τὸ ὑπερβάλλον πλοῦτος τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ as ‘his very, very great grace,’ and in RV CO2 4:7 · LV CO2 4:7 · Read together CO2 4:7 one might render ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ as ‘God has very, very great power.’ Such expressions, however, may not do full justice to the intensity of degree expressed in ὑπερβάλλω and ὑπερβολή, since in a number of languages the closest equivalent might be something involving figurative meanings. For example, τὸ ὑπερβάλλον πλοῦτος τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ in RV EPH 2:7 · LV EPH 2:7 · Read together EPH 2:7 might be rendered as ‘he is gracious beyond anything we can imagine,’ and in RV CO2 4:7 · LV CO2 4:7 · Read together CO2 4:7 ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ may be rendered as ‘God has power beyond any words to describe.’