The term "exceed" in the Bible often conveys the idea of surpassing or going beyond a certain measure, limit, or expectation. It is used in various contexts, including moral, spiritual, and material dimensions, to illustrate the abundance or superiority of one thing over another.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the concept of exceeding is frequently associated with God's blessings and the abundance He provides. For example, in Genesis 15:5, God promises Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars, indicating a blessing that exceeds human comprehension. The Hebrew word often translated as "exceed" can imply an overwhelming abundance or a surpassing greatness.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the idea of exceeding is often linked to the righteousness and grace found in Christ. In Matthew 5:20 , Jesus states, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Here, "exceed" emphasizes the need for a deeper, more genuine righteousness that goes beyond mere legalistic adherence to the law.

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the concept of exceeding to describe the surpassing greatness of God's power and love. In Ephesians 3:20 , Paul writes, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." This passage highlights the limitless nature of God's ability to bless and work in the lives of believers.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The call to exceed in righteousness and love is a recurring theme in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Believers are encouraged to go beyond the minimum requirements of the law and to embody the spirit of the law through love, mercy, and humility. This is seen in the call to love one's enemies and to forgive others as God has forgiven us, which requires a heart transformation that exceeds natural human inclinations.

Exceeding in Generosity and Service

The Bible also speaks of exceeding in terms of generosity and service. In 2 Corinthians 8:2-3 , Paul commends the Macedonian churches for their abundant generosity despite their extreme poverty, stating, "In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability." This example illustrates how believers are called to exceed in their giving and service, reflecting the sacrificial love of Christ.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of exceeding challenges believers to pursue a life that reflects the abundant grace and righteousness of God. Whether in moral conduct, spiritual growth, or acts of service, the call to exceed is a call to live a life that mirrors the surpassing greatness of God's love and power.1. (v. t.) To go beyond; to surpass; to proceed beyond the given or supposed limit or measure of; to outgo; -- used both in a good and a bad sense; as, one man exceeds another in bulk, stature, weight, power, skill, etc.; one offender exceeds another in villainy; his rank exceeds yours.

2. (v. i.) To go too far; to pass the proper bounds or measure.

3. (v. i.) To be more or greater; to be paramount.

EXCEED; EXCEEDING; EXCEEDINGLY

ek-sed':

The verb is found in other than its present sense in Job 36:9 the King James Version, "They have exceeded" the (Revised Version (British and American)) "behaved themselves proudly"); 1 Samuel 20:41, "They. wept. until David exceeded" (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American)). In both these passages the idea is that of going too far, beyond proper bounds (Hebrew, respectively, gabhar, "be strong" (in the Hithpael); gadhal, "be great" (in the Hiphil). "Exceeding" (as an adverb with adjectives and rarely as an adjective) and "exceedingly" occur often as representing various expressions for the superlative in Hebrew and Greek.

4052. perisseuo -- to be over and above, to abound
... to be over and above, to abound. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: perisseuo
Phonetic Spelling: (per-is-syoo'-o) Short Definition: I exceed, am left over ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4052.htm - 9k

5235. huperballo -- to throw over or beyond, to run beyond
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huperballo Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-bal'-lo)
Short Definition: I surpass Definition: I surpass, excel, exceed, transcend. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5235.htm - 7k

1598. ekpeirazo -- to test thoroughly, tempt
... tempt") -- properly, test , ie with the of testing to an (unwarranted) degree;
"hyper-test," going to improper measures which exceed appropriate boundaries and ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1598.htm - 7k

4054. perissoteron -- more abundantly, a great deal, far more.
... Cognate: 4054 (from 4012 , "all-around, exceed") -- , expectation ("more than"),
ie exceeding the normal (upper limit). See 4052 (). Word Origin neut. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4054.htm - 6k

5228. huper -- over, beyond, fig. on behalf of, for the sake of ...
... on behalf of, for the sake of, concerning NASB Word Usage about (5), above (4),
behalf (22), beyond (4), concerning (3), exceed (1), more so (1), more than (5 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5228.htm - 7k

4119. pleion -- more excellent, very great, many
... on), or pleon (pleh'-on) comparative of polus; more in quantity, number, or quality;
also (in plural) the major portion -- X above, + exceed, more excellent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4119.htm - 7k

5628. sarach -- to go free, be unrestrained, overrun, exceed
... sarach. 5629 . to go free, be unrestrained, overrun, exceed. Transliteration:
sarach Phonetic Spelling: (saw-rakh') Short Definition: lap. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5628.htm - 6k

3254. yasaph -- to add
... anymore (4), anymore* (1), continue (5), continued (2), continued* (1), did (3),
did not again (1), do it again (4), else (1), even (1), exceed (1), farther (1 ...
/hebrew/3254.htm - 6k

1396. gabar -- to be strong, mighty
... exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more strength,
strengthen, be stronger,. A primitive root; to be strong; by ...
/hebrew/1396.htm - 6k

1431. gadal -- to grow up, become great
... rearing (1), spoken* (1), vaunt (1). advance, boast, bring up, exceed,
excellent, become, do, give,. A primitive root; properly, to ...
/hebrew/1431.htm - 7k

3498. yathar -- to remain over
... A primitive root; to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively)
to remain or be left; causatively, to leave, cause to abound, preserve ...
/hebrew/3498.htm - 6k

The Answer How we Should not Exceed the Proper Measure of Food.
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XXVI. The answer how we
should not exceed the proper measure of food. Moses: Both ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxvi the answer how.htm

How, Even if a Large Sum of Money is Amassed by the Labour of Each ...
... How, even if a large sum of money is amassed by the labour of each, still no one
may venture to exceed the moderate limit of what is appointed as adequate. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xiv how even if.htm

Chapter ix.
... our lord's sermon on the mount. Book I. Chapter IX. 21. "For I say unto you, that
except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter ix.htm

Whether Presumption is Opposed to Magnanimity by Excess?
... Now the presumptuous man, as regards that to which he tends, does not exceed the
magnanimous, but sometimes falls far short of him: but he does exceed in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether presumption is opposed to.htm

The Miracles
... is an effect, which exceeds the natural power of the means which are employed for
it; and what is not a miracle is an effect, which does not exceed the natural ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xiii the miracles.htm

Justification by Grace
... You will remember the multitude he has redeemed; not me alone, nor you alone, but
"a multitude that no man can number," which shall as far exceed the stars of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/justification by grace.htm

On the Nature of God
... created after the image of God; while we always add a mode of eminence to this analogy,
according to which mode God is understood to exceed, infinitely, the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xv on the nature.htm

Reason, Therefore, is So Far from Being Able to Help Man to that ...
... For as each of these senses has only its one work or power, which it cannot alter,
or exceed; so reason has only its one work or power, which it cannot alter ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-1-70 reason therefore is so.htm

Wesley Writes to the London Chronicle
... "To the Editor of the London Chronicle. "Sir,"Of all the seats of woe on this
side hell, few, I suppose, exceed or even equal Newgate. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley writes to the london.htm

Wesley visits the Irish Parliament House
... Although many places may exceed this in grandeur, I believe none can exceed
it in beauty. Afterward I saw the Parliament House. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley visits the irish parliament.htm

Exceed (14 Occurrences)
... paramount. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EXCEED; EXCEEDING; EXCEEDINGLY. ek ... Greek.
Multi-Version Concordance Exceed (14 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/e/exceed.htm - 11k

Stripes (19 Occurrences)
... As a punishment were not to exceed forty (Deuteronomy 25:1-3), and hence arose the
custom of limiting them to thirty-nine (2 Corinthians 11:24). ...
/s/stripes.htm - 12k

Surpass (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To go beyond in anything good or bad; to exceed;
to excel. ... Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard. (See RSV). ...
/s/surpass.htm - 8k

Vile (59 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if he
should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then your brother ...
/v/vile.htm - 26k

Lashes (6 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if he
should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then your brother ...
/l/lashes.htm - 8k

Flogged (12 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if he
should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then your brother ...
/f/flogged.htm - 9k

Exceeded (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Exceed. Multi-Version Concordance
Exceeded (8 Occurrences). Numbers 3:49 Moses took the ...
/e/exceeded.htm - 8k

Dishonoured (8 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if he
should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother ...
/d/dishonoured.htm - 8k

Degraded (3 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if he
should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then your brother ...
/d/degraded.htm - 7k

Due (93 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:13 We, however, will not exceed due limits in our boasting, but
will keep within the limits of the sphere which God has assigned to us as a ...
/d/due.htm - 35k

Why does Christ's righteousness need to be imputed to us? | GotQuestions.org

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Exceed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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