### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb μεγαλαυχέω (megalauchéō, `{{G3166}}`) is a compound word formed from μέγας (megas, `{{G3173}}`), meaning "great" or "large," and αὐχέω (aucheō), meaning "to boast" or "to vaunt." The root αὐχέω is conceptually linked to αὐξάνω (auxanō, `{{G837}}`), "to grow" or "increase," and καυχάομαι (kauchaomai, `{{G2744}}`), the more common verb for "to boast" or "to glory." Thus, μεγαλαυχέω literally signifies "to boast greatly" or "to talk big." Its semantic range extends beyond mere boasting to encompass a sense of grandiloquence, arrogance, and egotism. It describes speech that is inflated, pretentious, and self-aggrandizing, often devoid of substance or truth. The "greatness" implied is not a genuine greatness of character or accomplishment, but a self-proclaimed, exaggerated, and often empty boast.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
While the verb μεγαλαυχέω (megalauchéō, `{{G3166}}`) itself does not appear in the extant Greek New Testament, its cognate noun, μεγαλαυχία (megalauchia, `{{G3167}}`), is found in two significant passages. Understanding the use of the noun helps to illuminate the meaning and implications of the verb form.
In [[2 Peter 2:18]], the apostle Peter warns against false teachers, stating, "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error." Here, μεγαλαυχία is translated as "great swelling words," emphasizing the emptiness and bombastic nature of their speech. These are not words of truth or wisdom, but empty pronouncements designed to impress and deceive. The context reveals that such grandiloquent speech is a characteristic tool of those who promote moral license and lead others astray by appealing to their fleshly desires.
Similarly, in [[Jude 1:16]], Jude describes ungodly individuals as "murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." Again, μεγαλαυχία (translated "great swelling words") highlights the arrogant and self-serving nature of their communication. Their boasting is not only empty but also motivated by personal gain, as they flatter those from whom they can derive benefit. Both passages consistently link "boasting great things" to false teaching, moral corruption, and a fundamental lack of spiritual integrity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of μεγαλαυχέω is closely related to several other Greek terms and theological ideas:
* **μέγας (megas, `{{G3173}}`):** The intensifying prefix, highlighting the excessive nature of the boasting.
* **καυχάομαι (kauchaomai, `{{G2744}}`):** The more common verb for "to boast" or "to glory." While καυχάομαι can be used positively (e.g., glorying in the Lord, [[1 Corinthians 1:31]]), μεγαλαυχέω (and its noun form) carries an inherently negative connotation, always implying arrogant or empty self-exaltation.
* **ἀλαζονεία (alazoneia, `{{G212}}`):** "Boastfulness" or "arrogance," often associated with an empty show of pride.
* **ὑπερηφανία (hyperēphania, `{{G5243}}`):** "Haughtiness" or "pride," a general term for an elevated sense of self-importance.
* **τυφόω (typhoō, `{{G5187}}`):** "To be puffed up" or "conceited," describing a state of mind characterized by inflated self-opinion.
* **κενός (kenos, `{{G2756}}`):** "Empty" or "vain." The "great swelling words" are described as "words of vanity," emphasizing their lack of substance and truth.
* **Pride and Self-Exaltation:** The underlying theological concepts are pride and the human tendency to exalt oneself rather than God. This stands in stark contrast to the humility exemplified by Christ and demanded of believers.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of μεγαλαυχέω (and μεγαλαυχία) lies in its portrayal of human pride and its manifestation in deceptive speech. This kind of "boasting great things" is consistently presented as a characteristic of those who are spiritually adrift or actively hostile to divine truth. It is a form of self-exaltation that denies dependence on God and seeks to establish one's own authority or superiority.
Such grandiloquence is not merely a linguistic quirk; it is a symptom of a deeper spiritual malady. It reveals a heart consumed by self-love and a desire for human admiration rather than divine approval. The "great swelling words" are a tool for manipulation, designed to impress and deceive the unwary, drawing them away from genuine faith and into moral compromise. This stands in stark opposition to the humble, truthful, and edifying speech that characterizes genuine Christian communication.
From a theological perspective, true glorying is always directed towards God (e.g., [[Jeremiah 9:23-24]], cited in [[1 Corinthians 1:31]] and [[2 Corinthians 10:17]]). Any boasting that centers on human achievement, wisdom, or status, especially when inflated and arrogant, is a form of idolatry and an affront to God's sovereignty. The presence of μεγαλαυχία in the speech of false teachers underscores its nature as a deceptive and destructive force within the community of faith, designed to undermine truth and promote spiritual decay.
### Summary
μεγαλαυχέω (megalauchéō, `{{G3166}}`) describes the act of "boasting great things" in an arrogant, grandiloquent, and egotistical manner. While the verb itself does not appear in the New Testament, its cognate noun, μεγαλαυχία (megalauchia, `{{G3167}}`), is found in [[2 Peter 2:18]] and [[Jude 1:16]]. In these contexts, it consistently characterizes the empty, deceptive rhetoric of false teachers and ungodly individuals who use inflated speech to allure and mislead others. Theologically, this "great boasting" is a manifestation of human pride and self-exaltation, standing in stark contrast to the humility and truthfulness demanded by the gospel. It serves as a warning against speech that, though impressive on the surface, is ultimately vain, self-serving, and spiritually destructive.
TRV