Surpassed himself
In the question: He acted in an excellent manner beyond what was expected of him.
(Modern Hebrew)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
הִתְעַלָּה עַל עַצְמוֹ
Definition (Hebrew)
בְּהַשְׁאָלָה: פָּעַל בְּצוּרָה מְצֻיֶּנֶת מֵעֵבֶר לְמָה שֶׁצִּפּוּ מִמֶּנּוּ.
(הָעִבְרִית הַחֲדָשָׁה)