Quick Definition
to abase
Strong's Definition
to depress or sink (expectation figuratively, to humiliate, intransitive or transitive)
Derivation: a primitive root;
KJV Usage: abase, bring (cast, put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay, make, put) low(-er).
TWOT Reference: 2445
Outline of Biblical Usage
Septuagint (LXX) Greek Equivalents
This Hebrew word is translated by the following Greek words in the Septuagint:
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Hebrew Lexicon
שָׁפֵל (sha.phel) — to abase. 1) to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased 1a) (Qal) to be or become low 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lay or bring low, humiliate 1b2) to set in a lower place, show abasement 1b3) to make low, sit down
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew
verb · שָׁפָל · שָׁפֵל · שֵׁפֶל · שִׁפְלָה · שְׁפֵלָה · שִׁפְלוּת
Low | verb qal
to be low = process by which an event takes place at a relatively low level of elevation
Low | verb hif
to do (something) low = causative process by which humans or deities cause an event to take place at a relatively low level of elevation
End | verb qal | ≈ שׁחח | ≠ גֵּאֶה · גַּבְהוּת · רוּם
to be brought down, to be humbled literally: to be brought low; hence: = process by which human pride is brought to an end, which often becomes visible in their attitude and appearance
End | verb hif | ≈ שׁבת
to bring down, to humble literally: to bring low; hence: = causative process by which deities bring human pride to an end, which often becomes visible in their attitude and appearance
Impact | verb qal
to be brought down literally: to be brought low; hence: = process by which high and imposing objects become low ◄ by falling or collapsing; ≈ associated with a loss of status
Impact | verb hif | ≈ שׁחח
to bring down literally: to bring low; hence: = causative action by which deities cause high and imposing objects to become low ◄ by making them fall or collapse; ≈ associated with a loss of status
Insignificant | verb qal | ≈ שׁחח
to be humbled, to be humiliated literally: to be brought low; hence: = process by which humans lose their high status within a community
Insignificant | verb hif, verb haf'el | ≠ גבהּ · עוד · רום
to humble, to humiliate literally: to bring low; hence: = causative process by which humans or deities cause (other) humans to lose their high status within a community
1SA 2:7 · 2SA 22:28 · JOB 22:29 · JOB 40:11 · PSA 75:8 · PSA 147:6 · PRO 25:7 · PRO 29:23 · EZK 21:31 · DAN 4:34 · DAN 5:19 · DAN 7:24
Insignificant | verb hif imp
Collocation: הַשְׁפִּילוּ שֵׁבוּ
to step down, to take a lower position literally: bring low sit; hence: = action by which humans give up their status and their privileges, ◄ described as coming from one's high throne and taking a seat at a lower level
Insignificant | verb haf'el
Collocation: שׁפל לְבַב
to humble oneself literally: to bring low (one's) heart; hence: = action by which humans think less highly of themselves than before
Lax | ≈ שׁחח
to become low, to fade away literally: to become low; hence: = process by which an event is reduced in intensity
1 ISA 57:9 The underlying text of this clause may have been ותשׁפילי לשׁלח, with לשׁלח elided because the verb was mentioned in the previous clause. 2 ISA 2:12 MT LXX "ταπεινωθήσονται" NIV "be humbled" NJPS NJB ESV "brought low" | RSV NRSV "high" REB "lifted up" GNT CEV "conceited"
adj · שׁפל
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
שָׁפֵל vb. be or become low, be abased Qal all Is: become (be brought, laid) low
to be lowly of spirit
of sound
Hiph. usu. fig., lay low
hum. subj. set one in a lower place
as helping vb.: make low, sit down = take low seat
base