ταπείνωσις (tapeinōsis)
tapeinōsis
lowliness
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun tapeinōsis refers to a state of lowliness or humiliation, describing both physical circumstances and spiritual posture. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, carrying a weight that extends beyond simple social status to encompass a profound recognition of one’s condition before God.
Its usage ranges from the concrete to the theological. Luke 1:48 records Mary praising God for looking on her "low estate," while James 1:10 encourages the humble brother to take pride in his high position despite his current tapeinōsis. Philippians 3:21 looks forward to Christ transforming our lowly bodies, and Acts 8:33 quotes Isaiah regarding the suffering servant’s humiliation.
Derived from the verb meaning "to make low," the word often translates the Hebrew עֳנִי in the Septuagint, which signifies affliction or poverty of spirit. This connection highlights that biblical lowliness is not merely a lack of resources but a posture of dependence, where acknowledging one’s need becomes the ground for divine exaltation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word describes a state of being low, often translated as humility or humiliation. It captures both the physical reality of modest circumstances and the spiritual posture of recognizing our dependence on God. When we face difficult seasons, this concept reminds us that our current situation does not define our ultimate worth in God’s eyes.
Scripture shows that God looks closely at those who are humble. Mary praised Him for seeing her low estate, and James encouraged believers to find joy in their humility. Even when circumstances feel heavy, there is a promise that God can transform these moments of lowliness into something glorious, just as Christ’s humiliation led to His exaltation.
May you find peace in knowing that your value is not determined by your status or wealth. Instead, it is rooted in the grace that lifts up the humble and gives hope to those who trust in Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- humiliation4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ταπεινώσει2×
- ταπείνωσιν1×
- ταπεινώσεως1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 1:48
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
This verse highlights how God actively notices and values those in a lowly state, turning their humility into a cause for blessing.
-
Philippians 3:21
who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.
Here the word points to the future hope that Christ will transform our current lowly bodies into glorious ones, showing that humiliation is not the final word.
-
James 1:10
and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
James uses this term to remind the wealthy brother that his temporary status is fleeting, encouraging him to take pride in his spiritual standing rather than material wealth.