שָׁפֵל (sha.phel)
sha.phel
to abase
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.phel describes a movement from high to low, whether physical, social, or spiritual. In its basic sense, it means to sink, depress, or become humble. The sources highlight its use for tangible things like mountains sinking in Isaiah 40:4 or walls being knocked down in Isaiah 25:12, but it most often applies to people and their status.
Its theological weight lies in the contrast between human pride and divine action. It frequently appears as the opposite of lifting up, describing how God humbles the proud or how leaders are brought low, as seen in the warnings of Isaiah 2:9 and 10:33. The Hiphil form, where God is the subject, emphasizes His power to cast down those who exalt themselves, while the Qal form often describes the resulting state of being abased.
Translators typically render this word as "abase," "humble," or "bring low." The imagery suggests a loss of height or rank, moving from an elevated position to a lower one. This shift is not merely physical but reflects a change in standing before God and others, marking the end of arrogance and the beginning of a humbled state.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sha.phel describes a movement from high to low, whether in physical elevation or social standing. It captures the reality that pride often leads to a fall, while humility opens the door to God's help. In Isaiah 40:4, this concept appears in the promise that every mountain and hill will be made low, smoothing the path for the Lord. This imagery reminds us that obstacles are removed not by our own strength, but by divine action.
For your daily life, this word offers a gentle correction to the desire for status. It invites you to find peace in being of a lowly spirit, as Proverbs 16:19 suggests. When we release our need to be seen as important, we free ourselves from the anxiety of maintaining an image. God sees the humble and lifts them up, offering a stability that worldly success cannot provide.
There is comfort in knowing that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is not about self-hatred, but about honest dependence on Him. When you feel overwhelmed by the need to prove yourself, remember that your value comes from being known by God, not from your rank or achievements. Rest in the truth that He upholds those who trust in Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will become low3×
- it will become low2×
- he will bring low/ it2×
- and/ he has become low2×
- you bring [them] low1×
- who/ is making low1×
- when/ becomes low1×
- to be lowly1×
- than/ to set low/ you1×
- people brought low1×
- make low1×
- it will bring low/ him1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַשְׁפִּ֖יל2×
- וַ/יִּשְׁפַּל\־2×
- תַּשְׁפִּילֶ֑/נּוּ1×
- תַּשְׁפִּֽיל\׃1×
- תִּשְׁפַּֽלְנָה\׃1×
- תִּשְׁפַּ֥ל1×
- שָׁפֵ֔ל1×
- שְׁפַל\־1×
- מֵֽ֭/הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְ/ךָ1×
- יַשְׁפִּילָ/הּ֙1×
- יַשְׁפִּילֶ֤/נָּה1×
- יִשְׁפָּֽלוּ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain.
This verse uses the word to describe how God levels physical obstacles, symbolizing the removal of barriers for His people.
-
Proverbs 16:19
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
Here the term contrasts with pride, showing that a lowly spirit leads to greater honor than dividing plunder with the arrogant.
-
Isaiah 2:11
The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the arrogance of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.
The word highlights the future day when human arrogance is bowed down so that Yahweh alone is exalted.
-
Psalms 147:6
Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
This occurrence pairs God's action of bringing the wicked down with His care for upholding the humble.