Lexical Summary tapeinoó: To humble, to bring low, to abase Original Word: ταπεινόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to humbleFrom tapeinos; to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart) -- abase, bring low, humble (self). see GREEK tapeinos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 5013 tapeinóō – make (become) low, to humble. See 5011 (tapeinos). With the believer, 5013 /tapeinóō ("show humility, true lowliness") happens by being fully dependent on the Lord – dismissing reliance upon self (self-government) and emptying carnal ego. This exalts the Lord as our all-in-all and prompts the gift of His fullness in us. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tapeinos Definition to make low, fig. to humble NASB Translation brought low (1), get along (1), humble (2), humble means (1), humbled (4), humbles (4), humbling (1), humiliate (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5013: ταπεινόωταπεινόω, ταπεινῷ; future ταπεινώσω; 1 aorist ἐταπείνωσα; passive, present ταπεινοῦμαι; 1 aorist ἐταπεινώθην; 1 future ταπεινωθήσομαι; (ταπεινός); to make low, bring low (Vulg.humilio); a. properly: ὄρος, βουνόν, i. e. to level, reduce to a plain, passive, Luke 3:5 from Isaiah 40:4. b. metaphorically, to bring into it humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances; i. e. α. to assign a lower rank or place to; to abase; τινα, passive, to be ranked below others who are honored or rewarded (R. V. to humble): Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14. β. ταπεινῷ ἐμαυτόν, to humble or abase myself, by frugal living, 2 Corinthians 11:7; in the passive of one who submits to want, Philippians 4:12; ἑαυτόν, of one who stoops to the condition of s servant, Philippians 2:8. c. to lower, depress (English humble): τινα, one's soul, bring down one's pride; ἐμαυτόν, to have a modest opinion of oneself, to behave in an unassuming manner devoid of all haughtiness, Matthew 18:4; Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; passive, ταπεινοῦμαι ἐνώπιον κυρίου (see ἐνώπιον, 2 b. at the end) in a middle sense (Buttmann, 52 (46)), to confess and deplore one's spiritual littleness and unworthiness, James 4:10 (in the same sense ταπεινοῦν τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ, Sir. 2:17 Sir. 7:17; the Sept. for נַפְשׁו עִנָּה, he afflicted his soul, of persons fasting, Leviticus 16:29, 31; Leviticus 23:27, 32; Isaiah 58:3, 5, 10; τήν ψυχήν τίνος, to disturb, distress, the soul of one, Protevangelium Jacobi, c. 2.13.15 (rather, to humiliate; see the passages)); ὑπό τήν χεῖρα τοῦ Θεοῦ, to submit oneself in a lowly spirit to the power and will of God, 1 Peter 5:6 (cf. Genesis 16:9); equivalent to to put to the blush, 2 Corinthians 12:21. ((Hippocrates), Xenophon, Plato, Diodorus, Plutarch; the Sept. for עָנָה, שָׁפֵל and הִשְׁפִּיל, דִּכָּא, הִכְנִיעַ , etc.) (See references under the word ταπεινοφροσύνη.) Strong’s 5013 depicts the deliberate lowering of one’s status or the decisive experience of being made low. Scripture presents the action in two directions: God or circumstances may humble a person, and believers are repeatedly commanded to humble themselves. In both cases the purpose is redemptive—positioning the lowly to receive grace and, in due course, divine exaltation. The Kingdom Principle in the Synoptic Gospels • Matthew 18:4 anchors greatness in childlike self-abasement: “Whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. Christological Fulfillment Philippians 2:8 provides the climactic use: “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.” Jesus’ voluntary descent from glory to Golgotha embodies the verb’s deepest sense. Divine exaltation (verses 9–11) validates the permanent pattern: cross before crown. Every subsequent Christian call to humility rests on this Christ-event. Pauline Mission Strategy and Pastoral Burden • In 2 Corinthians 11:7 Paul reminds the Corinthians that he “humbled” himself by declining financial support so that the gospel might be offered “free of charge,” shattering Greco-Roman honor expectations. Jacobean and Petrine Exhortations James 4:10 and 1 Peter 5:6 turn the principle into a corporate command: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you”; “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time.” Both letters address believers under social and spiritual pressure, assuring them that deliberate self-lowering invites God’s timely intervention. Old Testament Roots and Continuity The Septuagint frequently uses cognate language for Israel’s enforced or voluntary humbling before Yahweh (for example, Exodus 10:3; Deuteronomy 8:2–3; Psalm 35:13). The New Testament occurrences show seamless continuity: the God who opposed Pharaoh still resists the proud and lifts the lowly. Counter-Cultural Witness in the Roman World In first-century honor-shame culture, humility was despised. By commanding voluntary self-abasement, Jesus and the apostles introduced a radical social ethic. The early church’s refusal to climb honor ladders, coupled with practical service to the marginalized, advertised the upside-down kingdom and proved a compelling apologetic. Ministry and Discipleship Applications • Leadership: Authority is credentialed by service, not status (cf. John 13 foot-washing alongside Philippians 2:8). Summary Insight Across its fourteen New Testament appearances, 5013 weaves a consistent narrative thread: God treasures lowliness, models it in His Son, commands it of His people, and pledges an irreversible reversal for all who embrace it. The verb therefore functions not merely as grammatical detail but as a summons to live the cruciform path that leads to eternal glory. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 18:4 V-FIA-3SGRK: ὅστις οὖν ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὡς NAS: Whoever then humbles himself as this KJV: therefore shall humble himself INT: whoever therefore will humble himself as Matthew 23:12 V-FIP-3S Matthew 23:12 V-FIA-3S Luke 3:5 V-FIP-3S Luke 14:11 V-FIP-3S Luke 14:11 V-PPA-NMS Luke 18:14 V-FIP-3S Luke 18:14 V-PPA-NMS 2 Corinthians 11:7 V-PPA-NMS 2 Corinthians 12:21 V-ASA-3S Philippians 2:8 V-AIA-3S Philippians 4:12 V-PNM/P James 4:10 V-AMP-2P 1 Peter 5:6 V-AMP-2P Strong's Greek 5013 |
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