Lexical Summary shaphal: To be low, to be humble, to be abased Original Word: שָׁפָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance basest, humble, lower, From shaphel; depressed, literally or figuratively -- base(-st), humble, low(-er, -ly). see HEBREW shaphel NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shaphel Definition low NASB Translation abased (1), deeper (2), humble (3), low (3), lower (2), lowest (1), lowly (5), subjection (1), which is low (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁפָל adjective low; — absolute ׳שׁ 2 Samuel 6:22 +, construct שְׁפַל Psalm 29:23 +; feminine singular שְׁפָלָה Ezekiel 17:14 +, construct שִׁפְלַת Ezekiel 17:6; plural שְׁפָלִים Job 5:11; — 1 low, in height, of vine Ezekiel 17:6, tree Ezekiel 17:24 (opposed to גָּבֹהַּ); מִןהָֿעוֺר ׳שׁ Leviticus 13:20 lower (deeper) than the skin (around it), so Leviticus 13:21; Leviticus 13:26, compare Leviticus 14:37. 2 of a modest, unambitious kingdom Ezekiel 17:14; Ezekiel 29:14,15; low in station Job 5:11 (opposed to שָֽׂגְבוּ), Ezekiel 21:31 (Ges§ 90f.; read הַשְּׁפָלָה֣). 3 humiliated, בְּעֵינָ֑י ׳שׁ 2 Samuel 6:22; plural Malachi 2:9 ("" נִבְזִים). 4 lowly, as substantive Psalm 138:6 (opposed to גָּבֹהַּ), רוּחַ שְׁפָלִים Isaiah 57:15 ("" נִדְכָּ אִים); שְׁפַל רוּחַ Isaiah 57:15, Proverbs 29:23 (opposed to גַּאֲוַת אָדָם), + Proverbs 16:19 Thes and others (but see checkQal 2). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Semantic Range שָׁפָל consistently describes something “low,” “humble,” or “depressed,” whether in a literal, social, or spiritual sense. In Scripture it may portray (1) physical depth or indentation, (2) an individual’s self-abasement before God or others, and (3) the diminished status of a nation or ruler under divine judgment. In every setting the idea of lowness stands in tension with height, pride, and exaltation, so that שָׁפָל often functions antithetically to signal the moral or covenant implications of pride versus humility. Cultic and Physical Descriptions (Leviticus 13–14) The first occurrences appear in priestly regulations for diagnosing skin disease. A “depressed” (שָׁפָל) spot in the skin (Leviticus 13:20, 21, 26) or a “sunken” place in a potentially infected wall (Leviticus 14:37) signals impurity. The vocabulary of lowness here is literal, yet it carries theological overtones: even microscopic depths lie under Yahweh’s scrutiny. The priest mediates holiness by discerning what is “lower” than surrounding flesh or plaster, modeling meticulous concern for purity in the covenant community. Personal Humility in Narrative (2 Samuel 6:22) When David tells Michal, “I will become even more undignified than this and will be humiliated in my own eyes”, שָׁפָל reveals the king’s willingness to be regarded as low before the ark of the Lord. The text pairs physical posture (dancing) with an inner disposition. True worship resists self-aggrandizement, and David’s example remains paradigmatic for leadership that prizes God’s honor over personal prestige. Wisdom Literature and the Ethic of Humility (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) Job 5:11 proclaims that God “sets the lowly on high,” introducing the repeated wisdom theme of divine reversal. Psalm 138:6 contrasts the Almighty’s regard for the lowly with His distance from the proud. Proverbs 16:19 values “humility with the oppressed” above sharing plunder with the proud, while Proverbs 29:23 states, “A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” Ecclesiastes 12:4 uses the term for the fading sounds of old age, reminding hearers of mortality’s lowering effect and inviting dependence on the Creator before strength wanes. Divine Transcendence and Immanence (Isaiah 57:15) “For this is what the high and exalted One says, who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly in spirit’”. Here שָׁפָל anchors a profound paradox: the God enthroned above the heavens chooses to inhabit the heart made low. The verse unites His transcendence with tender nearness, offering comfort to the repentant and warning the arrogant. Prophetic Oracles on Kings and Nations (Ezekiel 17; 21; 29) Ezekiel employs שָׁפָל to predict the humbling of Judah’s monarchy (17:6, 14, 24) and the downfall of foreign powers. The phrase “exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted” (17:24) summarizes Yahweh’s governance of history. In Ezekiel 21:26 the royal crown is removed “until He comes whose right it is,” echoing Messianic hope birthed through temporary humiliation. Ezekiel 29:14–15 forecasts Egypt’s future as “a lowly kingdom,” illustrating how international stature rises or falls under God’s sovereign hand. Priestly Failure and Covenant Discipline (Malachi 2:9) Because the priests “show partiality in matters of the law,” the Lord makes them “despised and humiliated before all the people.” שָׁפָל here signals covenant discipline: leaders who elevate themselves by corrupt judgment are rendered low, vindicating God’s righteousness and protecting His people. Theological Trajectory Throughout Scripture שָׁפָל frames a consistent theology of reversal: • God beholds and raises the lowly (Job 5:11; Psalm 138:6). Ministry Implications 1. Worship: Encourage corporate expressions that highlight God’s glory rather than human performance (2 Samuel 6:22). By tracing שָׁפָל across law, narrative, poetry, wisdom, and prophecy, Scripture offers a unified witness: genuine greatness emerges through humility under the mighty hand of God, while all self-exaltation is destined to be brought low. Forms and Transliterations בִּשְׁפַ֖ל בשפל הַשָּׁפָ֣לָה השפלה וְשָׁפָ֣ל וּשְׁפַל־ וּשְׁפָלִ֖ים וּשְׁפָלָ֥ה ושפל ושפל־ ושפלה ושפלים שְׁפַל־ שְׁפָלִ֔ים שְׁפָלִ֣ים שְׁפָלָ֔ה שְׁפָלָֽה׃ שִׁפְלַ֣ת שָׁפָ֔ל שָׁפָ֖ל שָׁפָ֣ל שפל שפל־ שפלה שפלה׃ שפלים שפלת biš·p̄al bishFal bišp̄al haš·šā·p̄ā·lāh hashshaFalah haššāp̄ālāh šā·p̄āl šāp̄āl šə·p̄ā·lāh šə·p̄ā·lîm šə·p̄al- šəp̄al- šəp̄ālāh šəp̄ālîm shaFal shefal shefaLah shefaLim shifLat šip̄·laṯ šip̄laṯ ū·šə·p̄ā·lāh ū·šə·p̄ā·lîm ū·šə·p̄al- ūšəp̄al- ūšəp̄ālāh ūšəp̄ālîm ushefal ushefaLah ushefaLim veshaFal wə·šā·p̄āl wəšāp̄ālLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 13:20 HEB: וְהִנֵּ֤ה מַרְאֶ֙הָ֙ שָׁפָ֣ל מִן־ הָע֔וֹר NAS: [if] it appears to be lower than KJV: it, behold, it [be] in sight lower than the skin, INT: and behold appears to be lower than the skin Leviticus 13:21 Leviticus 13:26 Leviticus 14:37 2 Samuel 6:22 Job 5:11 Psalm 138:6 Proverbs 16:19 Proverbs 29:23 Ecclesiastes 12:4 Isaiah 57:15 Isaiah 57:15 Ezekiel 17:6 Ezekiel 17:14 Ezekiel 17:24 Ezekiel 21:26 Ezekiel 29:14 Ezekiel 29:15 Malachi 2:9 19 Occurrences |
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