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ταπεινόω

tapeinóō

G5013 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make low, to bring down; to humble someone or oneself, to cause to be or become humble. The core sense is to reduce in status, rank, or condition, either physically, socially, or morally. In extended usage, refers to adopting or being placed in a lowly or submissive state, often as an act of humility or as the result of external circumstances.

Semantic Range

to bring low (physically or socially), to humble, to make or become humble or lowly, to abase, to cause to feel or occupy a lowly position, to be humbled (in condition or heart), to be humiliated

Root / Etymology

From ταπεινός ('low, humble, of low status or degree') and the verbal ending -όω, forming causative verbs. Thus, ταπεινόω means 'to make (someone or something) low or humble.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ταπεινόω is rare and its cognates (e.g., ταπεινός) often carried a negative connotation, referring to being of low social status or worthlessness. In the Septuagint, the word is frequently used to translate Hebrew roots meaning 'to humble,' 'to afflict,' or 'to oppress,' reflecting both internal (attitudinal) humility and external circumstances of humiliation or oppression. In the New Testament, ταπεινόω most commonly refers to an attitude of humility or a state of being made humble, whether by choice, divine action, or external circumstances. It may be used in a positive sense (voluntarily humbling oneself) or negative (being humiliated or degraded by others). English translations often render it as 'humble,' 'abase,' or 'bring low,' but these can obscure the broader social and relational implications in Greek contexts, where humility could be seen either as a virtue (as in Christian texts) or as a negative social condition (in secular Hellenistic society).

Translation Consistency

primary "humble" 9 occurrences

ταπεινόω primarily means to bring low in rank, status, condition, or spirit. "Humble" is the natural, common English verb that captures both causing someone to be low/abased and becoming low or modest; it covers the full semantic range (physical/social/moral lowering, abasement, and adopting a lowly posture) and reads naturally in the variety of New Testament contexts.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"make low" (2x) "humbled, all of" (2x) "brought low" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ταπεινός; to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart):--abase, bring low, humble (self).

Root Family

ταπεινόω (tapeinoō) — to make low, to humble, to abase

Root ταπειν- to make low, to humble, to abase

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5013-05 ταπεινωθήσεται tapeinothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be humbled will be brought low will be humbled 4
G5013-02 ταπεινῶν tapeinon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG humbling humbler humbling 3
G5013-04 ταπεινώσει tapeinosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG humbles will make low will make low 2
G5013-06 ταπεινώθητε tapeinothete V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL Humble yourselves Be humbled Be humbled, all of you 2
G5013-03 ταπεινώσῃ tapeinose V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG humiliate may humble may humble 1
G5013-07 ταπεινοῦσθαι tapeinousthai V PRS PASS INF how to be brought low to be brought low to be brought low 1
G5013-01 ἐταπείνωσεν etapeinosen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he humbled he made low he humbled 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5013-04 Matthew 18:4 ταπεινώσει tapeinosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG humbles will make low will make low
G5013-05 Matthew 23:12 ταπεινωθήσεται tapeinothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be humbled will be brought low will be humbled
G5013-04 Matthew 23:12 ταπεινώσει tapeinosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG humbles will make low will make low
G5013-05 Luke 3:5 ταπεινωθήσεται tapeinothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG shall be brought low will be brought low will be humbled
G5013-05 Luke 14:11 ταπεινωθήσεται tapeinothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be humbled will be brought low will be humbled
G5013-02 Luke 14:11 ταπεινῶν tapeinon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG humbling humbler humbling
G5013-05 Luke 18:14 ταπεινωθήσεται tapeinothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be humbled will be brought low will be humbled
G5013-02 Luke 18:14 ταπεινῶν tapeinon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG humbles humbler humbling
G5013-02 2 Corinthians 11:7 ταπεινῶν tapeinon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG humbling humbler humbling
G5013-03 2 Corinthians 12:21 ταπεινώσῃ tapeinose V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG humiliate may humble may humble
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