ταπείνωσις (G5014) — Greek Lexicon

ταπείνωσις

tapeínōsis

G5014 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The state or condition of being brought low, either in social status, rank, or personal circumstance; a condition of humiliation or abasement. The term encompasses both external situations of lowered status or honor (e.g., poverty, disgrace, subordination) and internal/emotional experiences of being humbled or feeling humiliation. In certain contexts, it may refer specifically to loss of prestige, honor, or position.

Semantic Range

humiliation, abasement, lowliness of condition or status, humble situation, disgrace, mortification, low estate

Root / Etymology

Derived from ταπεινόω (to lower, humble, make low) and the noun-forming suffix -σις, indicating an action or resulting state. Cognate with ταπεινός (low, humble).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ταπείνωσις is relatively rare but denotes the act or result of being made low, used primarily in reference to social or personal abasement. In Hellenistic Greek and the Septuagint, it often renders Hebrew terms connected with humility, affliction, or being brought low (such as עוני or שׁפלה), carrying both a negative sense (disgrace, humiliation) and a neutral sense (afflicted condition). In the New Testament, it is used to describe both literal states of lowliness (social or economic circumstances) and figurative ones (humiliation or self-abasement). For example, in Philippians 3:21, it refers to the 'body of our humiliation' (i.e., mortal or humble condition), while in Luke 1:48 it indicates the humble estate of Mary. English translations such as 'humiliation,' 'humble estate,' or 'abasement' capture some but not all nuances. The word differs from related terms like ταπεινοφροσύνη (humility, lowliness of mind), which emphasizes internal disposition rather than external circumstance. Usage of ταπείνωσις focuses more on the state of being humbled, whether imposed by others, by circumstance, or by deliberate choice.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ταπεινόω; depression (in rank or feeling):--humiliation, be made low, low estate, vile.

Root Family

ταπείνωσις (tapeínōsis) — humiliation, abasement, low estate, being brought low

Root ταπειν- to make low, to humble, to bring down

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5014-01`	ταπεινώσει	tapeinosei	`N DAT F SG`	humiliation	in humiliation	humiliation	2
`G5014-02`	ταπεινώσεως	tapeinoseos	`N GEN F SG`	humiliation	of abasement	abasement	1
`G5014-03`	ταπείνωσιν	tapeinosin	`N ACC F SG`	low estate	humiliation	humiliation	1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5014-03`	Luke 1:48	ταπείνωσιν	tapeinosin	`N ACC F SG`	low estate	humiliation	humiliation
`G5014-01`	Acts 8:33	ταπεινώσει	tapeinosei	`N DAT F SG`	humiliation	in humiliation	humiliation
`G5014-02`	Philippians 3:21	ταπεινώσεως	tapeinoseos	`N GEN F SG`	humiliation	of abasement	abasement
`G5014-01`	James 1:10	ταπεινώσει	tapeinosei	`N DAT F SG`	humiliation	in humiliation	humiliation

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