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שָׁפָל

𐤔𐤐𐤋

shâphâl

H8217 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שפל to be low, to become low, to be abased

Definition

Low in position, stature, or status; humble or of little rank; less elevated physically, socially, or in spirit. In physical contexts, describes something literally low (e.g., land, objects); in figurative contexts, refers to humble or modest status, abased condition, or lowliness of spirit.

Semantic Range

low (in position or height), humble (in status or rank), abased, of humble rank or origin, lowly (in spirit), base (in condition), physically low (of ground or objects), metaphorically low or humble person

Root / Etymology

The noun שָׁפָל derives from the root שָׁפֵל (שׁפל), meaning 'to be low, to become low, to be abased.' The actual lexical meaning of שָׁפָל applies the idea of lowness or humble condition, based on the root sense of physical or social decrease.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁפָל appears primarily as an adjective describing something or someone as low, humble, or abased. This lowness is sometimes literal (low places, humble dwellings), but often metaphorical, signaling low social standing, lack of prominence, or a state of humility (cf. Isaiah 57:15 – 'the lowly and contrite in spirit'). The term can describe either a positive humility or a negative abased condition, depending on context. There is nuance compared to related terms such as עָנִי ('poor, afflicted') or דַל ('weak, insignificant'); שָׁפָל often emphasizes status or elevation more than economic condition, and can refer to non-human things such as topographical features. Later translation tradition sometimes rendered the underlying concept as 'humble,' 'lowly,' or (especially in postbiblical usage) as 'base' or of lower moral/spiritual status. In exilic and post-exilic periods, especially in wisdom literature and prophetic texts, the humble or lowly were often contrasted with the proud or exalted, signifying the reversal of fortunes expected in future restoration.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁפֵל; depressed, literally or figuratively; base(-st), humble, low(-er, -ly).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שפל (sh-p-l) — to be low, to become low, to be abased

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8213 שָׁפֵל I will bring low
H8216 שֶׁפֶל in the lowland
H8218 שִׁפְלָה and in the lowland
H8219 שְׁפֵלָה in the lowland region
H8220 שִׁפְלוּת and in lowliness of

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8217-03 שָׁפָ֣ל shafal HAamsa lower lowly 4
H8217-05 שְׁפָלָ֔ה shefalah HAafsa lowly lowly 3
H8217-09 וּ/שְׁפָלָ֥ה ushefalah HC/Aafsa and depressed lowly 2
H8217-06 שְׁפָלִ֔ים shefalim HAampa of the lowly lowly ones 2
H8217-08 וּ/שְׁפַל ushefal HC/Aamsc and lowly and low 2
H8217-07 שִׁפְלַ֣ת shifelat HAafsc low lowly of 1
H8217-04 שְׁפַל shefal HVqc lowly to be low 1
H8217-01 בִּ/שְׁפַ֖ל bishefal HR/Vqc when low in being low 1
H8217-11 וְ/שָׁפָ֣ל veshafal HC/Aamsa and-lowly and lowly 1
H8217-02 הַ/שָּׁפָ֣לָה hashafalah HTd/Aafsa the lowly the lowly one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8217-03 Leviticus 13:20 שָׁפָ֣ל shafal HAamsa lower lowly
H8217-09 Leviticus 13:21 וּ/שְׁפָלָ֥ה ushefalah HC/Aafsa and depressed lowly
H8217-09 Leviticus 13:26 וּ/שְׁפָלָ֥ה ushefalah HC/Aafsa and lower lowly
H8217-03 Leviticus 14:37 שָׁפָ֖ל shafal HAamsa lower lowly
H8217-03 2 Samuel 6:22 שָׁפָ֖ל shafal HAamsa humble lowly
H8217-08 Isaiah 57:15 וּ/שְׁפַל ushefal HC/Aamsc and lowly and low
H8217-06 Isaiah 57:15 שְׁפָלִ֔ים shefalim HAampa of the lowly lowly ones
H8217-07 Ezekiel 17:6 שִׁפְלַ֣ת shifelat HAafsc low lowly of
H8217-05 Ezekiel 17:14 שְׁפָלָ֔ה shefalah HAafsa lowly lowly
H8217-03 Ezekiel 17:24 שָׁפָ֔ל shafal HAamsa low lowly
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