שִׁפְלוּת
𐤔𐤐𐤋𐤅𐤕
shiphlûwth
H8220 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State or condition of being low, humble, or brought low—physically, socially, or metaphorically. It denotes both a literal sense of lowness (as in low position or status) and a figurative sense of humility, insignificance, or abjection. In certain contexts, it may imply being overlooked, unimportant, or oppressed.
Semantic Range
lowliness, abasement, humility, humbled state, insignificance, destitution, being brought low, state of being abased
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁפֵל (shaphal), meaning 'to be low, to be humble, to be abased.' The form שִׁפְלוּת (shiphlûwth) is a feminine abstract noun denoting the state or quality of being low, humble, or abased. While the root’s primary sense is 'to be low' (physically or in status), the noun form expresses the abstract condition or circumstance flowing from that root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, שִׁפְלוּת appears mainly in later Hebrew (especially in post-exilic or liturgical contexts), and in the limited extant occurrences, it denotes abjectness or a state of social and personal abasement. The sense of 'remissness' or 'idleness' provided in older lexica is contextually narrow and may arise from later usage or interpretive translation. Its semantic focus is significantly on lowliness or humility, as opposed to mere laziness or neglect. Related terms include שָׁפֵל (low, humble) and שֶׁפֶל (plain, lowland), but שִׁפְלוּת uniquely conveys the abstract quality or state rather than the attribute or place. English translations may underrepresent its social and emotional connotations by rendering it simply as 'humility' or 'lowliness.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁפֵל; remissness; idleness.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שפל (š-p-l) — lowness, abasement, humility
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8213 | שָׁפֵל | I will bring low |
| H8216 | שֶׁפֶל | in the lowland |
| H8217 | שָׁפָל | in being low |
| H8218 | שִׁפְלָה | and in the lowland |
| H8219 | שְׁפֵלָה | in the lowland region |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8220-01 |
וּ/בְ/שִׁפְל֥וּת | uveshifelut | HC/R/Ncfsc |
and through idleness | and in lowliness of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8220-01 |
Ecclesiastes 10:18 | וּ/בְ/שִׁפְל֥וּת | uveshifelut | HC/R/Ncfsc |
and through idleness | and in lowliness of |