τᾰπεινός G5011
Lowly, humble; of low social standing or modest disposition, often used of those God lifts up.
An adjective describing someone who is low in status, modest in self-assessment, or socially insignificant. In the Magnificat, Mary celebrates that God has exalted the lowly (Luke 1:52), turning worldly hierarchies upside down. Jesus himself claims to be 'gentle and lowly in heart' (Matt 11:29), making the word a Christological marker. Paul urges believers not to be haughty but to associate with the lowly (Rom 12:16), and James promises that the 'lowly brother' will be exalted (Jas 1:9). The Spanish 'humilde' and French 'humble' both capture the social and spiritual dimensions simultaneously.
Senses
1. lowly, humble (in status or disposition) — Lowly or humble in social position or inner disposition—describing either external circumstance (low status, poverty) or a chosen posture of meekness before God. Jesus applies it to himself (Matt 11:29, 'I am gentle and lowly in heart'), establishing humility as a virtue rather than a deficiency. Mary's song celebrates God scattering the proud and exalting the lowly (Luke 1:52), while Paul counsels solidarity with humble people rather than aspiring to prominence (Rom 12:16). The German gloss 'niedrig' emphasizes the spatial metaphor of 'low,' preserving the word's original sense of physical lowness extended to social and spiritual reality. 8×
AR["المُتَواضِعينَ", "الوَضيعُ", "الْمُتَوَاضِعِينَ", "لِلمُتَواضِعينَ", "مُتَواضِعٌ"]·ben["নম্র", "নম্রদের", "নম্রদের,", "নীচদের-সাথে", "বিনয়ী", "বিনীতদের"]·DE["niedrig", "ταπεινούς", "ταπεινὸς"]·EN["humble", "lowly", "to-humble"]·FR["humble", "niedrig"]·heb["וְ-לַעֲנָוִים", "לַעֲנָוִים", "שְׁפֵלִים", "שְׁפַלִים", "שְׁפָלִים", "שָׁפָל", "שׁפַל"]·HI["दीन", "दीनों", "दीनों-को", "देएन", "नीचों"]·ID["kepada-orang-rendah-hati", "orang-orang-rendah", "rendah-hati", "yang-rendah-hati", "yang-rendah-hati,"]·IT["tapeinos", "tapeinous", "umile"]·jav["andhap-asor", "andhap-asor,", "asor", "kang-andhap-asor", "tiyang-andhap-asor", "tiyang-andhap-asor."]·KO["겸손하니라", "겸손한-자들에게", "겸손한-자들에게는", "낮은", "낮은,", "낮은-자들-을", "낮은-자들에게", "낮은-자들을"]·PT["aos-humildes", "humilde", "humildes"]·RU["-становитесь", "смирен", "смиренный", "смиренный,", "смиренным", "смиренных"]·ES["a-humildes", "humilde", "humildes"]·SW["mnyenyekevu", "wanyenyekevu", "wanyonge,"]·TR["alçak", "alçak-gönüllerle", "alçakgönüllü", "alçakgönüllülere", "alçakgönüllüleri", "o-"]·urd["حلیموں-کو", "عاجز", "عاجزوں", "عاجزوں-کو", "عاجز٬", "فروتنوں-کو", "کمتروں"]
Related Senses
G2962 1. Lord (divine title) (661×)H0136 1. Lord (divine title) (440×)H0113 1. lord, human superior (249×)G1849 1. authority, power (91×)H6485a 2. Qal: punish, bring judgment (63×)H8198 1. maidservant, female slave (63×)G2962 2. master, lord (human authority) (61×)H0034 1. needy, poor, destitute (61×)H0519 1. female servant, maidservant (56×)H6041 1. poor, needy person (55×)H0113 2. master, owner of servants (49×)H4910 1. Qal: to have dominion, exercise power over (44×)H1800 1. poor, needy (socioeconomic) (38×)H3515 1. heavy, severe, grievous (36×)G4434 1. (34×)G5092 1. honor, esteem, respect (33×)H6485a 4. Qal: visit, attend to, care for (32×)H3513 1. honor / show respect (Piel) (30×)H4910 2. Qal: to rule, govern (administrative authority) (27×)H4513 1. withhold, restrain, hold back (25×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
τᾰπεινός, ή, όν, low: __1 of Place, low-lying, χώρη Refs 5th c.BC+; νῆσος Refs 1st c.BC+; ταπεινὰ νέμεσθαι to live in low regions, Refs 5th c.BC+; of stature or size, low, ὀστᾶ Refs 5th c.BC+; of position in the body, τὰ τ. τοῦ θώρακος Refs 2nd c.AD+; of a river, low, opposed to μέγας, Refs 2nd c.BC+; of stars, low, i.e. near the horizon, Refs 2nd c.AD+; but also, near the earth, Refs; of the…