τᾰπεινο-φροσύνη G5012
Humility, lowliness of mind; the disposition of putting others above oneself, valued in NT ethics as a core Christian virtue.
In classical Greek, tapeinophrosyne carried a negative connotation of servility or mean-spiritedness, but the New Testament completely transforms it into a prized virtue. Paul urges believers to adopt humility in their relationships (Eph 4:2, Phil 2:3), modeling the self-emptying attitude of Christ himself. The Spanish 'humildad' and German 'Demut' both capture this revalued sense. In Colossians 2:18, Paul warns against a counterfeit version -- a false humility tied to angel worship -- showing that even this virtue can be distorted.
Senses
1. humility — The genuine virtue of humility -- a lowliness of mind that esteems others as more important than oneself. Paul lists it alongside gentleness and patience as essential for church unity (Eph 4:2). In Phil 2:3 it is grounded in the incarnational example of Christ. The Spanish 'humildad' and German 'Demut' both reflect this positive ethical sense. Col 2:18 and 2:23 show its misuse: a performative, self-imposed humility tied to ascetic practices and angel veneration. 7×
AR["التَّواضُعَ", "تَواضُعًا", "تَواضُعٍ", "تَوَاضُعٍ"]·ben["নম্রতা", "নম্রতায়", "বিনয়", "বিনয়ে"]·DE["Demut", "ταπεινοφροσύνης"]·EN["humility"]·FR["humilité", "ταπεινοφροσύνην", "ταπεινοφροσύνης", "ταπεινοφροσύνῃ"]·heb["עֲנָוָה", "עֲנָוָה,"]·HI["दिखवति-नम्रत", "दीनता", "नअम्रत,", "नम्रत", "नम्रता"]·ID["kerendahan hati", "kerendahan-hati"]·IT["umilta", "umiltà"]·jav["andhap-asor", "andhap-asor,"]·KO["겸손", "겸손과", "겸손으로", "겸손으로,", "겸손을"]·PT["humildade", "humildade,"]·RU["смирением", "смирением,", "смиренномудрие", "смиренномудрием", "смиренномудрии"]·ES["humildad", "humillación"]·SW["unyenyekevu", "wote"]·TR["alcakgonullukle", "alcakgonulluluk", "alcakgonulluluk'te", "alcakgonullulukle", "alçakgönüllülükle", "alçakgönüllülüğü"]·urd["عاجزی", "فروتنی", "فروتنی-سے"]
2. humble minded — An adjectival extension meaning 'humble-minded' or 'of a lowly disposition,' describing the character quality as an attribute of persons rather than an abstract noun. In 1 Peter 3:8, believers are exhorted to be tapeinophrones -- united in spirit and humble-minded toward one another. The Spanish 'humildes' captures this shift from abstract noun to personal quality. 1×
AR["مُتَواضِعينَ"]·ben["বিনম্রচিত্ত"]·DE["Demut"]·EN["humble-minded"]·FR["ταπεινόφρονες"]·heb["עֲנָוִים"]·HI["नम्रचित्त"]·ID["rendah-hati"]·IT["umiltà"]·jav["andhap-asor;"]·KO["겸손하라"]·PT["humildes;"]·RU["смиренномудры;"]·ES["humildes"]·SW["wanyenyekevu"]·TR["alçakgönüllü"]·urd["فروتن-ذہن؛"]
Related Senses
G2962 1. Lord (divine title) (661×)H0136 1. Lord (divine title) (440×)H0113 1. lord, human superior (249×)G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)G1849 1. authority, power (91×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)H6485a 2. Qal: punish, bring judgment (63×)H8198 1. maidservant, female slave (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)G2962 2. master, lord (human authority) (61×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
τᾰπεινο-φροσύνη, ἡ, humility, NT; mean-spiritedness, Refs 1st c.AD+