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.
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"]
▼ 1 more sense below
Senses
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؛"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
τᾰπεινο-φροσύνη, ἡ, humility, NT; mean-spiritedness, Refs 1st c.AD+