H8215 H8215
low (of station); describing humble social rank or status
This Aramaic adjective means low or humble in social station, appearing in Daniel 4:17 in Nebuchadnezzar's dream interpretation. The text describes God's sovereignty: He 'removes kings and sets up kings' and 'sets over it the lowliest of people.' The word emphasizes not physical shortness but social humility—God elevates those of no account to demonstrate that He alone controls kingdoms. This becomes immediately relevant as proud Nebuchadnezzar himself is brought low and then restored to show that the Most High rules.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Describes lowly social status in Daniel 4:17 (English 4:14). The construct form שפל (shephal) means 'low of' or 'lowly of,' appearing in the phrase 'the lowliest of people.' English renders 'and-lowly-of,' Spanish 'y-al-más-bajo-de' (and to the lowest of), French 'et-bas' (and low), German retains the bracketed Aramaic. The sentence declares that the Most High 'sets over it the lowliest of people'—over the kingdom, He places those of humble origin. This theological statement about divine sovereignty directly foreshadows Nebuchadnezzar's own humiliation and restoration, demonstrating that social elevation and demotion alike come from God's hand, not human strength or merit. 1×
AR["وَ-أَدْنَى"]·ben["এবং-নীচু"]·DE["[ושפל]"]·EN["and-lowly-of"]·FR["et-bas"]·heb["ו-שפל"]·HI["और-नीच"]·ID["dan-yang-terendah"]·IT["[ושפל]"]·jav["lan-tiyang-asor"]·KO["그리고-낮은"]·PT["e-o-mais-humilde-dos"]·RU["и-низшего"]·ES["y-al-más-bajo-de"]·SW["na-mnyonge-wa"]·TR["ve-alçak"]·urd["اور-پست-ترین"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† שְׁפַל adj. low in station;—cstr. שׁ׳ Dn 4:14.