ταπεινόω

From the study of 1 Peter 5:6

Range of meaning

Literally “to make low,” for example levelling a hill (Luke 3:5; Isa 40:4 LXX). From there it means to lower someone in status, rank or condition: to humiliate, to bring down. It can also mean to afflict or bring into hardship. Used of yourself, it means to take a lowly position, to submit, to humble yourself. The adjective tapeinos means low, poor or of humble status.

Against the English

English “humble yourself” mostly suggests an inner attitude: modesty, not thinking too highly of yourself, sometimes low self-esteem. The Greek is first about position and condition: being or getting low in a world ranked by honour. YLT’s “be humbled” keeps the passive form and with it the idea of accepting a lowering that comes from outside.

How it drifted

As humility became a Christian virtue it moved inward and turned into an attitude or a feeling about yourself. In Greek usage the word belonged first to social rank and to circumstances.

Used elsewhere in the period

In ordinary Greek ethical writing tapeinos usually had a bad sense: base, servile, mean-spirited. It was not admired, except in the sense of proper deference to the gods. The Greek Old Testament gave the word a positive religious sense. Leviticus 16:29, 31 uses it for “afflicting yourselves” (fasting) on the Day of Atonement. 1 Samuel 2:7 and Ezekiel 17:24 say the LORD brings low and raises up. Sirach 3:18 says “the greater you are, the more humble yourself.” In the New Testament it appears in the sayings of Jesus (“whoever humbles himself will be exalted,” Luke 14:11; 18:14; Matt 23:12), in James 4:10 (the same verb form, followed by a promise of being lifted up), and in Philippians 2:8–9 (Christ “humbled himself… therefore God highly exalted him”).

From the study of Matthew 18:4

Range of meaning

Literally 'to make low': to level ground (Isa 40:4 LXX, Luke 3:5 'every mountain made low'), to bring someone down in rank, power or pride, to humiliate. Used of oneself, it means to take a lower place, accept lower status, or submit. In Jewish usage it can also mean to afflict or humble oneself before God, for example by fasting (Lev 16:29–31 LXX renders 'afflict your souls' with this word family). The related adjective tapeinos means low, lowly, of low station.

Against the English

Modern English 'humble oneself' usually describes an inner attitude: modesty, not thinking too highly of yourself, a low self-estimate. The Greek starts from position and status: moving down to the low place in a social order. The attitude is there, but it shows in where you put yourself. NIV's 'takes the lowly position' catches this; 'humbles himself' (BSB, ESV, KJV) is accurate but easily heard as a feeling.

How it drifted

Christian writers made humility a central inner virtue, and English 'humble' moved toward self-assessment and manner (being 'humble' about your achievements). The older sense of low rank survives in phrases like 'humble origins' but is rarely heard in 'humble yourself'.

Used elsewhere in the period

In wider Greek writing tapeinos often meant base, servile, mean-spirited: something a free man should not be. The Greek Old Testament (LXX) gives the word family a positive side: God 'lifts up the lowly' (1 Sam 2:7–8; Ps 138:6) and 'brings low the proud'. Matthew uses the same pattern in 23:12: 'whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.' Jesus calls himself tapeinos in 11:29 ('gentle and lowly in heart'). Philippians 2:8 uses the verb of Christ, who 'humbled himself' to the status of a slave and to the cross.

From the study of Philippians 2:8

Range of meaning

To make low or bring down: to level ground (Isa 40:4 LXX; Luke 3:5), to lower someone in status, rank or fortune, to humiliate, and so to make humble. The adjective tapeinos described what was low: low-lying land, people of low birth, the poor, the servile, the powerless. In ordinary Greek it was mostly a word of social position and condition. Inner attitude came second.

Against the English

'Humbled himself' (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT and most modern versions) is accurate. But modern English 'humble' usually means a modest attitude or a low opinion of oneself. The Greek also carries the image of actually stepping down a ladder of rank.

How it drifted

Christian moral language, starting with passages like this one, turned humility into a prized inner virtue. Over centuries 'humble' came to mean a personality trait (modest, unassuming) more than a social location (low-ranked, servile).

Used elsewhere in the period

In Greek moral writers tapeinos is usually negative: servile, abject, mean-spirited. Epictetus, for example, uses it for the slavish person a philosopher should not be, and Aristotle's ideal 'great-souled man' is its opposite. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) the picture changes. God 'brings low the proud and lifts up the lowly' (1 Sam 2:7; Ps 113:7; Prov 3:34), and the Suffering Servant's 'humiliation' (ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει, Isa 53:8) comes before his vindication. Jesus' saying 'whoever humbles himself will be exalted' (Matt 23:12; Luke 14:11) uses the same verb and has the same humble-then-exalted shape as Phil 2:8–9.