English · KJV
G5013

ταπεινόω

tapeinóō /tap-i-no'-o/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom ταπεινός
Meaningto depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart)
KJV usageabase, bring low, humble (self).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tapeinóō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word tapeinóō, represented by G5013, means to depress or, figuratively, to humiliate in condition or heart. It is used in scripture with the sense of being abased, brought low, or humbled. It appears 14 times across 11 unique verses, highlighting its significance as a spiritual concept.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, G5013 frequently appears in a foundational paradox: those who humble themselves will be exalted. This principle is stated directly in Matthew 23:12, Luke 14:11, and Luke 18:14. The term is used as a command for believers to humble themselves under God's authority, with the promise that He will lift them up (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6). The ultimate example is Christ, who humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death Philippians 2:8. The word can also describe a physical lowering, such as every mountain and hill being brought low Luke 3:5, or a state of being, as when Paul speaks of knowing how to be abased Philippians 4:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the meaning of humility and its opposite states:

  • G5312 hypsóō: This word means to elevate (literally or figuratively):--exalt, lift up. It serves as the direct spiritual outcome and antonym to being humbled, often appearing in the same verse to create a sharp contrast Matthew 23:12.
  • G4052 perisseúō: Meaning to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, this term is used to contrast the state of being abased. Paul contrasts knowing how to be abased with knowing how to abound Philippians 4:12.
  • G5255 hypḗkoos: Defined as attentively listening, i.e. (by implication) submissive:--obedient, this concept is linked directly to Christ's act of humbling himself, which resulted in his becoming obedient unto death Philippians 2:8.
  • G5302 hysteréō: Meaning to be later, i.e. (by implication) to be inferior; generally, to fall short (be deficient), this word describes a state of want. Paul pairs knowing how to abound with knowing how to suffer need Philippians 4:12.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G5013 is centered on the relationship between God and humanity.

  • The Divine Reversal: A core theme is that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Those who exalt themselves will be abased, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14).
  • Christ's Humiliation: The most profound example is Christ himself. His act of humbling himself is the model for Christian living and the basis for his own exaltation Philippians 2:8.
  • Condition for Greatness: Humility is presented as a prerequisite for status in God's kingdom. To be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, one must humble himself as a little child Matthew 18:4.
  • A Posture of Faith: The act of humbling oneself under God's hand is an expression of trust in His timing and power to exalt in the future 1 Peter 5:6.

Summary

In summary, G5013 defines a crucial spiritual posture. It is not merely a word for being brought low, but a call to a voluntary self-lowering before God. This act of humility stands in direct opposition to worldly self-exaltation and is presented throughout scripture as the path to receiving God's grace and ultimate exaltation. As demonstrated by Christ, it is a foundational principle for life within the kingdom of God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 14 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

  • ταπεινωθήσεται
  • ταπεινῶν
  • ταπεινώθητε
  • ταπεινώσει
  • ἐταπείνωσεν
  • ταπεινώσῃ
  • ταπεινοῦσθαι

Related Words

Related

Words formed from this one

1 entry in Strong’s name this word as its origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

G5014 ταπείνωσις depression (in rank or feeling)

Also mentioned in the study

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G5312 ὑψόω to elevate (literally or figuratively) G4052 περισσεύω to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous G5255 ὑπήκοος attentively listening, i.e. (by implication) submissive G5302 ὑστερέω to be later, i.e. (by implication) to be inferior

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 11 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (3 verses); never once in the other 21.

2
Matthew
3
Luke
2
2 Corinthians
2
Philippians
1
James
1
1 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.