Word Study for H8216 (שֶׁפֶל)

shephel /shay'-fel/ Ask about this word

Meaningan humble rank

KJV usagelow estate (place).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shephel — 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 Hebrew word shephel, represented by H8216, defines an humble rank or a low estate (place). It is derived from the word שָׁפֵל. This specific term appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, giving it a very focused meaning in its contexts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H8216 describes a condition of being humbled or being in a lowly position. In the Psalms, it is used to recall God's faithfulness to Israel, who remembered them in their low estate Psalms 136:23, linking this state to an opportunity for divine mercy. In contrast, Ecclesiastes uses the term to depict a world turned upside down, where folly is given great dignity and the rich are made to sit in a low place Ecclesiastes 10:6, suggesting a position of dishonor or social reversal.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H8216 by providing direct context:

H2142 zâkar (properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember): This action is directed toward those in a "low estate" H8216. God's act of remembering in Psalms 136:23 is what gives the state of lowliness its significance, as it is the condition that precedes divine deliverance.
H4791 mârôwm (altitude...dignity...high...place): This word serves as a direct antonym to H8216 in Ecclesiastes 10:6. While folly is placed in "dignity" H4791, the worthy sit in a "low place," creating a sharp contrast between high honor and a debased position.
H6223 ʻâshîyr (rich, whether literal or figurative (noble); rich (man)): This word identifies those who are improperly seated in the "low place" H8216 in Ecclesiastes. The placement of the "rich" in this lowly position highlights the passage's theme of societal foolishness and disorder.

Theological Significance

The thematic weight of H8216 is centered on the concept of status and position.

A State of Humble Need: In its appearance in Psalms, the "low estate" is not presented as a negative state but as the circumstance in which God's mercy is most clearly demonstrated. It is a position of dependency that invites divine remembrance Psalms 136:23.
A Position of Social Dishonor: The context in Ecclesiastes portrays the "low place" as a sign of a dysfunctional society. It is where the deserving are unjustly placed, signifying a moral and social inversion where folly is exalted over worth Ecclesiastes 10:6.
The Contrast of Perspectives: Ultimately, the word contrasts God's view of the lowly with the world's. God remembers and elevates those in a "low estate," whereas a foolish world demotes the rich and worthy to a "low place."

Summary

In summary, H8216 is a precise term for a humble or low position. While rare, its two appearances provide a powerful contrast. It can signify a "low estate" of humility where one experiences God's merciful intervention, or it can describe a "low place" of dishonor that reflects a society in moral chaos. The word effectively captures the profound difference between divine values and worldly foolishness.

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 Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

שֵּׁפֶל
שִׁפְלֵ

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Ecclesiastes (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

Ecclesiastes

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.