What does שְׁפַל (šĕpal) mean in the Bible?
שְׁפַל (šĕpal): To bring low or reduce in status; used of God humbling the proud or enemies in judgment
Hebrew · H8214
שְׁפַל
Abase, humble, put down, subdue.
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
שְׁפַל H8214
Pronunciation šĕpal
What does שְׁפַל (šĕpal) mean in the Bible?
שְׁפַל (šĕpal): To bring low or reduce in status; used of God humbling the proud or enemies in judgment
Full entry for שְׁפַל (H8214) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8214?
The BSB source-word alignment has 4 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and humbled (1), and subdue (1), humbled (1), to humble (1).
Where does שְׁפַל (šĕpal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Daniel 4:37. Its strongest book concentrations include Daniel (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It and humbled 1× Daniel 5:19
and subdue 1× Daniel 7:24
humbled 1× Daniel 5:22
to humble 1× Daniel 4:37
Show sample aligned rows
Daniel 4:37 לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃פ to to humble Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Daniel 5:19 מַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ to and humbled Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Daniel 5:22 הַשְׁפֵּ֖לְתְּ to humbled Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular Daniel 7:24 יְהַשְׁפִּֽל׃ to and subdue Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Daniel 4:37
Aligned rows 4
Books represented 1
Daniel 4
Source forms
הַשְׁפֵּ֖לְתְּ 1x haš·pê·lət Daniel 5:22
יְהַשְׁפִּֽל׃ 1x yə·haš·pil Daniel 7:24
לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃פ 1x lə·haš·pā·lāh Daniel 4:37
מַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ 1x maš·pîl Daniel 5:19
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct 1x Daniel 4:37
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Daniel 7:24
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 1x Daniel 5:19
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular 1x Daniel 5:22
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To bring low or reduce in status; used of God humbling the proud or enemies in judgment
Source Gloss
abase, humble, put down, subdue.
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To bring low or reduce in status; used of God humbling the proud or enemies in judgment
BDB: be low Usage: abase, humble, put down, subdue.
Word Origins
שְׁפַל is built from this root:
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain