What does שָׁפָל (šāpāl) mean in the Bible?
שָׁפָל (šāpāl): Low in position or status; used of both literal lowness and social/spiritual humiliation or abasement
Hebrew · H8217
שָׁפָל
Depressed , literally or figuratively
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שָׁפָלH8217
Pronunciationšāpāl
What does שָׁפָל (šāpāl) mean in the Bible?
שָׁפָל (šāpāl): Low in position or status; used of both literal lowness and social/spiritual humiliation or abasement
Full entry for שָׁפָל (H8217) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8217?
The BSB source-word alignment has 17 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and humble (2), beneath (2), the lowly (2), to be beneath (2), a lowly (1).
Where does שָׁפָל (šāpāl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Leviticus 13:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (6), Leviticus (4), Isaiah (2), 2 Samuel (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand humble2×2 Samuel 6:22, Isaiah 57:15
beneath2×Leviticus 13:21, Leviticus 13:26
the lowly2×Job 5:11, Ezekiel 21:26
to be beneath2×Leviticus 13:20, Leviticus 14:37
a lowly1×Ezekiel 29:14
and humiliated1×Malachi 2:9
and make the low1×Ezekiel 17:24
brought low1×Ezekiel 17:14
but a humble1×Proverbs 29:23
low1×Ezekiel 17:6
of the lowly1×Isaiah 57:15
the lowliest1×Ezekiel 29:15
to the lowly1×Psalms 138:6
Show sample aligned rows
Leviticus 13:20שָׁפָ֣לtoto be beneathAdjective - masculine singularLeviticus 13:21וּשְׁפָלָ֥הtobeneathConjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singularLeviticus 13:26וּשְׁפָלָ֥הtobeneathConjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singularLeviticus 14:37שָׁפָ֖לtoto be beneathAdjective - masculine singular2 Samuel 6:22שָׁפָ֖לtoand humbleAdjective - masculine singularJob 5:11שְׁפָלִ֣יםtothe lowlyAdjective - masculine pluralPsalms 138:6וְשָׁפָ֣לtoto the lowlyConjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singularProverbs 29:23וּשְׁפַל־tobut a humbleConjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular constructIsaiah 57:15וּשְׁפַל־toand humbleConjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular constructIsaiah 57:15שְׁפָלִ֔יםtoof the lowlyAdjective - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowLeviticus 13:20
Aligned rows17
Books represented8
Leviticus42 Samuel1Job1Psalms1Proverbs1Isaiah2Ezekiel6Malachi1
Source forms
וּשְׁפַל־2xū·šə·p̄al-Proverbs 29:23, Isaiah 57:15
וּשְׁפָלָ֥ה2xū·šə·p̄ā·lāhLeviticus 13:21, Leviticus 13:26
שָׁפָ֖ל2xšā·p̄ālLeviticus 14:37, 2 Samuel 6:22
שְׁפָלָ֔ה2xšə·p̄ā·lāhEzekiel 17:14, Ezekiel 29:15
הַשָּׁפָ֣לָה1xhaš·šā·p̄ā·lāhEzekiel 21:26
וְשָׁפָ֣ל1xwə·šā·p̄ālPsalms 138:6
וּשְׁפָלִ֖ים1xū·šə·p̄ā·lîmMalachi 2:9
שָׁפָ֣ל1xšā·p̄ālLeviticus 13:20
Parsing patterns
Adjective - masculine singular4xLeviticus 13:20, Leviticus 14:37, 2 Samuel 6:22, Ezekiel 17:24
Adjective - feminine singular3xEzekiel 17:14, Ezekiel 29:14, Ezekiel 29:15
Adjective - masculine plural2xJob 5:11, Isaiah 57:15
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular2xLeviticus 13:21, Leviticus 13:26
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct2xProverbs 29:23, Isaiah 57:15
Adjective - feminine singular construct1xEzekiel 17:6
Article | Adjective - masculine singular1xEzekiel 21:26
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural1xMalachi 2:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Low in position or status; used of both literal lowness and social/spiritual humiliation or abasement
Strong'sH8217
Lexical occurrences19 versesWord forms1 form11 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 16:19Source Gloss
depressed , literally or figuratively
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Low in position or status; used of both literal lowness and social/spiritual humiliation or abasement
depressed, literally or figuratively BDB: low Usage: base(-st), humble, low(-er, -ly).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms11
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
Infinitive constructProv 16:191×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Spiritual humility of spirit preferred over material pride and spoil
Lowliness of spirit that precedes honor, contrasted with pride leading to shame
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 19 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁפָל is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.