Lexical Summary shephel: humbled, humble, subdue Original Word: שְׁפַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance abase, humble, put down, subdue (Aramaic) corresponding to shaphel -- abase, humble, put down, subdue. see HEBREW shaphel NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to shaphel Definition to be low NASB Translation humble (1), humbled (2), subdue (1). Topical Lexicon Concept and Range of Meaning שְׁפַל in the Aramaic sections of Daniel denotes the act of bringing low, humbling, or abasing. While the root is cognate with the Hebrew שָׁפַל, its Danielic occurrences focus on decisive reversals of human pride effected either directly by God or by rulers acting under divine permission. Occurrences in Daniel Daniel 4:37 – Nebuchadnezzar confesses that God “is able to humble those who walk in pride.” Daniel 5:19 – The Babylonian monarch exercised unchecked power: “those he wished to humble he humbled.” Daniel 5:22 – Belshazzar “have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.” Daniel 7:24 – The eschatological horn “will subdue three kings,” picturing political demotion on a global scale. Historical Setting All four occurrences arise in the exilic milieu of sixth-century Babylon, where Jewish exiles witnessed regimes rise and fall. The verb underlines the precariousness of imperial power and highlights divine sovereignty amid Gentile domination. Theological Emphasis on Humility 1. Divine prerogative: Daniel 4:37 frames humility as something God alone finally enforces. Intertextual Echoes Proverbs 3:34, Isaiah 2:11, and 1 Peter 5:6 resonate with the Danielic theme: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. The consistent biblical witness is that human elevation without reference to God invites inevitable reversal. Christological and Prophetic Trajectory The humbling of arrogant kings anticipates the ultimate exaltation of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14) who, though truly exalted, first humbled Himself (Philippians 2:6-8). The term therefore contributes to a prophetic pattern: proud kingdoms are abased; the humble Messiah is enthroned. Ministry Implications • Preaching: Use the Babylonian narratives to warn against pride and call for repentance before enforced humbling occurs. Practical Application for Believers Today Believers live in societies fascinated by power and status. Daniel’s repeated use of שְׁפַל reminds the faithful that genuine security lies not in asserting greatness but in surrendering greatness to the King of Heaven who “lifts up and brings down” (compare Luke 1:52). Summary שְׁפַל in Daniel captures the divinely governed cycle of pride and abasement in world history. Its fourfold appearance is a concise theology lesson: God’s kingdom alone stands secure; all proud hearts and thrones will be humbled unless they voluntarily bow. Forms and Transliterations הַשְׁפֵּ֖לְתְּ השפלת יְהַשְׁפִּֽל׃ יהשפל׃ לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃ להשפלה׃ מַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ משפיל׃ haš·pê·lət hashPelet hašpêlət lə·haš·pā·lāh lehashpaLah ləhašpālāh maš·pîl mashPil mašpîl yə·haš·pil yehashPil yəhašpilLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:37 HEB: בְּגֵוָ֔ה יָכִ֖ל לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃ פ NAS: and He is able to humble those who KJV: in pride he is able to abase. INT: pride is able to humble Daniel 5:19 Daniel 5:22 Daniel 7:24 4 Occurrences |
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