📖 Biblical Definition
Greek tapeinos, humble / lowly / meek, the principal NT adjective for humility. The cognate family is extensive: tapeinos (G5011, the adjective); tapeinophrosune (G5012, humility of mind, the principal NT virtue-noun); tapeinoo (G5013, to humble); tapeinosis (G5014, humiliation, lowly estate). The NT lexicon establishes humility as a foundational Christian virtue: the Lord Jesus describes Himself as meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29, tapeinos te kardia); Mary's Magnificat celebrates the LORD as the One who has regarded the low estate [tapeinosis] of his handmaiden (Luke 1:48) and who hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree [tapeinous] (Luke 1:52); Paul commands the Philippians to be of the same mind in the Lord, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but in lowliness of mind [tapeinophrosune] let each esteem other better than themselves (Philippians 2:2-3); the same letter develops the great Christ-hymn (Philippians 2:5-11) which presents Christ's humiliation as the supreme pattern. The Reformed-confessional virtue tradition (Calvin's Institutes; the Puritan writings on humility) recovers tapeinos as the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God and others — the NT continuation of the OT anavah tradition. The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds the integrated biblical virtue: strong courage anchored in humble submission to God; bold confession of truth combined with low estimation of self; firm leadership exercised in the spirit of the Servant-King.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Greek tapeinos (G5011), humble / lowly / meek; principal NT virtue-adjective; cognate with tapeinophrosune, tapeinoo, tapeinosis; pattern in Christ (Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:5-11).
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TAPEINOS, Greek adj. (G5011; humble, lowly, meek) Principal NT adjective for humility. Cognate family: tapeinophrosune (G5012, humility of mind, the principal NT virtue-noun); tapeinoo (G5013, to humble); tapeinosis (G5014, lowly estate). Christ describes Himself as meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:48, 52). Paul: let each esteem other better than themselves (Philippians 2:3). Great Christ-hymn (Philippians 2:5-11) presents Christ's humiliation as supreme pattern. NT continuation of OT anavah; Reformed virtue tradition; the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 11:29 — "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
Philippians 2:3-5 — "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."
James 4:6 — "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
Luke 1:51-52 — "He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. The principal contemporary mishandling is the misreading of biblical humility as weakness or low self-esteem; tapeinos is the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God.
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Tapeinos as a Greek term does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal contemporary mishandling is the misreading of biblical humility as weakness or low self-esteem. The biblical tapeinos is the opposite: the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God. The supreme pattern is the Lord Jesus Christ in the great Christ-hymn of Philippians 2:5-11, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. This is not weakness; this is the omnipotent Son's deliberate self-emptying for the redemption of His people. The patriarchal-Reformed reader recovers tapeinos as the integrated biblical virtue: strong courage anchored in humble submission to God.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
G5011; cognate family tapeinophrosune, tapeinoo, tapeinosis; pattern in Christ.
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['Greek', 'G5011', 'tapeinos', 'humble, lowly, meek']
['Greek', 'G5012', 'tapeinophrosune', 'humility of mind']
['Hebrew', 'H6038', "'anavah", 'OT equivalent virtue-term']
Usage
"Tapeinos: humble; Christ describes Himself as meek and lowly in heart."
"Pattern in the great Christ-hymn of Philippians 2:5-11."
"The strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God."