The Greek verb tapeinoo means to humble, abase, or bring low — either in social standing or in the inner posture of the heart. It can describe God's humbling of the proud, the self-humbling of the servant, or the voluntary condescension of Christ himself. The related noun tapeinophrosune (G5012) is humility of mind.
The theology of tapeinoo runs through the New Testament as a counter-cultural drumbeat. In a culture that prized honor and status, Jesus declares 'everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted' (Matthew 23:12, Luke 18:14). Paul uses tapeinoo for Christ's self-emptying in the great kenosis hymn of Philippians 2:8 — Christ 'humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.' This is the supreme example of voluntary tapeinoo, the Son of God descending into human weakness. James and Peter both command believers to 'humble yourselves under God's mighty hand' — the paradoxical path to divine exaltation. True tapeinoo is not self-loathing but accurate self-assessment before the majesty of God.