Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

TAPEINOO* - Part 3 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
To humble, to make low, to level

Please note that all Biblical quotes are presented from the Literal Translation.

This week we continue our study of the Greek word ταπεινὸω (Strong's #5013), a verb expressing the action of the humbling process.

So far we have studied the primary meaning of ταπεινὸω as found in Luke 3:5 which is a quote of a prophecy from Isaiah 40:3-5. We noted that the passive voice is used in this scripture for the verb ταπεινὸω, which dictates the meaning that the mountains and hills are the recipients of the leveling; they are not being directed to humble or level themselves. This application of the mountains and hills being made low or level to the ground is the best example in the Bible of the actual meaning of the verb ταπεινὸω.

We have also studied the promise of the humbling process. In Luke 14:7-11 and Luke 18:10-14, Jesus establishes this promise. Both scriptures read: "…because everyone who is exalting himself will be humbled (the future passive voice of ταπεινὸω); and the one humbling himself will be exalted." Again, the verb ταπεινὸω is in the passive voice showing that the person exalting himself will be the recipient of the humbling process; he will not produce it himself.

In addition to studying the meaning of the verb ταπεινὸω and the promise of the humbling process, we have considered the two primary commands given believers concerning the humbling process. The first is found in James 4:10:

10)

Be humbled (the aorist passive imperative of ταπεινὸω) before the Lord and He will exalt you.

Most English translations begin this verse: "Humble yourselves..." However, the passive voice is used here and by that we understand this verse does not give command for people to carry out the humbling of themselves; instead, people are to submit themselves to God's humbling process.

The second command concerning the humbling process is found in 1 Peter 5:6:

6) Be humbled (the aorist passive imperative of ταπεινὸω) therefore under the mighty hand of God, in order that He may exalt you in time;

Peter, in verse 6, commands every believer to submit to God's humbling process. He also specifically names the agent of the humbling process, God's mighty hand. Therefore, these scriptures tell us that the believer is to submit to the humbling process of God's mighty hand bringing or leveling him to the ground, so that God can then minister His grace to him.

This week we want to study, from Philippians 2:5-11, Jesus as the prime example of the humbling process. In context, Paul is ministering to the Christians in Philippi about fellowship. In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul presents the mind-set or frame of mind necessary for believers to have true fellowship.

5)

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

In this verse, Paul uses the imperative or command form of the word φρονὲω (Strong's #5426), which means the "attitude" or "frame of mind." (See the seven part series on this word by same author in the archives.) Paul is commanding that believers have the same frame of mind as had Christ Jesus when He came to Earth in the flesh. The Lord's attitude is reflected in the following verses.

6)

Who, while existing in the form of God, He did not consider it something to be grasped to be equal to God,

7)

but He emptied Himself, having taken the form of a slave, having become in the likeness of men;

In verse 6, Paul uses the present participle "while existing in the form of God," to express the continual form in which the Lord existed. Then he uses two verbs in reference to the Lord's mindset. The first verb is ἡγὲομαι (Strong's #2233), which is translated "consider." It literally means to make something the leading thought of one's mind. The noun functioning as the direct object of "consider" is ἁρπαγμὸς (Strong's #725) and is translated as "grasped," although it can be translated as "robbery" or the name of the act of "seizing" or "grasping" something. The translation of ἁρπαγμὸς in this text is dictated by the conjunction "but" at the beginning of verse 7, (ἀλλὰ (Strong's #235), which expresses contrast. Therefore the meaning of ἁρπαγμὸς would be in contrast to the second verb introduced to us by ἀλλὰ.

This second verb describing the Lord's frame of mind, the one following the conjunction ἀλλὰ in verse 7, is κενὸω (Strong's #2758), which is translated "emptied." This configuration of conjunction and verb dictates that the translation of verse 6 should render the meaning of ἁρπαγμὸς as grasping or holding on to something. The meaning would be expressed like this: while existing in the form of God, He did not consider being God something to be held onto, but in contrast, emptied Himself, that is, let go of the rights and privileges of being God." Paul explains that Jesus did this as He took the form of a slave and came in the likeness of men.

8)

and having been found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, having become obedient until death, even death of a cross.

In verse 8, Paul writes that after the Lord was found in fashion of a man, "He humbled Himself." The Greek verb used here for "humbled" is ταπεινὸω, the subject of this week's study. Keeping in mind the context given in verse 5, Paul is still making reference to the Lord's frame of mind or attitude. That attitude is expressed here as the Lord choosing (He humbled Himself) to take the "low" road which is the way of death on a cross.

Paul is saying that Jesus existed in the form of God when He came to Earth, but He did not allow this to be the leading or governing thought of His mind in His approach to living among us as a man. The Lord did not hold onto the rights and privileges of being God and force Himself onto the human race. Instead, He chose the humble or low road —death on a cross — in order to accomplish the will of the Father.

9)

On account of which God also highly exalted Him and gave to Him a name which is^F1 above every name;

"On account of which", (διὸ, Strong's #1352), connects verse 9 with verse 8 and signals the turning point in Paul's presentation. It refers back to the Lord emptying and humbling Himself and gives the result of His humility: God highly exalts Him and gives Him a name (some manuscripts read, "the name"), which is above every name.

10)

in order that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things upon the earth and things under the earth;

11)

and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord unto the glory of God the Father.

Verse 10 begins with the purpose clause ἵνα (Strong's #2443), "in order that," and introduces a two-fold purpose for God exalting the Lord and giving Him the name above every name: first, that "in the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things upon the earth and things under the earth;" and, secondly, that "every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord unto the glory of God the Father."

The example Jesus gives for us to follow is one of humility. He became flesh and dwelt among us even as He existed in the form of God. Yet He did not have, as the leading thought of His mind, the frame of mind to exercise His rights as God. Instead, He chose not to force His rights as God upon us. He rejected being made an earthly king and chose instead to take the form of a slave, submitting Himself to death on a cross.

As previously stated, Paul is teaching on Christian fellowship when he gives this understanding of Jesus as our example of submission to the humbling process. He writes that believers, in order to be able to fellowship in the unity and oneness of Christ, must have developed within them the same attitude and approach to this earthly life as Jesus had. We Christians are not to approach this life with the frame of mind of asserting our own rights, using our power and force of will to impose upon others. Instead, we are to choose the low road of denying ourselves and submitting to God's humbling processes trusting that He, as He brings us low and levels us, is working out His purposes both within us and in the world around us.

Next week we will study how the humbling process was worked out in Paul's life.

* TAPEINOO is the English font spelling of the Greek word ταπεινὸω.

Technical Notes:

F1: The article τὸ in the attributive position is translated ποῦεἶναι, "which is."

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