Abase

a -bās ´: The English rendition of שׁפּל , shāphēl ( Job 40:11; Ezekiel 21:26 ), and of its derivative שׁפּל , shephal ( Daniel 4:37 ) = "bring down," "debase," "humble"; of ענה , ‛ānāh ( Isaiah 31:4 ) = "abase self," "afflict," "chasten self," "deal harshly with," etc.; and of ταπεινόω , tapeinóō = "to depress"; figure "to humiliate" (in condition or heart): "abase," "bring low," "humble self" ( Philippians 4:12 ). The word is always employed to indicate what should be done to or by him who nurtures a spirit and exhibits a demeanor contrary to the laudable humility which is a natural fruit of religion. Such a person is warned that the most extravagant audacity will not daunt Yahweh nor abate His vengeance ( Isaiah 31:4 ), and good men are exhorted to employ their powers to bring him low ( Job 40:11; Ezekiel 21:26 ). If men are not able to curb the arrogant, God is ( Daniel 4:37 ); and He has so constituted the world, that sinful arrogance must fall ( Matthew 23:12 the King James Version; Luke 14:11 the King James Version; Luke 18:14 the King James Version).