The term "abased" refers to being brought low, humbled, or reduced in rank, status, or condition. In the biblical context, it often describes the humbling of individuals or nations by God as a result of pride or disobedience. The concept of being abased is frequently juxtaposed with being exalted, highlighting the biblical principle that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Biblical References:

1. Philippians 4:12 · The Apostle Paul speaks of his personal experience with being abased and abounding: "I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need." Here, Paul emphasizes his ability to remain content regardless of his circumstances, whether he is in a state of abundance or abasement.

2. Luke 14:11 · Jesus teaches about humility and the reversal of fortunes: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." This verse underscores the divine principle that self-exaltation leads to being abased, while humility leads to exaltation.

3. Job 40:11-12 · In God's response to Job, He challenges human pride: "Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low. Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand." This passage illustrates God's power to abase the proud and serves as a reminder of His sovereignty over human affairs.

4. Isaiah 2:11-12 · The prophet Isaiah speaks of the day of the Lord's judgment: "The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be abased; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled." This prophecy foretells a time when God will abase the proud and exalt Himself alone.

5. Daniel 4:37 · King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God's ability to abase those who walk in pride: "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride." After experiencing a period of abasement himself, Nebuchadnezzar recognizes God's authority to humble the proud.

Theological Significance:

The theme of being abased is significant in biblical theology as it reflects the moral order established by God. It serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance, encouraging believers to adopt a posture of humility. The concept is also a reminder of God's justice and His ultimate control over human destinies. Throughout Scripture, the abasement of the proud and the exaltation of the humble are recurring motifs that illustrate the divine reversal of human expectations and the establishment of God's kingdom values.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Abase.

2. (a.) Lowered; humbled.

3. (a.) Borne lower than usual, as a fess; also, having the ends of the wings turned downward towards the point of the shield.

8213. shaphel -- to be or become low, to be abased
... shaphel. 8214 . to be or become low, to be abased. Transliteration: shaphel Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-fale') Short Definition: abased. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/8213.htm - 6k

8217. shaphal -- low
... Word Origin from shaphel Definition low NASB Word Usage abased (1), deeper (2),
humble (3), low (3), lower (2), lowest (1), lowly (5), subjection (1), which is ...
/hebrew/8217.htm - 6k

The Fourth Rule of Prayer Is, that Notwithstanding of Our Being ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 11 The fourth rule of prayer is, that
notwithstanding of our being thus abased and truly? The fourth ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 11 the fourth rule.htm

Contentment
... Read the 12th verse, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound;
everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/contentment.htm

What virtues Ought to Exist in Him whom we Consult. ...
... "I know," he says, "how to be abased." [506] An untaught humility has no claim to
praise, but only that which possesses modesty and a knowledge of self. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvii what virtues ought.htm

On the Feast of a Holy Bishop
... God would have obtained that which He desired; for all the things by which God corrects
men inwardly take place that man may be humbled and abased in himself. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xxxii on the feast.htm

Resch.
... we cannot understand any law of God so suitably, as that whereby it is immutably
determined that "every one that exalteth himself, shall be abased; and every ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/resch.htm

The Beatific vision
... him as he was. Consider, first of all, that we shall not see him abased
in his incarnation, but exalted in his glory. We are not ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the beatific vision.htm

The Pharisee and Publican
... Luke 18:14 " "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than
the other: For every one that exalteth himself, shall be abased; and he that ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the pharisee and publican.htm

Psalm XCIV.
... He seeth Christ abased in the spirit, abased he seeth Him: fearing no man, in speech
sparing no man, and he saith, "He hath dealt confidently." He seeth how ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xciv.htm

Prayer and Humility
... "I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for
every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/ii prayer and humility.htm

Christ's Humiliation in his Incarnation
... (3.) If Jesus Christ was so abased for us ... Oh, was Christ content to be humbled and
abased for us, to take our flesh, and to take it when it was in disgrace? ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/6 christs humiliation in his.htm

Abased (17 Occurrences)
...Abased (17 Occurrences). Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be
abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (KJV WEY WBS). ...
/a/abased.htm - 11k

Abases (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Abases (3 Occurrences). Matthew 23:12 and one who exalts
himself shall be abased, while one who abases himself shall be exalted. (WEY) ...
/a/abases.htm - 7k

Exalteth (15 Occurrences)
... Exalteth (15 Occurrences). Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased;
and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/e/exalteth.htm - 10k

Abase (7 Occurrences)

/a/abase.htm - 10k

Humbleth (14 Occurrences)
... Humbleth (14 Occurrences). Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased;
and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/h/humbleth.htm - 10k

Fee (5 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 11:7 Is it a sin that I abased myself in order for you to be exalted,
in that I proclaimed God's Good News to you without fee or reward? (WEY). ...
/f/fee.htm - 8k

Privation (3 Occurrences)
... for (for my part) (WEY DBY). Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased
and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things ...
/p/privation.htm - 7k

Instructed (80 Occurrences)
... Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where
and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both ...
/i/instructed.htm - 29k

Proclaimed (114 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 2 Corinthians 11:7 Is it a sin that I abased myself in order for you to be
exalted, in that I proclaimed God's Good News to you without fee or reward? ...
/p/proclaimed.htm - 37k

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