Abase

Abase - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

ABA'SE, v.t. [Fr abaisser, from bas, low, or the bottom; W. bais; Latin and Gr. basis; Eng. base; It. Abbassare; Sp. bare, low. See Abash.]

1. The literal sense of abase is to lower or depress, to throw or cast down, as used by Bacon, ""to abase the eye."" But the word is seldom used in reference to material things.

2. To cast down; to reduce low; to depress; to humble; to degrade; applied to the passions, rank, office, and condition in life.

Those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Dan 4.

Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, Mat 23. Job 40. 2 Cor 11.

a-bas': The English rendition of shaphel (Job 40:11; Eze 21:26), and of its derivative shephal (Da 4:37) = "bring down," "debase," "humble"; of `anah (Isa 31:4) = "abase self," "afflict," "chasten self," "deal harshly with," etc.; and of tapeinoo = "to depress"; figure "to humiliate" (in condition or heart): "abase," "bring low," "humble self" (Php 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 (Isa 31:4), and good men are exhorted to employ their powers to bring him low (Job 40:11; Eze 21:26). If men are not able to curb the arrogant, God is (Da 4:37); and He has so constituted the world, that sinful arrogance must fall (Mt 23:12 the King James Version; Lu 14:11 the King James Version; Lu 18:14 the King James Version).

Frank E. Hirsch