low
sha.phal describes what is low in position or standing, including depressed surfaces, humble people, and subdued kingdoms.
The attested uses chiefly describe persons of humble or lowered standing; they also describe a visibly depressed surface and kingdoms kept from self-exaltation. The same low-position contrast appears when a vine remains beneath, when a sound is low, and when what is tall is brought low.
Senses in use
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Persons of humble or lowered standing · dominant
In Isaiah 57:15 the construct forms occur with the contrite in spirit and with those whose spirit and heart are revived; in Job 5:11 the lowly are set on high. Proverbs 29:23 contrasts human pride, which abases, with a lowly spirit that obtains glory, while Malachi 2:9 places those made despised and lowly before the people.
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Depressed position or reduced level · common
In Leviticus 13:20 and Leviticus 13:21, the adjective describes an appearance measured against the skin; the APB renders the comparison as "lower than the skin." Leviticus 14:37 similarly compares the appearance of wall depressions with the wall, and Ezekiel 17:6 describes a spreading vine whose roots remained beneath.
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A kingdom kept in a subordinate state · occasional
Ezekiel 17:14 describes a kingdom remaining unable to exalt itself, and Ezekiel 29:14 calls Egypt a lowly kingdom after its return. Ezekiel 29:15 intensifies the comparison by saying it will not exalt itself above the nations or rule over them.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses the APB uses "lowly," "lower than," "low," and "lowest," reflecting contexts of persons, visible appearance, sound, and political standing. Because the APB is a whole-verse translation, these renderings confirm the clauses' overall contrasts without fixing a separate English equivalent for every token.