Psalms 113:6 — Word Study
WLCהַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥י לִרְא֑וֹת בַּשָּׁמַ֥יִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ׃
BSAHe humbles Himselfshâphêl [stoops down] to beholdrâʼâh [look down on, see, care for] the heavensshâmayim [the visible universe, sky] and the earthʼerets [land, ground, creation]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥י | who is making low | Particle, verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular common |
| לִרְא֑וֹת | to look | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| בַּשָּׁמַ֥יִם | on the heavens | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| וּבָאָֽרֶץ׃ | and on the earth | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth. |
| KJV | Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! |
| ASV | That humbleth himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth? |
| YLT | He is humbling [Himself] to look On the heavens and on the earth. |
| WEB | who stoops down to see in heaven and in the earth? |
| BBE | Looking down on the heavens, and on the earth? |
All translations agree on the essence of the verse, emphasizing God's action of looking down on creation.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by an infinitive phrase and two prepositional phrases, clearly indicating the action and its objects.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 113:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Greatness and Care of Godgenerated
Psalm 113:6 highlights the contrast between God's exalted position and His willingness to humble Himself to care for His creation. The verses surrounding it emphasize God's sovereignty and His compassionate actions towards the lowly and needy, reinforcing the theme of divine care and intervention.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 11:4 | The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men. |
| 2 | Job 4:18 | If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error, |
| 3 | Job 15:15 | If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes, |
| 4 | Isaiah 6:2 | Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. |
| 5 | Psalm 138:6 | Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥י, ha.mash.pi.Ligenerated
The word הַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥י (ha.mash.pi.Li) is a hiphil participle meaning 'who is making low' or 'who humbles.' It conveys the action of lowering oneself, indicating God's willingness to stoop down from His high place to engage with creation.
This term emphasizes God's humility and care, contrasting with human pride. The context of the psalm reflects on God's greatness, yet it is His act of humbling Himself that allows Him to see and care for both the heavens and the earth.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses stoops down for הַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥י, while the KJV and ASV use humbleth himself, maintaining the essence of God's humility.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb הַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥י governs the structure, indicating the subject's action. It is followed by an infinitive phrase לִרְא֑וֹת that describes what He does, and two prepositional phrases בַּשָּׁמַ֥יִם and וּבָאָֽרֶץ׃ that specify the objects of His gaze.
The arrangement emphasizes the action of humbling before the objects of His attention, showcasing the contrast between His majesty and His care for the lowly.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥י with τὰ, indicating a more general reference to the act of looking or observing rather than emphasizing the humility aspect.
This choice reflects a slight shift in focus from the Hebrew emphasis on God's humility to a broader observation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 113:6 tells us that God humbles Himself to look down on the heavens and the earth. This shows His care for all creation, emphasizing His greatness and His willingness to engage with the lowly.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God, despite His greatness, chooses to lower Himself to care for His creation, showing His love and compassion.
It signifies God's active involvement and concern for the world and its inhabitants, contrasting His high position with His intimate care.
This verse highlights God's humility and willingness to engage with humanity, showcasing His character as both transcendent and immanent.
We can learn the importance of humility in our own lives and how caring for others reflects God's nature.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see God's care in the world around me?
- How can I practice humility in my interactions with others?
- What does it mean for me to recognize God's greatness while also understanding His closeness?
- How can I reflect God's compassion in my daily life?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 113:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWho humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth.
Read John Gill on Psalms 113 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWho is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who (is) like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high? Who humbleth (himself) to behold (the things that are) in heaven, and in the earth?
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 113 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWho is so high, that it is a wonderful vouchsafement and condescension in him to take any notice or care of his holy and heavenly host, and much more of sinful and miserable men upon earth, which yet he is pleased to do.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 113 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 113:6 Who humbleth [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth!Ver. 6. Who humbleth himself] Lo, it is a condescension in God to vouchsafe to look out of himself upon the saints and angels, how much more upon us, since sin setteth us farther beneath a worm than a worm is beneath an angel!
Read John Trapp on Psalms 113 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) Humbleth himself.—Contrast this condescension with the indifference to human joys and sorrows which heathen deities were said to show.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 113 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4–6. The ground of praise, Jehovah’s exaltation and condescension. 4 a. Cp. Psalms 99:2. 4 b. Cp. Psalms 57:5; Psalms 57:11; Psalms 8:1. 5 a. Cp. Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 3:24. 5 b, 6. The structure of these lines—lit. Who exalteth himself to sit, Who humbleth himself to see, in heaven and in earth—makes it probable that in heaven and in earth belong to the two preceding lines respectively. Keble’s paraphrase expresses it excellently, “Exalting still His holy place, Low bending still His eye of grace, In heaven above, in earth below.” The point is Jehovah’s condescension. Though He sits enthroned on high in heaven, yet He stoops to regard the earth. He is not “careless of mankind,” as…
Read Cambridge on Psalms 113 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWho humbleth himself ... - So high that it is necessary he should stoop even to behold the things which seem most lofty to us; and who actually does stoop thus to regard the things which he has made in heaven and on earth.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 113 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible6. Who humbleth himself to behold—Better, who maketh low to see. He maketh himself low (condescends) to see the things which are in heaven and earth. Here is the distinguishing glory of God.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 113 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth.
who stoops down to see in heaven and in the earth?
He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth.
He bends down to look at the sky and the earth.
Tyndale line
Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
That humbleth himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
That humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?
Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
Who abaseth himselfe to beholde things in the heauen and in the earth!
Strictly literal
Who humbleth himself to look on the heavens and on the earth?
He is humbling [Himself] to look On the heavens and on the earth.
He is humbling [Himself] to look || On the heavens and on the earth.
Who condescendeth to view what is done in the heavens, and on the earth?
who looks down at the sky and at the earth?
From the Latin
Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams, and ye hills, like lambs of the flock?
Simplified
He has to stoop low to look down on the heavens and the earth.
Looking down on the heavens, and on the earth?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all four words matched. This indicates a consistent understanding of the text across these traditions.
הַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥י לִרְא֑וֹת בַּשָּׁמַ֥יִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ׃
4 of the 4 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 113:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שָׁפֵל (shaphel) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become low or abased. It can refer to both a physical lowering and a figurative humbling, with usages in different forms indicating actions like laying low or humbling oneself. The entries emphasize its application in contexts of humiliation and lowering one's status.
שָׁפֵל vb. be or become low, be abased
Qal
all Is: become (be brought, laid) low
to be lowly of spirit
of sound
Hiph.
usu. fig., lay low
hum. subj. set one in a lower place
as helping vb.: make low, sit down = take low seat
base
H8213 שָׁפֵל be or become low, be abased
8213 shaphel shaw-fale'
a primitive root; to depress or sink (expec. figuratively, to
humiliate, intransitive or transitive):--abase, bring (cast,
put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay, make, put)
low(-er).
שָׁפֵל (sha.phel) — to abase.
1) to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased
1a) (Qal) to be or become low
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lay or bring low, humiliate
1b2) to set in a lower place, show abasement
1b3) to make low, sit down
Art | V-Hiphil — Particle · verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular commonHTd/Vhrmsc
רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.
רָאָה 1315 vb. see
Qal 1141
see, subj.
see, c. acc. rei
see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design
see, so as to learn to know
abs. see, have (power of) vision
see = perceive
look at, see, by direct volition
of mental observation
c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
see, c. acc. rei
Niph.
appear
be seen
be visible
Pu. appar. his bones are not detected
Hithp. recipr. look at each other
Hiph.
cause one to see something, shew
cause to experience something
cause to look intently at, to behold
Hoph.
be caused to see, be shewn
be exhibited to
base
H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.
. see, c. acc. rei
. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design
. see, so as to learn to know
. abs. see, have (power of) vision
. see = perceive
. look at, see, by direct volition
. of mental observation
. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
. see, c. acc. rei
. . appear
. be seen
. be visible
. appar. his bones are not detected
. recipr. look at each other
. . . cause one to see something, shew
. cause to experience something
. cause to look intently at, to behold
. . be caused to see, be shewn
. be exhibited to
H7200b רְאוּת look
7200 ra'ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in
numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,
intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,
behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have
experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look
(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,
upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,
regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one
another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X
surely, X think, view, visions.
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.
: see/show
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out
1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish
1a6) to look at, gaze at
1a7) to provide, choose
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to appear, present oneself
1b2) to be seen
1b3) to be visible
1c) (Pual) to be seen
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to see, show
1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be caused to see, be shown
1e2) to be exhibited to
1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.
: examine/consider
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
look:
(1) The uses of the simple verb in English Versions of the Bible are nearly all good modern English. In Isa 5:2, however, "He looked that it should bring forth grapes"--"look" is used in the sense of "expect." Compare the King James Version of Sirach 20:14; Ac 28:6, "They looked when he should have swollen" (the Revised Version (British and American) "They expected that he would have swollen"). In 1 Macc 4:54, the King James Version has inserted "look" (omitted in the Revised Version (British and American)) as a simple interjection, without a corresponding word in the Greek
(2) "Look upon" means "fix one's attention on," and is often so used in English Versions of the Bible without further significance (Ec 2:11;
The Hebrew word שָׁמַיִם (*shamayim*) is a dual noun meaning 'heavens' or 'sky.' It refers to the visible heavens where celestial bodies are found, as well as the abode of God. The dual form may suggest both the arch of the sky and the higher ether. It is noted in contexts such as Elijah's ascent in a whirlwind.
[שָׁמַי] n.m. only pl. שָׁמַיִם 421 heavens, sky
visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are
phrases
as abode of God
Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind
הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations
base
H8064 שָׁמַי only pl. שָׁמַיִם heavens, sky . . visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are
. phrases
. . as abode of God
. Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind
. הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations
8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim
dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused
root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps
alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well
as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies
revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).
שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) — heaven.
1) heaven, heavens, sky
1a) visible heavens, sky
1a1) as abode of the stars
1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc
1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)
Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHRd/Ncmpa
hev'-'nz (shamayim; ouranoi): On the physical heavens see ASTRONOMY; WORLD. Above these, in popular conception, were the celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Ps 11:4; 103:19-21; Isa 66:1; Re 4:2; 5:11; compare Da 7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1Ki 8:27). Later Judaism reckoned seven heavens. The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into "the third heaven," which he evidently identifies with Paradise (2Co 12:2).
See HEAVENLY.
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
Conj | Prep | N-cs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Rd/Ncfsa
urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):
In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.
'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).
Earth
(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.
(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (
The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…
In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.
Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2