how to say “the plain” in Hebrew
הַשְּׁפֵלָה
The plain of Israel – the part that is lower than the mountains, higher than the sea, and is characterized primarily by soft rocks strewn about – is called הַשְּׁפֵלָה. The word comes from the root שׁ.פ.ל (sh.p.l) meaning low.
. The word comes from the root שׁ.פ.ל (sh.p.l) meaning low. שׁ.פ.ל is also the root of the word שָׁפֵל meaning low or depreciated, physically but also morally or emotionally. It’s also the root of the active-causative verb לְהַשְׁפִּיל– to humiliate – or to cause someone to feel low.
meaning low or depreciated, physically but also morally or emotionally. It’s also the root of the active-causative verb לְהַשְׁפִּיל– to humiliate – or to cause someone to feel low.The Sages saw lowness of spirit, perhaps in the context of a healthy self esteem, as a virtue:
עַיִן טוֹבָה, וְרוּחַ נְמוּכָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ שְׁפָלָה – מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ
(People with) a good eye (a positive outlook on others), and a low spirit, and a depreciated self – (they are) among the students of Abraham the Patriarch.
(Ethics of the Fathers, 5:19)
