33 Bible Verses About Pride - Spiritual Advice For Humility - Bible Lyfe (2023)

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Deep within ancient biblical texts unfolds a powerful story of the mighty Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, whose story vividly illustrates the dangers of pride. Nebuchadnezzar, the absolute monarch of his time, built a vast empire and enjoyed undisputed power. One day, as he gazed at his resplendent city of Babylon from the royal balcony, pride welled up within him. He exclaimed: "Is not this the great Babylon, which I have built by the might of my power for a royal residence and glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30).

His haughty proclamation did not go unnoticed. A voice from heaven decided that he should be stripped of his royal dignity and live like an animal in the desert until he recognized that God Most High reigns in the kingdom of men. Nebuchadnezzar, the once invincible king, began to crawl on all fours, eating grass like an ox, until he looked at the sky and regained his senses.

This compelling story of the fall of pride is a stark reminder of the biblical truth that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). In this article, we'll look at Bible verses that provide more information on pride and its consequences, offering tips for living a humble and righteous life.

world pride

Salmo 10:4

"In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek." all his thoughts are: "There is no God."

Ezekiel 28:2

Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because your heart is proud and you have said: I am a god, I sit on the throne of the gods, in the heart of the seas.

Ezekiel 28:17

“Your heart was proud of your beauty. you have corrupted your wisdom for your greatness. He throws you to the ground. I have put you before kings to be enjoyed.

(Video) Pride

33 Bible Verses About Pride - Spiritual Advice For Humility - Bible Lyfe (1)

January 1 2:16

"For everything in the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world."

Pride leads to a fall

Genesis 3:5

"For God knows that when you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

(Video) Bible Verses About Being Humble

Proverbs 11:2

"Pride comes with shame, but with the humble is wisdom."

Proverbs 16:18

"Pride goes before destruction and arrogance before the fall."

Proverbs 18:12

"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility precedes honor."

Daniela 4:30

"The king spoke and said: Is not this Babylon the great, which I have built for the house of the kingdom with the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?"

Abdíasza 1:3

"The pride of your heart has deceived you into living in the clefts of the rocks, in your lofty dwellings, and saying in your heart: 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'"

Marcos 7:20-23

And he said: “What comes out of a man makes him unclean. Because from within, from the human heart, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, disrespect, jealousy, insults, pride, foolishness . All this evil comes from within and infects man.

God's vision of pride

Proverbs 8:13

“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. I hate pride and pride and the way of evil and perverse speech.'

Proverbs 16:5

"Everyone who is proud of heart is an abomination to the Lord. Rest assured, he will not go unpunished."

Santiago 4:6

"But it's more fun. That is why he says: "God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble."

1 Pedro 5:5

“In the same way you also, the younger ones, be subject to the older ones. All clothe each other with humility, because God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble ”.

pride warnings

Proverbs 26:12

“Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

33 Bible Verses About Pride - Spiritual Advice For Humility - Bible Lyfe (2)

Jeremiah 9:23

"Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise boast of his wisdom, nor the mighty boast of his strength, nor the rich boast of his riches."

Jeremiah 13:15

'Listen and lend your ear. Be not proud, for the Lord has said.'

Zephaniah 3:1

“On that day you will not be ashamed of the deeds with which you rebelled against me. for then I will remove from among you those who pride themselves on delicious things, and you will no longer pride yourself on my holy mountain.

Galatians 6:3

"Because if you think you are something when you are nothing, you are fooling yourself."

1 Corinthians 1:19

"For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will frustrate the understanding of the prudent."

1 Corinthians 3:18

"Let no one be deceived. If any of you thinks he is wise in this century, let him become a fool to become wise."

1 Corinthians 13:4

"Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant."

1 Timothy 6:17

"To the rich of this century, give them not to be puffed up, nor to put their hope in uncertain riches, but in God, who gives us all things in abundance for us to enjoy."

Humility as an antidote to pride

Proverbs 11:2

"Pride comes with shame, but with the humble is wisdom."

Proverbs 22:4

"The wages of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life."

Proverbs 29:23

"Pride brings man down, but the humble in spirit will be glorified."

Mateo 23:12

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Romans 12:3

"Because by the grace that has been given to me, I tell each one of you not to consider yourself higher than you should, but to think soberly, according to the measure of faith that God has indicated."

(Video) Advanced Discipleship: Humility | Dr. Gene Kim

33 Bible Verses About Pride - Spiritual Advice For Humility - Bible Lyfe (3)

(Video) 4 BIBLE VERSES that CHANGED My Whole LIFE | 4 POWERFUL VERSES

Romans 12:16

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not exalt yourselves, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own opinion."

2 Corinthians 10:17

"Whoever boasts, glory in the Lord."

Filipinos 2:3

"Do not do anything out of selfish ambition or vanity, but humbly consider others more important than yourselves."

Santiago 4:10

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you."

Application

The theme of pride is woven into the Bible's tapestry, providing a vivid picture of its destructive power. From the fall of King Nebuchadnezzar to God's direct warnings against arrogance, the message is clear: pride precedes destruction and humility paves the way for wisdom and honor.

personal prayer

Heavenly Father, I stand before you today, acknowledging that I have allowed pride to dwell in my heart. I confess that there were times when I exalted myself, trusted in my own wisdom, and trusted in my own strength. From time to time I would seek recognition and glory, forgetting that everything good comes from you.

Father, I humbly ask your forgiveness for these moments of pride. I give you my heart, asking you to remove all arrogance, self-sufficiency and vanity from me. Please replace them with a spirit of humility that acknowledges my complete dependence on You.

God, grant me the grace to always recognize that all I have and am is the result of your abundant love and grace. May I use the talents and resources you have blessed me with to glorify your name and serve others, not to glorify myself.

Teach me, Lord, to be humble in success, merciful in failure, and always grateful for your unfailing love and mercy. May I strive to be more like Jesus, who, being God, humbly served those around him and ultimately gave his life for us.

In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

nathan kitchen

(Video) The Humble Love of Christ (John 13:1–17)

FAQs

What does the Bible Jesus God say about pride and humility? ›

Pride is Serious

That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”” 1 Peter 5:5 “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

What are the three types of pride? ›

Three types of pride, dignity, superiority and arrogance, are distinguished, their mental ingredients are singled out, and two experimental studies are presented showing that they are conveyed by different combinations of smile, eyebrow and eyelid positions, and head posture.

How many Bible verses about pride? ›

10 Key Bible Verses on Pride
  • James 4:6. But he gives more grace. ...
  • Psalm 75:4. I say to the boastful, 'Do not boast,' ...
  • Jeremiah 9:23–24. ...
  • 1 John 2:16. ...
  • 2 Corinthians 10:12. ...
  • Deuteronomy 8:2–3. ...
  • Mark 7:20–23. ...
  • Romans 11:18–20.
May 8, 2020

What is the difference between pride and humility? ›

The key difference between pride and humility is their meaning; pride can refer to having an excessively high view of one's importance whereas humility refers to having a modest or low view of one's importance. A proud person always considers himself superior to others whereas a humble person doesn't.

What is the spiritual root of pride? ›

Pride is at the root of fear and anxiety, when we refuse to humbly rest in God's sovereign care. Fear simultaneously reveals our lack of trust and our poisonous self-reliance. We fear because we don't have faith in the Lord, we are enormously preoccupied with ourselves, and we don't have control.

What is the balance of pride and humility? ›

For us to be healthy, pride must be balanced with humility — the recognition that our abilities are gifts, and that other people are as gifted or more gifted than we are. Other people can also be more accomplished than we are, and our own accomplishments are usually not ours alone.

What are the 2 kinds of pride? ›

Authentic pride has been characterized by words such as “accomplished” and “confident,” whereas hubristic pride has been characterized by words such as “arrogant” and “conceited.”

What are the 4 types of pride? ›

I put them into 4 groups; Pride of Spirituality, Pride of Knowledge, Pride of Power and Pride of Appearance.

What are the two types of pride in the Bible? ›

Types of Pride in the Bible

“In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever” (Psalm 44:11). There are two basic types of pride in the Bible, legitimate and sinful.

How to overcome pride biblically? ›

Four ways to react to your pride:
  1. Give people permission to point out pride in your life. Pride deceives the mind. ...
  2. Focus more on God than you do on yourself. When pride is pointed out, our first reaction can be introspection. ...
  3. Pray. Prayer is a posture of humility towards God. ...
  4. Remember.
May 25, 2017

What does Proverbs 11 verse 2 mean? ›

An arrogant, conceited, or haughty person will make costly mistakes, but a humble and modest man will clearly see right and wrong, truth and error, wisdom and folly. Your greatness depends on getting rid of all pride. God inspired King Solomon to be your personal counselor.

What is the biblical punishment for pride? ›

The punishment for the sin of pride is to be broken on the wheel. Since Iain knew this when he kidnapped Sarah, he attempted to make her death look like the Executioner's work by throwing her onto a tire pile and breaking her bones with a tire iron.

Is humility a lack of pride? ›

Humility is the noun form of humble, and it means the state or quality of being humble, or the absence of pride or self-assertiveness. Humble means not being proud and not being self- assertive. Being proud or showing unwarranted pride means that persons have exaggerated ideas of themselves and their opinions.

Can pride and humility coexist? ›

Among the virtues of humility we have lack of arrogance, lack of vanity, lack of snobbery, and so on. The virtues of pride and humility, far from excluding one another, actually stand in more positive relations to one another, the virtues of humility supporting or enhancing the virtues of pride, and vice-versa.

What does pride do to a person? ›

Pride is demeaning other people or feeling an aversion to others. Instead of nurturing self-growth, we compete and want to defeat others. Excessive pride prevents the growth of other virtues. It becomes too uncomfortable to recognize our shortcoming or mistakes.

What is pride in God? ›

Biblical Definition Of Pride

Pride is the root of many of the problems that we face. It is, “self-respect or improper and excessive self-esteem known as conceit or arrogance (gotquestions.org).” Pride can be defined as elevating one`s opinions and thoughts above God`s authoritative Word.

What does pride do to the soul? ›

Pride or arrogance is something that provokes God to wrath and indignation; it irritates him, agitates him, and displeases him beyond words. We also see in Scripture that pride is a precursor to all other forms of sin.

What is spiritual pride in Christians? ›

Spiritual Pride is Sin. Sin exploits our vulnerabilities, and this is made all the easier when our guard is down. As Christians, we are in particular danger when we begin to think that our spiritual maturity makes us invincible to specific temptations and sin.

Which parable teaches pride and humility? ›

Luke 18:9-14 recounts the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in which Jesus called for sincerity and humility before God.

What are the three levels of humility? ›

He discussed Humility as three types: intellectual, moral and personal.

What are the three points of humility? ›

Three Elements of True Humility
  • True Humility Recognizes Its Gifts. ...
  • True Humility Recognizes the Source of Its Gifts. ...
  • True Humility Uses Its Gifts to Draw Attention to the Giver of the Gift.

What type of person is pride? ›

Someone who's prideful is arrogant and disdainful. Prideful people don't usually have many friends, since they think they're superior to everyone else.

What is Proverbs 16 18? ›

Proverbs 16:18 in Other Translations

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. 18 First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. 18 Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

Is pride a feeling or an emotion? ›

Pride is seen as both a self-conscious emotion as well as a social emotion.

What are the powers for pride? ›

Users can use pride as a power source to extend their life span or as a weapon. They can transcend to a higher existence if user is proud of what they are now.

What are the principles of pride? ›

Originally adopted by UCSF Medical Center 16 years ago, these set of values are organized under the acronym PRIDE, which stands for Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence. These are important core values for everyone who works, learns, teaches and discovers at UCSF.

What is an example of humility in the Bible? ›

The King of Heaven and Earth did not spend His time on Earth as a rich or wealthy man, but as a humble servant, serving as a perfect example of humility. St. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:6-11 that Jesus' life is symbolic of humility from the very beginning to the very end.

What are examples of pride? ›

Pride can also refer to the standards you have for yourself — your dignity. For example, you might have too much pride to ask for help when you need it. Pride also acts as a verb meaning "be proud of." You might pride yourself on being punctual, or pride yourself on always having a daring, trendsetting haircut.

What does God say about humility? ›

The Bible defines humility as “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 22:4). Its etymological root is in the Latin word "humus" meaning "of the earth." To be humble is to be face down in the dirt, submitting to the authority of another, without personal pride. This is the Christian's proper position before the Lord.

How do you remove pride from your heart? ›

Humble Yourself

Next the scripture says that while God resists the proud, He giveth grace to the HUMBLE! Those who bring themselves down God gives grace and favor to, and they can be used mightily in His service. Though God can bring you down when you're proud, the best way to deal with pride is to humble yourself!

How do I humble myself? ›

Developing Humility
  1. Spend time listening to others. ...
  2. Practice mindfulness, and focus on the present. ...
  3. Be grateful for what you have. ...
  4. Ask for help when you need it. ...
  5. Seek feedback from others on a regular basis. ...
  6. Review your actions against the language of pride.

How to be free from pride? ›

6 Ways to Overcome Your Pride
  1. Be Aware. While pride shows you sufficiently value yourself and your accomplishments and it helps you work toward what you deserve, it's dangerous in large quantities. ...
  2. Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously. ...
  3. Ask the Right Questions. ...
  4. Be Open-Minded. ...
  5. Listen, Don't Talk. ...
  6. Put Your Business First.
Dec 6, 2017

What is Galatians 6 9? ›

Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

What is the meaning of Proverbs 16 5? ›

Haughty eyes, which is to say, prideful, arrogant eyes! “Haughty” eyes does not refer to how a person's eyes look to others but how a person himself sees or views himself and everyone else. He views them as less than himself, as essentially worthless. He is arrogant and puffed up with his own sense of value.

What is Proverbs 11 v 14? ›

Proverbs 11:14 American Standard Version (ASV)

Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Can God take away my pride? ›

God's grace causes us to grow in humility as God strips away our pride. God's grace causes us to grow in humility as God strips away our pride. We know that Christ is sovereign over the whole world and everything that happens in it (Psalm 135:6). He is never helpless, never frustrated, never at a loss.

What is the danger of pride against God? ›

Pride causes us to assess our lives by the standard of our accomplishments rather than our God given identity. Pride (or as Holiday puts it, “ego”) severs us from God's design to live in relationship with others. We are pushed into isolation by our self-confidence believing the lie that life is better alone.

Does a humble person possess pride? ›

A humble man possesses no pride.

A man who has qualities of patience, fear, and humility is called a humble man.

Why humility is important to God? ›

God gives grace to the humble.

Humility is a grace that attracts more grace. Pride closes the door to spiritual growth, but humility opens the door of your life to more of God's grace. To the humble, God gives patience, and peace, and gentleness. The fruit of the Spirit grows in the soil of humility.

What is the spirit of humility? ›

Humility is an attitude of spiritual modesty that comes from understanding our place in the larger order of things. It entails not taking our desires, successes, or failings too seriously.

What is humility form of pride? ›

Pride is a strange thing, pride in small things and big things; in our possessions, in our achievements, in our virtues, pride of race, name and family; in capacity, in looks, in knowledge.

Where pride goes with shame while humility goes with? ›

Proverbs 11:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Why does pride destroy relationships? ›

While not all pride is negative, the type of pride that may come with an attitude of arrogance and self-serving deeds can be a destructive force in a relationship. Being prideful doesn't make you a bad person. It's often a bandage for deeper feelings of low self-worth and insecurity.

What does a prideful person act like? ›

An arrogant person believes himself or herself to be superior to others, whether or not they have a logical reason to think so. They consider themselves more valuable, their contributions more important, and have excessive expectations of their abilities.

How does pride hold you back? ›

Unhealthy pride can hold you back in recovery because it is just another expression of self-will run riot. When you are prideful because of an inflated sense of self, you are not able to practice humility, honesty, or acceptance, which are necessary building blocks in recovery.

What do you call someone who has too much pride? ›

egotistic. egotistical. haughty. high-and-mighty. high-handed.

What does Jesus tell us about humility? ›

Jesus tells His followers that “Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.

What does Jesus say about humility? ›

Matthew 23:8-12

The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Where in the Bible does Jesus show humility? ›

Philippians 2:5-11 tells us about the humility of Jesus. Jesus was GOD and yet, out of His great love for us, He chose to come to earth as a human. Jesus even chose to obey God the Father to the point of dying an embarrassing and painful death on the cross for our sins.

How did Jesus show humility in the Bible? ›

Jesus' humility on earth comes in the form of not taking advantage of the pleasures and luxuries He had in heaven as the Son of Man. Instead, He took it upon Himself to be amongst the sinners and the poverty that His people had to endure. He even suffered an agonizing death to save us from our sins.

What are 5 ways to be humble? ›

To try to cultivate humility, you may want to try one or more of these activities:
  • Spend time listening to others. ...
  • Practice mindfulness, and focus on the present. ...
  • Be grateful for what you have. ...
  • Ask for help when you need it. ...
  • Seek feedback from others on a regular basis. ...
  • Review your actions against the language of pride.

What is the best example of humility in the Bible? ›

The greatest example of humility in Scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are instructed to follow His example. Like Jesus, we are to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than [ourselves]” (Phil. 2:3).

What does the Bible verse say about humility? ›

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6.

What does Proverbs say about humility? ›

Solomon's wisdom: “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18, HCSB) should convince leaders to walk in humility, but far too often, it does not. Humility must be consciously practiced; it doesn't come to us naturally.

What are some quotes about humility in the Bible? ›

10 Bible Verses about Humility
  • If My people will humble themselves (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)
  • With humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2)
  • Humility is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 22:4)
  • Those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:7-11)
  • Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
Jun 14, 2021

Which Psalm talks about humility? ›

And Psalm 25:9 is saying that he teaches the humble his way. So the key to righteousness and the key to experiencing the ways of God, the abundant life that God has designed for us, his ways in our lives, is humility. So we pray, Oh, God, we ask for humility in each of our lives. God, we pray for humility.

What is humility that God sees? ›

Humility-I don't think too much or too little of myself, but see myself as God sees me. “…in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” The first part of the second chapter in Philippians definitely packs a punch.

How do you show humility to God? ›

Qualities of Humility

We overcome pride and “recognize gratefully our dependence on the Lord.” 1 We repent when we need to repent. We understand that we need Heavenly Father's support and that our talents and our gifts come from Him. The defining characteristic of humility is the submission of our will to God's will.

How do you humble yourself before God? ›

  1. Thank God often and always. Thankfulness stops pride growing. ...
  2. Confess your sins regularly. Confession is a reality check as it reminds us who we are. ...
  3. Be ready to accept humiliations. ...
  4. Don't worry about status. ...
  5. Have a sense of humour. ...
  6. Listen to others. ...
  7. Ask questions. ...
  8. Consider others before yourself.
Apr 5, 2018

How to be humble like Jesus? ›

To humble oneself is to acknowledge God as Lord and to obey as servant. In order to do so, then, the Son had to take “the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). “We, as creatures, must obey our Creator, and he, as our brother, did the same.”

Videos

1. Catching Sight of the Messiah
(Pure Life Ministries)
2. What Manner of Man Are You? | Pastor Osagie Erhabor
(Love Foundation Christian Center)
3. Pro Tips for Pride and Humility - Online Service 7/31
(CBC Marietta)
4. The Value of Humility
(FairhavenMedia)
5. God's advice for a good life.
(Bible Truth & Prophecy - Discover the Bible!!)
6. Southside Rabbi: Season 5 Episode 21: Dangerous Joy: Happiness For Holiness
(Southside Rabbi)

References

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