Our relationships with God and other people can be distorted by pride, which is a ubiquitous and frequently deceitful energy that can quietly seep into our hearts and thoughts. The Bible verses about pride regularly addresses arrogance as a grave spiritual problem, setting it apart from God’s value of humility. It is described as the source of sin and an obstacle to accepting God’s forgiveness, and several scriptures provide insight and direction on how to identify and get over it.
The Bible discusses pride as a major barrier to both spiritual development and social harmony, in addition to being a personal shortcoming. Proverbs cautions that arrogance and self-exaltation are sure to end in disaster, saying that pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). In Matthew 23:12, Jesus emphasizes the value of humility and service over self-importance, highlighting the perils of pride in His teachings.
Bible verses about pride helps us understand pride by pointing out its several forms, such as arrogance, self-righteousness, or an exaggerated feeling of one’s own significance. Bible verses about pride call believers to embrace humility, which is necessary for living a life that reflects God’s love and grace, and to examine oneself and repent.
We will examine how pride affects our spiritual path, the negative effects of having a haughty attitude, and the qualities of humility that Scripture encourages in this study of Bible passages regarding pride. We may learn more about overcoming pride and cultivating a heart that seeks God’s wisdom and grace above all else by thinking on these verses.
30 Powerful Bible Verses About Pride
1. Proverbs 16:18Â
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
This well-known proverb warns that pride precedes a downfall. An inflated sense of self-importance or arrogance often leads to one’s downfall, as it blinds individuals to their flaws and the need for humility.
2. Proverbs 11:2Â
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Pride leads to disgrace, as it often results in poor decisions and loss of respect. Humility, in contrast, brings wisdom, as it opens one to learning and growth.
3. Proverbs 29:23Â
“Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”
Pride can cause individuals to fall from their high positions and lose respect. Humility and a lowly spirit, however, are honored by God and others.
4. James 4:6Â
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”
James emphasizes that God resists the proud but extends grace to the humble. This verse underscores the importance of humility in receiving God’s favor and blessings.
5. 1 Peter 5:5Â
“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”
Peter calls for mutual humility among believers. The principle of God opposing the proud and favoring the humble is a guiding truth for interpersonal relationships and leadership.
6. Isaiah 2:12Â
“The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled).”
This prophecy indicates that pride and arrogance will ultimately face divine judgment. God will humble those who exalt themselves above others.
7. Psalm 10:4Â
“In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
Pride leads individuals to ignore God and live self-sufficiently. The wicked man’s pride results in a rejection of divine influence and guidance.
8. Psalm 101:5Â
“Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.”
God detests prideful hearts and haughty eyes, which often accompany destructive behavior such as slander. God values humility and honesty over prideful arrogance.
9. Obadiah 1:3Â
“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who make your home on the heights. You who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’”
Obadiah addresses the pride of the Edomites, who believed their lofty position protected them from downfall. Pride can lead to self-deception and a false sense of invulnerability.
10. Matthew 23:12Â
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus teaches that self-exaltation leads to humility, while humility leads to exaltation. This principle contrasts the values of worldly pride with divine favor.
11. Luke 14:11Â
“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Similar to Matthew 23:12, this verse emphasizes the reversal of fortunes for the proud and humble. It highlights the importance of humility in God’s kingdom.
12. Proverbs 18:12Â
“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”
Haughtiness in the heart often precedes a downfall. True honor and elevation come from humility, not self-promotion or arrogance.
13. Philippians 2:3Â
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
Paul instructs believers to avoid selfish ambition and conceit. Humility involves valuing others above oneself, countering prideful tendencies.
14. Romans 12:16Â
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
Pride and conceit disrupt harmony. Believers are encouraged to avoid pride and associate with people of all social positions, fostering unity and humility.
15. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18Â
“But, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
Paul directs boasting to be in the Lord rather than in oneself. True commendation and approval come from God, not from self-praise.
16. Jeremiah 9:23-24Â
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”
God cautions against boasting in wisdom, strength, or riches. True boasting should be in knowing God and understanding His attributes of kindness, justice, and righteousness.
17. Ezekiel 28:17Â
“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.”
Ezekiel describes how pride in one’s beauty and splendor led to corruption and downfall. Pride can distort wisdom and result in divine judgment.
18. 1 John 2:16Â
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
John identifies pride as one of the elements of worldly temptation. The pride of life, or self-centered ambition, is contrary to the values of God’s kingdom.
19. Proverbs 6:16-17
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood…”
Haughty eyes, or prideful arrogance, are listed among the things God hates. Pride is associated with other sinful behaviors and is abhorred by God.
20. Proverbs 21:4Â
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.”
Pride and arrogance are likened to a field that produces sin. A proud heart leads to sinful actions and attitudes, reflecting a lack of spiritual cultivation.
21. Job 40:12Â
“Look at all who are proud and bring them low; look at all who are proud and humble them; crush the wicked where they stand.”
God’s sovereignty extends to humbling the proud and crushing wickedness. This verse underscores that God actively addresses pride and prideful behavior.
22. Psalm 131:1Â
“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.”
The psalmist expresses humility, avoiding pride and arrogance. True humility involves focusing on what is within one’s understanding and ability rather than aspiring to greatness.
23. 2 Timothy 3:2Â
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.”
Paul describes characteristics of the last days, including pride and boastfulness. These traits are indicative of a society that has turned away from godly values.
24. 1 Corinthians 13:4Â
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
Love, as described in this passage, is the antithesis of pride. True love embodies humility and avoids boastfulness and arrogance.
25. Luke 18:14Â
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus contrasts the humble tax collector with the proud Pharisee. Humility leads to justification and divine favor, while self-exaltation results in humility.
26. Psalm 75:4-5Â
“I said to the arrogant, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns. Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’”
The psalmist rebukes the arrogant and wicked for their defiance and boastfulness. Divine authority commands respect, and prideful defiance is condemned.
27. James 3:14Â
“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.”
James warns against boasting in the presence of envy and selfish ambition. Such prideful attitudes undermine truth and authenticity.
28. Proverbs 27:2Â
“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.”
This proverb advises against self-praise and self-exaltation. Genuine honor comes from others, not from self-promotion, reflecting true humility.
29. Galatians 6:3Â
“If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”
Paul cautions against self-deception through pride. Thinking oneself superior when not is a form of self-delusion, countering humility and truth.
30. Jeremiah 50:31
“‘See, I am against you, you arrogant one,’ declares the Lord, ‘declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty. ‘For your day has come, the time for you to be punished.’”
God declares judgment against the arrogant, emphasizing that pride invites divine retribution. This verse underscores the seriousness of pride in God’s eyes.
Conclusion
The Bible verses about pride constantly forbids arrogance, portraying it as the root of many sins and a major barrier to spiritual development. Self-deception, failure, and divine hostility are the results of pride, but wisdom and God’s favor are invited by humility. The selected passages highlight the several aspects of pride, including its drawbacks and contrast with humility.
Believers can gain a deeper understanding of the perils of arrogance and the value of developing a humble and contrite heart by considering these Scriptures. Accepting humility puts one in line with God’s plan and makes it possible to experience real spiritual development and favor.
