Pride is something that we all struggle with to some degree and to most people every day, whether we realize it or not. It can manifest itself in a variety of ways, from thinking too highly of ourselves; to boasting about our accomplishments, to being unwilling to listen to others.
As Christians, we are called to be humble and to put others
before ourselves, just as Jesus did when he washed his disciples' feet.
However, this is easier said than done. Our natural inclination is often to put
ourselves first and seek recognition for our achievements.
In the Bible, there are numerous verses that address the issue of pride and its dangers. These verses serve as warnings to us, reminding us to be mindful of our attitudes and actions.
Through these bible verses, we can gain
insight into the consequences of pride and the importance of cultivating
humility in our lives.
So, let us take a look into some of these verses and reflect
on how they apply to our lives. May we be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance
and conviction as we seek to overcome pride and grow in Christlikeness.
40 Important Bible Verses About Pride
1. Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
This verse is telling you that when you are prideful and have
a haughty spirit, you are setting yourself up for a fall or destruction.
Therefore, it is important to be humble and avoid prideful attitudes and
behaviors.
2. James 4:6 - "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
God opposes those who are proud, but He gives grace to those
who are humble. So, if you want to receive God's grace, you should strive to be
humble and avoid prideful thoughts and actions.
3. Proverbs 11:2 - "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
This verse is saying that when you are prideful, you will
ultimately experience disgrace or shame. On the other hand, wisdom comes from
humility, so you should strive to be humble and seek wisdom.
4. Proverbs 8:13 - "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
God hates pride and arrogance, as well as other forms of evil
behavior and speech. Therefore, if you fear the Lord, you should avoid these
things and strive to be humble.
Discover: 9 Subtle Signs Of A Prideful Christian and How to Overcome them.
5. 1 John 2:16 - "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world."
This verse is saying that the desires of the flesh, the
desires of the eyes, and the pride of life are not from God, but are from the
world. Therefore, you should be cautious of these things and strive to align
your desires and attitudes with God's will.
6. Proverbs 29:23 - "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor."
If you are prideful, you will eventually be brought low, but
if you are humble and lowly in spirit, you will ultimately be honored.
Therefore, it is important to cultivate a humble and meek spirit, rather than a
prideful one.
7. Luke 18:14 - "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This verse is saying that the one who humbles himself will
ultimately be exalted, while those who exalt themselves will be humbled.
Therefore, it is important to cultivate a humble and meek spirit, rather than a
prideful one.
Read Also: 25 Important Stories about Pride in the Bible and the lessons therein
Bible verses on Pride
8. Proverbs 13:10 - "By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom."
This verse is saying that being insolent, or having a
prideful attitude, only leads to strife and conflict. Instead, those who seek
advice and are willing to listen to others demonstrate wisdom.
9. Proverbs 21:4 - "Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin."
This verse is saying that having haughty eyes, or a proud
heart, is a sin and is associated with wickedness. Therefore, it is important
to guard against pride and cultivate a humble heart.
10. Psalm 10:4 - "In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
This verse is saying that those who are prideful may not seek
God and may think that they do not need Him. Therefore, it is important to
avoid prideful attitudes and instead seek God with humility.
11. Proverbs 18:12 - "Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor."
This verse is saying that pride comes before destruction, but
humility comes before honor. Therefore, it is important to cultivate humility
in order to receive honor and blessings from God.
12. Proverbs 27:2 - "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips."
This verse is saying that it is better to let others praise
you, rather than praising yourself. Prideful self-promotion can be unattractive
and may turn others away from you.
13. Isaiah 2:11 - "The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day."
This verse is saying that the pride of humans will be brought
low and humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in the end. Therefore, it
is important to humble ourselves before God and avoid prideful attitudes.
14. Proverbs 14:3 - "By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them."
This verse is saying that the words of a fool, which may come
from a place of pride and arrogance, can lead to negative consequences.
Therefore, it is important to be wise and avoid prideful speech.
15. Proverbs 25:6-7 - "Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble."
This verse is saying that it is better to be humble and not
put yourself forward in the presence of the king or the great. Being humble may
lead to others elevating you, rather than being put down due to pride.
Discover: 15 Bible verses that will help your faith in hard times
Pride Verses in the Bible
16. James
4:6 - "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”"
This verse teaches us that God opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble. It reminds us that pride can hinder our relationship with
God and that we must cultivate humility in order to receive His grace.
17. Luke 14:11 - "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This verse teaches us that those who exalt themselves will
eventually be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted. It
reminds us that pride can lead to downfall and that we must humble ourselves
before God and others.
18. Proverbs 16:5 - "Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished."
This verse teaches us that those who are arrogant in heart
are an abomination to the Lord and will not go unpunished. It reminds us that
pride is a sin and that we must repent of it and turn to God in humility.
19. Proverbs 8:13 - "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."
This verse teaches us that the fear of the Lord is hatred of
evil and that God hates pride and arrogance. It reminds us that we must fear
God and avoid prideful attitudes and actions, which are contrary to His
character.
20. Philippians 2:3 - "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."
This verse teaches us to avoid doing anything out of rivalry
or conceit and to instead count others as more significant than ourselves. It
reminds us that humility is a key aspect of Christian character and that we
must seek to serve and honor others above ourselves.
21. James 1:9-10 - "Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away."
This passage reminds us that our earthly possessions and
status are fleeting, and that true exaltation comes from the Lord. It
encourages us to be humble and to boast in our spiritual blessings rather than
worldly achievements.
22. Romans 12:16 - "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight."
This verse reminds us to live in harmony with others, to
avoid haughtiness, and to never be wise in our own sight. It encourages us to
be humble and to value others as equals, regardless of their status or
position.
23. 1 Peter 5:5-6 - "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,"
This passage encourages us to clothe ourselves with humility
and to submit to God's will. It reminds us that God opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble, and that we must humble ourselves before Him and others.
24. Luke 18:9-14 - "He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’"
This parable reminds us of the dangers of pride and the
importance of humility. It contrasts the self-righteous attitude of the
Pharisee with the humble repentance of the tax collector, showing us that true
righteousness comes from God, not from our own efforts.
Check Out: What led to the fall of Lucifer from Heaven: Does Pride has anything to do with it?
Bible Scriptures about Pride
25. Colossians 2:18 - "Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,"
This verse warns against false humility, which can also be a
form of pride. It reminds us that our humility must be genuine and grounded in
God's truth, rather than in human traditions or visions.
26. Isaiah 2:12 - "For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;"
This verse reminds us that the Lord opposes the proud and
lofty, and that they will be brought low on the day of judgment. It encourages
us to cultivate humility and to avoid prideful attitudes and actions.
27. Jeremiah 13:15-17 - "Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness. But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock has been taken captive."
This passage warns against pride and encourages us to give
glory to the Lord before it's too late. It shows us that pride can lead to
judgment and destruction, and that we must repent and turn to God in humility.
28. Ezekiel 28:17 - "Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you."
This verse describes the downfall of the king of Tyre, who
became proud because of his beauty and splendor. It reminds us that pride can
corrupt our wisdom and lead to our downfall, and that we must guard against it
and seek to cultivate humility.
29. Job 41:34 - "He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.”
This verse describes God as king over all the sons of pride, reminding us that even the most powerful and prideful beings are subject to His authority. It encourages us to submit to God's sovereignty and to cultivate humility in our own lives.
30. Daniel 4:37 - "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."
This verse describes the repentance of King Nebuchadnezzar,
who was humbled by God after his pride caused him to be driven from his
kingdom. It reminds us that God is able to humble those who walk in pride, and
that we must seek to cultivate humility in our own lives.
31. Psalm 10:4 - "In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
This verse describes the wickedness of pride, which can lead
us to reject God and rely on our own strength and wisdom. It reminds us that we
must seek to humble ourselves before God and acknowledge His sovereignty over
our lives.
Read Also: The blowfish Syndrome is a symbolic representation of pride in the life of a believer. What is blowfish syndrome and how does it affect us as Christians?
Biblical Verses about Pride
32. Proverbs 11:2 - "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
This verse emphasizes the consequences of pride, which can
lead to disgrace and destruction. It encourages us to cultivate humility, which
leads to wisdom and a closer relationship with God.
33. Isaiah 13:11 - "I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless."
This verse describes God's judgment against the arrogant and
prideful, who rely on their own strength and oppress others. It reminds us that
God opposes the proud and that we must seek to cultivate humility and justice.
34. Micah 6:8 - "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
This verse summarizes the requirements of the Lord, which
include justice, kindness, and humility. It encourages us to seek to cultivate
these qualities in our own lives and to walk in obedience to God.
35. Zephaniah
2:10 - "This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they
taunted and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts."
This verse describes the consequences of prideful taunting
and boasting against the people of the Lord. It reminds us that our words and
actions have consequences, and that we must seek to cultivate humility and
kindness towards others.
36. 2 Chronicles 32:25 - "But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem."
This verse describes how King Hezekiah's pride led to his
downfall and brought judgment upon his kingdom. It reminds us that pride can
blind us to our blessings and lead us to forget God's goodness, and that we
must seek to cultivate gratitude and humility.
37. Ezra 8:22 - "For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.”"
This verse describes the humility of Ezra, who chose not to
rely on his own strength but instead trusted in God's protection. It reminds us
that humility involves acknowledging our dependence on God and seeking to obey
His will.
38. Psalm 31:23 - "Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride."
This verse encourages us to love the Lord and trust in His
faithfulness, while warning against the dangers of pride. It reminds us that pride
can lead to God's judgment and that we must seek to cultivate humility and
obedience.
39. Ezekiel 16:49 - "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy."
This verse describes how the pride of Sodom and her daughters
led to their destruction, as they neglected to care for the poor and needy. It
reminds us that pride can lead to selfishness and neglect of others; and that
we must seek to cultivate compassion and generosity.
40. Malachi 4:1 - "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."
This verse describes the judgment that will come upon the arrogant evildoers, who reject God's ways and follow their own desires. It reminds us that pride can lead to destruction and that we must seek to humble ourselves before God and seek His righteousness.
Discover: What Led to the fall of man from the Garden? Disobedience!, what led to the disobedience? check out these two unnoticed acts that led to the fall of man.
Conclusion
As you have seen from these verses about pride in the Bible, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Pride can blind us to our blessings, lead us to reject God, and harm others through arrogance and selfishness.
But when we cultivate humility, we can receive wisdom, justice, and compassion from God. We can acknowledge our dependence on Him and trust in His faithfulness.
So let us seek to humble ourselves before the Lord, repent of any pride in our hearts, and ask Him to give us the grace to follow His ways.
May we be like Christ, who humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of
death on a cross, so that we might be saved and reconciled to God.