10 Important Bible Verses About Pride (2023)

This article is part ofImportant Bible VersesSerie.

All comment sections adapted from ESV Study Bible.

1. Santiago 4:6

But he is more fun. That is why it is said: "God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble." see more information

God's grace comes to those who are humble before him; cf. Proverbs 3:34 (cf. also James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:5). "God resists" means that He resists and sends judgment, because the proud have chosen the praise and ways of the world and act as enemies of God (James 4:4).

2. Salmo 75:4

I say to the arrogant: "Don't boast"
and to the wicked: “Lift not up your horn; see more information

"Raise your horn." The horn is a symbol of power (cf. 1 Kings 22:11; Zechariah 1:18-21), so to lift up (or “exalt”) means to make a public declaration of power. God warns the wicked not to raise the horn and promises that He will raise the horn of the believers. The term “exalt” appears throughout the Psalm. (Ps 75:4-6, 10) "Cut off the horns" (Psalm 75:10) means powerless and humiliating.

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3. Jeremiah 9:23–24

Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise boast in his wisdom, let not the strong boast in his strength, let not the rich boast in his riches, but let him that boast in what he understands, and acknowledge that I am the Lord I am the one who practices mercy, justice and righteousness on earth. For these things please me, says the Lord." see more information

The truly wise man (Jeremiah 4:22; Jeremiah 8:8-9; Jeremiah 9:12-14) learns what God teaches; he knows why Judah will fall, and he is saddened and humbled by that knowledge; lest he boast of his wisdom. Knowing God means knowing his unwavering love for him (keeping covenants), justice (right judgment), and justice (right conduct, especially in keeping his promises). See Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 103:8; Joel 2:12-14; Jonah 3:9-4:2. Based on this text, Paul applied the admonition “He who glories in the Lord” to the Corinthian Christians (1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17).

4. 1 Juan 2:16

For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world. see more information

By warning against "everything in the world", John does not demonize the entire created order (cf. Gen 1:31). Rather, he gives examples ("the desires of the flesh," etc.) of what the believer must guard against. Human desires are part of God's creation and therefore are not inherently evil, but they will be distorted if they are not directed by and for God.

5. 2. Corinthians 10:12

Not that we dare rank ourselves or compare ourselves to some of those who praise themselves. But when they measure and compare, they lack understanding. see more information

Paul speaks wryly: Although his opponents call him "bold" and "strong" in their letters (2 Corinthians 10:1-2,10), Paul is hesitant to join them in their brand of self-commendation. they don't understand why their criteria for bragging (each other) is wrong. Opponents congratulate one another by comparing their abilities, spiritual gifts, and experiences, all of which are irrelevant to establishing apostolic authority in a church.

6. Deuteronomy 8:2–3

And you will remember all the way that the Lord your God has led you through the desert these forty years, to afflict you and test you, so that you may know what is in your heart, whether or not you will keep his commandments. And he humbled you and made you hungry and sustained you with manna, something that you did not know or your parents, to show you that not only does man live on bread, but that man lives on every word that he speaks. speech comes from the mouth of the Lord. see more information

"Remember" is a key word in this chapter (also Deuteronomy 8:18), along with its antonym "forget": Deuteronomy 8:11, 14, 19. Remembrance is shown in obedience. The wilderness test was to reveal the state of Israel's heart. This does not mean that God did not know, but that he wanted the hearts of Israel to show evidence of obedience. Manna literally means "What is this?" (Exodus 16:15); he did not like him (Numbers 11:6; Numbers 21:5). The test was also to teach Israel that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord, man lives. Real life derived directly from God and was based on his word ("Word" could also be translated as "thing spoken of"). This was the learning that Israel needed in her hearts (Deuteronomy 8:2) if they were to pass the test in the land (Deuteronomy 8:17). This is the first of three verses from Deuteronomy that Jesus quoted during his temptation, affirming his trust and steadfast loyalty to God (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; see also Deuteronomy 6:13, 16 ).

7. Marcos 7:20–23

And he said: What comes out of the man is what contaminates him. Because from within, from the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, madness. All these bad things come from within and contaminate the person.” see more information

"What comes out of man" reflects Jesus' earlier teaching (Mark 7:15). Here he mentions specific sinful thoughts and actions characteristic of an impure heart and summarizes his teaching in Mark 7:23: "All these evil things come out from within."

8. Romans 11:18-20

Don't be arrogant with the branches. If so, remember that you are not supporting the root, it is the root that is supporting you. Then you will say: "The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." This is true. They were broken by your unbelief, but you are firm in the faith. Therefore, do not be proud, but fear. see more information

Gentile believers are warned against arrogance, because it is God's saving promises (the root), not their own goodness, that have saved them. So the Gentiles can be tempted with pride because God removed the Jewish branches from the olive tree and grafted them in their place. But that should inspire fear and admiration (Gr.phobic, "fear, have deep respect and reverence, fear to offend"), because the Jews were removed because they did not believe, and the Gentiles were left alone because of their continued faith.

9. Proverbs 18:10-12

Strong tower is the name of the Lord;
the just run there and are safe.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in your imagination.
Before destruction, the heart of man swells,
but humility precedes honor. see more information

Proverbs 18:10-11 describes two types of security (the Lord and mammon), while Proverbs 18:9 and Proverbs 18:12 describe two things that destroy one (laziness and pride). Together, these proverbs imply that wealth can provide a false sense of security that leads to laziness, pride, and ruin, but that humility and the fear of God lift people up.

10. Proverbs 15:25-33

Jehovah overthrows the house of the proud
but keeps the widow limits.
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord
but kind words are pure.
He who covets unfair profit disturbs his own family,
but he who hates bribery will live.
The heart of the just ponders how to respond,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
The LORD is far from the wicked,
But he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes gladdens the heart, and the good news refreshes the bones.
The ear that hears life-giving correction will dwell among the wise.
He who disregards instruction despises himself,
but he who hears rebuke gains understanding.
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility before honor. see more information

These proverbs are framed by a contrast: the Lord is opposed to the proud (Prov. 15:25), but he is close to those who act in humility born of the fear of the Lord (Prov. 15:33; cf. Prov. 15 :25). . Proverbs 15:24-32 expands on this by illustrating the pride of the wicked as reflected in their minds (Proverbs 15:26), greed for unfair gain (Proverbs 15:27), hurtful words (Proverbs 15:28), and denial. . listen to correction (Proverbs 15:32). These are the opposite of the just path presented in: gracious words (Prov. 15:26, Prov. 15:28), defense of justice (Prov. 15:27), and obedience to instructions (Prov. 15:31). , Proverbs 15). :32). The center of this passage is the further reminder that the Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29).

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