33 Bible Verses about Pride - Spiritual Guidance for Humility

Deep within the ancient texts of the Bible unfolds a powerful narrative about the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whose story vividly illustrates the peril of pride. Nebuchadnezzar, the absolute monarch of his era, had created a vast empire, and enjoyed unchallenged power. One day, gazing upon his gleaming city of Babylon from his royal balcony, pride swelled within him. He exclaimed, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30).

His haughty proclamation did not go unheeded. A voice from heaven responded, decreeing that he would be stripped of his royal dignity and would live as a beast in the wilderness until he recognized that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of men. Nebuchadnezzar, once an invincible king, found himself crawling on all fours, eating grass like an ox, until he lifted his eyes to heaven and his reason returned to him.

This gripping tale of the downfall caused by pride serves as a stark reminder of the Biblical truth that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Throughout this article, we will explore Bible verses that provide further insights into the theme of pride and its consequences, offering guidance for a humble and righteous life.

Worldly Pride

Psalm 10:4

“In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; 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 in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god.”

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.”

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.”

Pride Leading to Downfall

Genesis 3:5

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

Proverbs 11:2

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”

Proverbs 16:18

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

Proverbs 18:12

"Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor."

Daniel 4:30

"The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?"

Obadiah 1:3

"The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'"

Mark 7:20-23

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

God's View on Pride

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."

Proverbs 16:5

"Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished."

James 4:6

"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

1 Peter 5:5

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

Warnings Against Pride

Proverbs 26:12

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

Jeremiah 9:23

"Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.'"

Jeremiah 13:15

“Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the Lord has spoken.”

Zephaniah 3:11

“On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.”

Galatians 6:3

“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

1 Corinthians 1:19

"For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'"

1 Corinthians 3:18

"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may 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

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

Humility as an Antidote for Pride

Proverbs 11:2

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."

Proverbs 22:4

"The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life."

Proverbs 29:23

“One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.”

Matthew 23:12

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

Romans 12:3

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

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.”

2 Corinthians 10:17

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Philippians 2:3

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

James 4:10

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

Conclusion

The theme of pride weaves through the tapestry of the Bible, providing a vivid depiction of its destructive power. From the downfall of King Nebuchadnezzar to God's direct admonitions against arrogance, the message is clear: Pride precedes destruction, and humility paves the way for wisdom and honor.

Personal Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come before You today, acknowledging that I have allowed pride to dwell in my heart. I confess that there have been times when I've exalted myself, depended on my own wisdom, and relied on my own strength. I've occasionally found myself seeking recognition and glory, forgetting that all good things come from You.

Father, I humbly ask Your forgiveness for these moments of pride. I surrender my heart to You, asking that You remove every ounce of arrogance, self-sufficiency, and vanity within 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 all I am is a result of Your abundant love and grace. May I use the talents and resources You've blessed me with to glorify Your name and serve others, not to exalt myself.

Teach me, O Lord, to be humble in success, gracious in failure, and always thankful for Your unfailing love and mercy. May I strive to be more like Jesus, who, despite being God, humbly served those around Him and ultimately laid down His life for us.

In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.