10 Key Bible Verses on Pride

This article is part of the Key Bible Verses series.

All commentary sections adapted from the ESV Study Bible.

1. James 4:6

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Read More

God’s grace will be extended to those who are humble before him; cf. Proverbs 3:34 (cf. also James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:5). “God opposes” means he resists and sends judgment, for the proud have chosen the praise and the methods of the world and are acting as God’s enemies (James 4:4).

2. Psalm 75:4

I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; Read More

“Lift up your horn.” The horn is a symbol of power (cf. 1 Kings 22:11; Zech. 1:18–21), and thus to lift it up (or “exalt” it) is to make a public assertion of power. God warns the ungodly not to lift up their horn, and promises that he will lift up the horn of the faithful. The term “lift up” recurs throughout the psalm (Ps. 75:4–6, 10). To “cut off” the horns (Ps. 75:10) is to render powerless and to humiliate.

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3. Jeremiah 9:23–24

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, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Read More

The truly wise man (Jer. 4:22; Jer. 8:8–9; Jer. 9:12–14) learns what God teaches; he knows why Judah will fall and is grieved and humbled by that knowledge; thus he will not boast in his wisdom. Knowing God means knowing his steadfast love (covenant faithfulness), justice (right judgment), and righteousness (right behavior, esp. In keeping his promises). See Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 103:8; Joel 2:12–14; Jonah 3:9-4:2. Paul applied the admonition “let him who boasts boast in the Lord,” based on this text, to the Corinthian Christians (1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17).

4. 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. Read More

In warning against “all that is in the world”, John does not demonize the whole created order (cf. Gen. 1:31). Rather, he gives examples (“desires of the flesh”, etc.) of what the believer should guard against. Human desires are part of God’s creation and therefore not inherently evil, but they become twisted when not directed by and toward God.

5. 2 Corinthians 10:12

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measures themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. Read More

Paul is speaking ironically: though his opponents say he is “bold” and “strong” in his letters (2 Cor. 10:1-2, 10), Paul does not dare to join them in their kind of self-recommendation; they are without understanding because their criterion for boasting (one another) is wrong. The opponents recommend each other by comparing their abilities, spiritual gifts, and experiences, all of which are irrelevant for establishing apostolic authority in a church.

6. Deuteronomy 8:2–3

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Read More

“Remember” is a key word in this chapter (also Deut.8:18), along with its antonym “forget”: Deuteronomy 8:11, 14, 19. Remembrance is demonstrated in obedience. The wilderness test was to reveal the state of Israel’s heart. This does not imply that God did not know but rather that he desired for Israel’s heart to produce evidence of obedience. Manna literally means “What is it?” (Ex. 16:15); it was not to their liking (Num. 11:6; Num. 21:5). The testing was also to teach Israel that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Real life derived directly from God and trusting his word (“word” could also be translated “thing spoken of”). This was the learning that Israel needed in its heart (Deut. 8:2) if it was to pass the test in the land (Deut. 8:17). This is the first of three verses from Deuteronomy quoted by Jesus in his temptation, affirming his confidence and determined faithfulness toward God (Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4; see also Deut. 6:13, 16).

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7. 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.” Read More

“What comes out of a person” repeats Jesus’ earlier teaching (Mark 7:15). Here he mentions specific sinful thoughts and actions, and characteristics of a defiled heart, summarizing his teaching in Mark 7:23: “all these evil things come from within.”

8. Romans 11:18–20

Do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. Read More

Gentile believers are warned against arrogance, for it is God’s saving promises (the root), not their own goodness, that saved them. Thus Gentiles might be tempted with pride because God removed the Jewish branches from the olive tree and grafted them in instead. But this should provoke fear and awe (Gk. phobeō, “to be afraid, have profound respect and reverence, have fear of offending”), for the Jews were removed because they failed to believe and the Gentiles remain only because of their continued trust.

9. Proverbs 18:10–12

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor. Read More

Proverbs 18:10–11 describe two types of security (the LORD and riches), while Prov. 18:9 and Prov. 18:12 describe two things that bring about one’s destruction (laziness and pride). Taken together, these proverbs imply that riches can give a false sense of security that leads to laziness, pride, and a downfall, but that humility and the fear of God exalt people.

10. Proverbs 15:25–33

The LORD tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD
but gracious words are pure.
Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
but he who hates bribes will live.
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
The LORD is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Read More

These proverbs are framed by a contrast: the LORD opposes the proud (Prov. 15:25), but is near those who act in humility born out of the fear of the LORD (Prov. 15:33; cf. Prov. 15:25). Proverbs 15:24-32 expand on this by illustrating the pride of the wicked as represented in their: thoughts (Prov. 15:26), greed for unjust gain (Prov. 15:27), harmful speech (Prov. 15:28), and refusal to listen to reproof (Prov. 15:32). These are the opposite of the way of the righteous represented in: gracious words (Prov. 15:26, Prov. 15:28), maintaining justice (Prov. 15:27), and heeding instruction (Prov. 15: 31, Prov. 15:32). At the center of this section is the further reminder that the Lord is far from the wicked, but hears the prayer of the righteous (Prov. 15:29).