According to the Bible, pride is portrayed as a destructive force and a grievous sin. It is the elevation of oneself, often above God and others.
Proverbs, one of the wisdom books, frequently warns that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”. This underlines the dangers of an inflated sense of self-worth and the inevitable downfall that follows. Pride blinds individuals to their own flaws and need for God, leading them away from truth and into self-deception.
Scriptures about Pride
Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
James 4:6
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'”
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.”
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.”
Proverbs 11:2
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”
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?'”
Proverbs 29:23
“One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.”
Galatians 6:3
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
Jeremiah 49:16
“The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there, declares the Lord.”
Proverbs 13:10
“By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.”
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.”
1 Timothy 3:6
“He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
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.”
Psalm 10:4
“In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.'”
Psalm 59:12
“For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter.”
Proverbs 18:12
“Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 21:4
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.”
Isaiah 23:9
“The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.”
Isaiah 28:1
“Ah, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine!”
Mark 7:22-23
“Coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.”
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.'”
Final Thoughts about Pride in the Bible
James 4:6 reminds readers that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” signaling the importance of humility as a virtue. The Bible cautions against the self-sufficiency and arrogance that pride brings, urging believers to recognize their dependence on God and to value others above themselves.
Jesus, in His teachings, exemplified and advocated for a humble heart, emphasizing the significance of servitude and selflessness. Ultimately, biblical teachings present pride as a barrier to a genuine relationship with God, while humility paves the way for divine grace and deeper spiritual growth.
