Boasting is an act of calling attention to one’s accomplishments, possessions, abilities, or qualities in a way that is prideful. The Bible has a lot to say about boasting, generally presenting it in a negative light as something to be avoided. Here are some key Bible verses about boasting:
Proverbs 27:1-2
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.”
This verse warns against boasting about the future, since we do not know what will happen. It also advises letting someone else give you praise, rather than praising yourself.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
“This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.”
God says true wisdom and strength is found in knowing Him, not in material possessions or human abilities. The only worthwhile boast is boasting in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.””
God intentionally chose ordinary people so that no one could boast in human strength or status. Our righteousness comes from Christ alone, so He should get all the glory.
2 Corinthians 10:12-18
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
Paul says he will only boast about what God has called him to do, not compare himself to others or take credit for others’ work. True boasting is about what God has done through us.
Galatians 6:13-14
“Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Paul says that boasting about superficial things like circumcision is meaningless. The only thing worth boasting about is Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Our salvation is completely by God’s grace, not by our own effort or works. This removes any ground for boasting in ourselves.
Romans 3:27-28
“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
If people were saved by obeying the law, they could boast about their righteousness. But salvation is by faith alone in Christ, excluding boasting.
Romans 4:1-3
“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.””
Even Abraham was saved by faith rather than works, leaving him nothing to boast about before God.
James 4:13-17
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
James condemns arrogant boasting about our own plans and achievements. We should instead humbly submit to God’s will.
Luke 18:9-14
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus condemns the Pharisee for his boastful, self-righteous prayer and commends the humble tax collector who relied on God’s mercy.
Luke 1:50-53
“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”
Mary’s song praises God for opposing the proud but exalting the humble.
Psalm 94:3-7
“How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, Lord; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. They say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
The psalmist complains of the wicked who boastfully commit injustice while believing God does not see.
Psalm 10:2-4
“In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
This describes the arrogance of the wicked who boast in their evil desires and do not acknowledge God.
Psalm 49:5-6
“Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me— those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?”
The psalmist questions those who take pride in temporary riches rather than fearing God.
Psalm 52:1
“Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?”
David rebukes the boastful wicked, reminding them that God sees their sin.
Proverbs 25:14
“Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.”
Boasting about things you do not have is foolish and worthless.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
Paul warns that boastfulness and pride will increase in the end times as people become focused on themselves and not God.
In summary, the Bible warns frequently and consistently against boasting in our own abilities, wealth, future plans or righteousness. Instead we are to boast only in what God has done and give him all the glory. Any boasting rooted in self rather than God is dangerous pride and foolishness.
Some key principles we can derive about boasting from Scripture include:
- Don’t boast about your own plans, strength or possessions – these fade quickly and you may not have them as long as you think (Proverbs 27:1, Jeremiah 9:23)
- Only boast about what God has done through you by his power and grace (1 Corinthians 1:31, 2 Corinthians 10:17-18)
- Boasting excludes God’s grace and breeds unhealthy pride and arrogance (Ephesians 2:9, James 4:13-16)
- We have nothing good in ourselves to boast about – our only boast should be in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us (Galatians 6:14)
- Boasting and pride lead to harming others, while humility leads to blessing (Luke 18:9-14, Psalm 94, Proverbs 25:14)
- Rather than boasting in temporary things, we should fear God who sees all and endures forever (Psalm 52:1, Psalm 49:16-20)
In all things, Scripture calls us to find our identity, security and purpose in God alone. Boasting in anything else is an unhealthy distraction that often leads to sin and isolation from God. A heart focused on glorifying God will have no room for arrogant boasting. Our boast should be the cross of Jesus Christ and what he has accomplished for our redemption.
Some additional relevant verses on boasting include:
Psalm 10:3 – They boast of the cravings of their heart; they bless the greedy and revile the Lord.
Psalm 34:2 – My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Psalm 44:8 – In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.
Psalm 97:7 – All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols.
Isaiah 41:16 – You shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.
Jeremiah 4:2 – and if you swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
Romans 2:17,23 – But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God…You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
Romans 5:2-3 – Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance.
1 Corinthians 5:6 – Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?