Pride is a sin that is warned against throughout the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about pride:
Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)
This famous verse warns that pride leads to destruction. When we are prideful and haughty, thinking too highly of ourselves, it will ultimately lead to ruin.
Proverbs 29:23 – Pride brings humiliation
“One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23 ESV)
Pride brings humiliation, while humility brings honor. If we elevate ourselves, we will be brought down. But if we humble ourselves, God will lift us up in due time.
Proverbs 11:2 – Pride comes before a fall
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2 ESV)
Along the same lines, pride leads to disgrace and ruin. But the humble are wise, because they recognize their need for God and submit to Him.
Proverbs 13:10 – Pride only breeds quarrels
“By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10 ESV)
When people are arrogant and insolent, it only leads to fights and quarrels. But the wise listen to advice and counsel from others.
Proverbs 8:13 – Pride is something God hates
“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13 ESV)
This verse clearly states that pride is something God hates. Along with arrogance and evil speech, pride is an affront to God that we must avoid.
James 4:6 – God opposes the proud
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”” (James 4:6 ESV)
Not only does God hate pride, He actively opposes the proud. If we want to walk with God, we must humble ourselves and submit to Him.
1 John 2:16 – Pride is not from God
“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.” (1 John 2:16 ESV)
John makes it clear here that pride does not come from God. It is part of the sinful world system and must be avoided by followers of Christ.
Proverbs 21:4 – Pride indicates an arrogant heart
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.” (Proverbs 21:4 ESV)
Physical manifestations of pride, like haughty eyes, point to an inner arrogant heart. This pride is labeled as sin and wickedness.
Galatians 6:3 – Pride leads to self-deception
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6:3 ESV)
Thinking too highly of ourselves is self-deceptive. When pride takes over, we begin to lose touch with reality and truth.
1 Corinthians 10:12 – Pride leads to falling
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV)
The Corinthian church thought they were strong in their faith, but Paul warns them against pride that can lead to falling away. We must rely on God, not ourselves.
Romans 12:3 – Do not think too highly of yourself
“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 12:3 ESV)
Thinking too highly of ourselves is a mark of pride. We are called to sober self-assessment based on the faith God has given each of us.
Luke 18:14 – Exalting yourself will lead to humiliation
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14 ESV)
Jesus reiterates a common Biblical theme – lifting yourself up leads to being brought down by God. But humbling yourself positions you to be exalted by God.
1 Peter 5:5 – Be subject to others in humility
“…Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”” (1 Peter 5:5 ESV)
Out of reverence for God, we are called to submit to and serve one another with humility, recognizing our common state before God.
Philippians 2:3 – Esteem others above yourself
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3 ESV)
We combat pride by intentionally esteeming others over ourselves, considering their needs before our own in humility.
James 3:16 – Pride leads to disorder and evil
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (James 3:16 ESV)
Jealousy and selfish ambition are rooted in pride. James connects this pride to spiritual disorder and wickedness.
Psalm 10:4 – The proud fail to seek God
“In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”” (Psalm 10:4 ESV)
Pride leads to practical atheism, living as if there is no God to seek or submit to. This leaves the proud on their own, separated from God.
Proverbs 26:12 – Pride leaves no room for biblical wisdom
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 26:12 ESV)
When we are proud and think we know best, we reject the wisdom of Scripture. This foolish pride leaves little hope for change.
Obadiah 1:3 – Pride deceives us
“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?’” (Obadiah 1:3 ESV)
Pride distorts reality, convincing us that we are invincible. In truth, only God is all-powerful and we must submit to Him.
2 Chronicles 26:16 – Pride leads to downfall
“But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” (2 Chronicles 26:16 ESV)
The example of King Uzziah shows how pride ruined his reign. His strength led to pride and unfaithfulness, causing God to strike him down.
Proverbs 25:6-7 – The proud will face humiliation
“Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” (Proverbs 25:6-7 ESV)
We are warned not to elevate ourselves in the presence of leaders, but to allow others to honor us. Pride backfires when it inevitably leads to humiliation.
Proverbs 27:2 – Do not praise yourself
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2 ESV)
It is pride when we praise and boast about ourselves. We should allow others to honor us if it is warranted.
1 Corinthians 1:31 – Boast only in the Lord
“…as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (1 Corinthians 1:31 ESV)
The only valid boasting we should do is boasting about what God has done. Any other self-praise is pointless pride.
Psalm 75:4-5 – Do not boast proudly
“I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’” (Psalm 75:4-5 ESV)
God commands the proud and arrogant not to boast about themselves. This pride angers Him and will be brought down.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Don’t boast in self, but in God
“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.”” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV)
Rather than boasting in our own attributes, the only valid boast is understanding and knowing God, allowing Him to shape us.
In summary, the Bible consistently condemns pride and calls all believers to cultivate humility before God and others. Pride leads only to our downfall, while humility positions us to receive grace and be lifted up by God in due time.