Bible Verses About Pride

ByJenna Updated onMay 4, 2024

The Bible has a lot to say about pride. Proverbs 16:18 states, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” In other words, when we become too proud of our own accomplishments or possessions, it can lead to disaster.

Pride can also be a major obstacle when it comes to spiritual growth. 1 Peter 5:5-6 says, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.'”

Finally, one of the more popular bible verses about pride, Proverbs 11:2 tells us, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with humility comes wisdom.”

All of these scriptures emphasize the importance of having a humble heart and seeking God’s grace rather than relying on our own strength or pride. By recognizing our own limits and trusting in God‘s grace, we can overcome the destructive power of pride.

Pride Quotes

Bible verses about pride: In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

Bible verses about pride: Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Bible verses about pride: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Pride in the Bible

Jeremiah 9:23-24

²³Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

²⁴But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

²³This 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,
²⁴but 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.

²³This is what the Lord says:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
    or the powerful boast in their power,
    or the rich boast in their riches.
²⁴But those who wish to boast
    should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
    who demonstrates unfailing love
    and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

²³Thus 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,²⁴but 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.”

God calls on us to become wise and humble, so that we may seek him in truth and righteousness. We must understand that wisdom comes from God alone and if we want to live a life pleasing to Him, then humility is an essential quality.

Psalm 10:4

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

The wicked are too proud to seek God.
They seem to think that God is dead.

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

This verse speaks to an overwhelming sense of loneliness and an unwillingness to seek help from God. The wicked man is too proud to acknowledge his need for a savior, choosing instead to wallow in his own misery. Nonetheless, God watches and waits for him, ever ready to provide guidance and aid if he will only ask.

We must remember that no matter how alone we feel, God is always there, ready to help us if we will open our hearts and seek His guidance. We must not take pride in our own suffering, but instead humbly turn to Him for the strength and courage to overcome it. Let us never forget that we are never truly alone, for God stands ever faithful at our side.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

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

Pride goes before destruction,
and haughtiness before a fall.

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

This Scripture is a reminder to stay humble in all aspects of life. Pride can lead to destructive outcomes because it can blind us from seeing reality and prevent us from taking corrective action.

Instead, by maintaining humility, we can wisely assess our situations, make sound decisions, and be open to receiving feedback and guidance.

Ultimately, humbling ourselves will lead us on a path of success, rather than destruction. Therefore, it is important that we take heed to the wisdom found in Scripture and strive for humility in all aspects of life.

Romans 12:3

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

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 cautions us to not think too highly of ourselves, and to instead be humble and prudent.

We must remember that all good things come from God and we should give credit where it is due. By humbling ourselves and relying on God’s grace and guidance, we are better light bearers for Him.

1 Corinthians 13:4

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

Pride can be a difficult temptation to resist; however, true love will always overcome it. By understanding the power of pride and its ability to poison relationships, we can better appreciate the beauty and joy of authentic love. Through selfless acts of kindness, humility, and compassion, we can show the world what true love looks like.

1 Peter 5:5-6

⁵Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

⁵In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

⁵In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

⁶So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

⁵Likewise, 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.”

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.

In 1 Peter 5:5-6, the Bible speaks to us about pride. We must put aside any feelings of pride or superiority that might be lurking within our hearts.

Pride can cloud our judgment and lead us to make poor decisions. Furthermore, it can lead to a sense of entitlement and cause us to forget that all good things come from God above.

Instead, we should focus on being humble and honoring God for all He has done for us. Let us remember the words of 1 Peter 5:5-6 and lay aside any pride that may be standing in our way of a closer relationship with God.

Galatians 6:3

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

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

Galatians 6:3 reminds us that if anyone thinks they are something when they are really not, they deceive themselves. This means that any type of pride or arrogance will inevitably lead to disappointment and disillusionment. We must strive to be humble and recognize our own limitations.

When we realize how minimal our own strength and power are, we can better learn to rely on God and his sovereignty. This should be viewed as a welcomed freedom, rather than a hinderance!

Bible verses about pride:
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:3

Romans 12:16

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Living in harmony with one another is essential for fostering a sense of unity and understanding. Romans 12:16 encourages us to “live in harmony with one another”, reminding us that pride should not get in the way of peaceful resolution. Pride can foster divisiveness and keep us from seeing eye-to-eye, which could prevent us from finding common ground.

Let us strive to put away our pride and show respect for one another, so that we can live peacefully together.

Proverbs 11:2

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

Pride leads to disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

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

Proverbs 11:2 reminds us that true greatness is not achieved through ego and arrogance, but rather through humility and self-awareness. With a humble spirit and a respectful attitude we can gain knowledge, understand our mistakes, and heed discipline. Therefore, humility should be seen not as a sign of weakness, but rather an important part of our journey towards righteousness.

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

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 is the driving force behind wrongdoing and disobedience of God. In 1 John 2:16, we are warned against it: “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.”

The Bible teaches us to have humble hearts and to rely on the Lord for strength instead of our own. When pride takes over, it distorts our judgment and leads us away from God’s will. We must remember that pride comes before a fall and strive to humble ourselves before God.

Our actions should reflect His perfect love, not our own selfishness and arrogance.

Bible verses about pride:
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
1 John 2:16

Proverbs 16:5

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

The Lord detests the proud;
they will surely be punished.

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

Yet another proverb serving as a warning that pride has serious consequences. The Bible teaches us that those who are proud and haughty will face the divine wrath of God.

When we give in to pride and let it consume us, we become an abomination before the Lord. This is why it’s important to always remain humble and not succumb to our own arrogant desires.

We must be conscious of our attitudes and actions at all times, for God will not tolerate those who are self-centered and proud.

Philippians 2:3

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

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

The Bible tells us that pride is an obstacle to the Lord’s work. It is essential for Christians to practice humility and to put others before themselves, as outlined in Philippians 2:3.

With this in mind, we must strive to be humble and recognize that the Lord’s work is larger than our own. Remembering this will help us stay focused on the bigger picture and ensure that God’s will is done.

Bible verses about pride:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3

Proverbs 14:3

By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him,
but the words of the wise keep them safe.

By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Ever had to eat your own words? An arrogant tongue creates many problems, but if we can tame our speech, it provides a covering.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.

Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

This popular Bible verse about pride, Ecclesiastes 7:8, was written by King Solomon, an ancient king of Israel. In this passage, he emphasizes that “pride only leads to more trouble,” and cautions against being overly proud. By highlighting this sentiment in the verse, King Solomon warns us to avoid arrogance and hubris in our lives.

Instead, we should strive to remain humble and maintain a sense of modesty in our behavior.

Bible verses about pride:
Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.
Ecclesiastes 7:8

Proverbs 29:23

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Pride brings a person low,
but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

Pride ends in humiliation,
while humility brings honor.

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

The proverb states that a person’s pride will bring them low, while humility brings honor. Pride can lead to an inflated sense of self-importance and the refusal to accept advice or criticism.

On the other hand, someone who is humble is open to constructive feedback and can learn from their mistakes. A proud person won’t be able to see their own need for a Savior. What a tremendous blind spot we leave open when we think so highly of ourselves that we overlook Jesus!