God calls all Christians to be humble and faithful followers of Jesus. Find out how to put aside the arrogance of the world and walk humbly in this devotional, Meaningful Bible Verses about Humility.
What does the Bible say about humility?
In our society, there’s a lot of importance placed on celebrities. We look up to movie stars, rock stars, reality TV stars, and even so-called social media influencers.
We think because the world sees them as meaningful, somehow, they must be.
But the truth is they’re not nearly as important to our lives as they may think.
Years ago I lived in Los Angeles and rubbed elbows with a lot of celebrities. The one thing that was true about all of them, they’re human just like the rest of us.
I met them in grocery stores, restaurants, parking lots, and pretty much anywhere you and I go every day.
However, there is one thing that makes them different from us. They’re usually surrounded by people who tell them how great they are every second of every day.
Over time that kind of thing can make even the best of us a little arrogant.
And arrogance is not something we should aspire to as followers of Jesus Christ.
Instead, God’s Word teaches us the importance of humility in a Christian’s life. A humble heart and a joyful attitude make all the difference between simply living or abiding in Christ in a meaningful way.
In this collection of Bible Verses about Humility we’ll see the very nature of God on display. He is always drawing us to Himself with steadfast love and faithfulness. And teaching us how to walk humbly with Him.
So, let’s read these scriptures and learn how to live with humility knowing Christ humbled Himself to set us free.
Top 7 Bible Verses about Humility
A humble attitude and good conduct are at the heart of Christian living. Because it’s what’s inside of us that God cares about the most.
He has created us in His image. He is a humble, loving God who wants the very best for us. And He expects us to show the same kind of humility to those around us.
So, let these Top 7 Bible Verses about Humility inspire you to be humble today.
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 ESV
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 ESV
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
1 Peter 3:8 ESV
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:17 NKJV
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:10 ESV
Best Pride and Humility Bible Verses
The opposite of humility is pridefulness. And the Word of God is clear that God opposes the proud.
In the following scriptures, we’ll discover the reasons we should turn away from pride and toward humility.
I pray you’ll dig deep into them and discover the key to a joyful life, which is living in God’s will for you. And that includes humbly following Him with grace and integrity.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8 ESV
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
Psalm 131:1 ESV
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.
Psalm 18:27 ESV
When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person.
Job 22:29 NKJV
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
James 3:13 NIV
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Romans 12:16 NIV
When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
Psalm 69:32 ESV
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.
Psalm 149:4 NKJV
Inspirational Bible Verses about Humility and Kindness
Will kindness save you? Of course not! Only faith in Jesus saves.
But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put the feelings of other people ahead of our own.
In fact, in the next few scriptures we’ll see that true humility means to esteem others above ourselves. And Christians are called to show kindness and compassion to anyone God puts in our path.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Colossians 3:12-13 ESV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Read More in this Devotional: Powerful Psalms to Pray When You Need God’s Help
Holy Bible on Humility
In the next two sections, we’ll find out what the Holy Bible says about Humility and what it means to be humble in our daily lives.
We’ll begin with some of the best Old Testament Bible Verses about humility. Then move on to some inspiring New Testament scriptures about humility.
Even though these verses were written thousands of years ago, they’re still just as meaningful in our lives today.
I hope they’ll help you in your search for a humble heart and attitude.
Old Testament Bible Verses about Being Humble
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 NKJV
For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 57:15 NKJV
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
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Isaiah 57:15 ESV
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 ESV
In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”
2 Samuel 6:22 NKJV
Read More in this Bible Study: Inspiring Bible Verses about God’s Hands
New Testament Scriptures about Being Humble
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
Submit to God, Resist the Devil
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.”
1 Peter 5:5 NKJV
They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
Titus 3:2 NLT
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
James 1:9-10 ESV
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:28-29 ESV
Be Humble Bible Verse
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 14:11 ESV
Humble Yourself Bible Verse
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 5:6 NIV
Bible Verse Art from Master’s Hand Collection
Bible Verse about Humility in Leadership
Being a leader is a great thing. But it can also be a stumbling block if we’re left to our own devices. However, God gives us a plethora of wonderful advice in His Word about humility in leadership.
Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 NASB
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NIV
Proverbs about Humility
Proverbs is a book of wisdom and common sense. And within its pages are some of the greatest verses on humility ever written.
This great book begins by stating the most fundamental truth you’ll ever read. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
With this wisdom in your back pocket, you’ll be filled with great humility for all God has done for you.
And if you’ll follow the advice given in these Proverbs on Humility you’ll never go wrong.
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 16:18-19 ESV
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
Proverbs 27:2 NIV
Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 15:33 NIV
Read More in this Devotional: Healing Scriptures for Comfort and Strength
Humility of Jesus
Jesus’ example is the very Biblical definition of humility. Jesus was humble and meek during His time on earth. He gave His life so we could have forgiveness of sin. And showed us how to live in obedience to God every day.
The humility of Christ is our greatest example of serving God and His people through faithful obedience.
So, together, let’s read the following scriptures on humility and learn from the example Jesus set for us.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45 ESV
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9 NASB
Read More in this short Bible Study: Inspirational Bible Verses about Jesus
Examples of Humility in the Bible
There are many Bible stories about humility in God’s Word. Each one is an example for us to live by today.
In both the Old Testament and New Testament, we find examples of humble people who followed God and showed an attitude of humility and compassion.
But there are also some examples of people who showed the opposite of humility. Pride is something we already learned is not the right path for us to follow.
However, we can still learn from the example of those who chose to follow the wrong path and fell from grace because of it.
And in both the good and bad examples in these scriptures about humility we can realize the importance of being faithful and walking humbly in every circumstance.
Moses was Humble and Meek
Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
Pharoah Refused to Be Humble
So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
The Israelites were Humbled
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.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 ESV
Zedekiah did not Humble Himself
He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 36:12 ESV
King Nebuchadnezzar Praised God Humbly
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Daniel 4:37 ESV
Mary’s Humble Song of Praise
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
The Apostle Paul was Humble and Meek
I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!
2 Corinthians 10:1 ESV
I pray these Meaningful Bible Verses about Humility have shown you how to be a faithful and humble follower of Jesus Christ. And that you will show the same love and compassion God has for you to everyone in your life!
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