Bible Verses About Humility

Humility is the posture of the wise and the path to honor in God's kingdom. These verses about humility teach us to walk lowly before God and others.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” — Philippians 2:3-4 (KJV)

In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves — followed immediately by looking to others' interests. Humility is defined by attention, not self-estimate.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” — Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV)

He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The passage is an early hymn quoted to settle a quarrel between two women in the church.

“Likewise, 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. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” — 1 Peter 5:5-6 (KJV)

Be clothed with humility, and humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Clothing language makes it something put on daily and visible.

“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” — Proverbs 22:4 (KJV)

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honour and life. The order given is counter-intuitive and deliberate.

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” — Matthew 23:12 (KJV)

Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, said at the end of a long rebuke of religious display. The reversal is stated as a rule of the kingdom.

“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” — Proverbs 11:2 (KJV)

When pride cometh, then cometh shame, but with the lowly is wisdom. Pride and shame are described as arriving together.

“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” — Isaiah 66:2 (KJV)

To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit. God names what he looks at, in a chapter dismissing temple ritual.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. The verse is usually shortened, losing the parallel second line.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30 (KJV)

He must increase, but I must decrease — said by John the Baptist as his own followers left for Jesus. It is a statement about losing a ministry.

“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.” — Romans 12:3 (KJV)

Not to think of himself more highly than he ought, but to think soberly. Soberly implies accuracy rather than self-deprecation.

“A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” — Proverbs 29:23 (KJV)

A man's pride shall bring him low, but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Both halves describe a movement the person did not intend.

“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:” — Matthew 20:26-27 (KJV)

Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister — said after two disciples asked for the best seats. Their mother had made the request.

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.” — John 13:14 (KJV)

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. The argument runs downward from status to task.

“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” — Galatians 6:3 (KJV)

If a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Self-deception is named as the mechanism of pride.

“For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” — Psalm 149:4 (KJV)

He will beautify the meek with salvation — meekness is what gets adorned. The verb is unexpected and is the point.

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” — Luke 14:11 (KJV)

Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased — said as advice about where to sit at a wedding feast. The teaching arrives disguised as etiquette.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about humility?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on humility: Philippians 2:3-4, Philippians 2:5-8, 1 Peter 5:5-6, Proverbs 22:4, Matthew 23:12, Proverbs 11:2, Isaiah 66:2, Proverbs 16:18, John 3:30, Romans 12:3, Proverbs 29:23, Matthew 20:26-27, John 13:14…

What is a good Bible verse about humility?

Philippians 2:3-4 is the passage most often quoted on humility, with Philippians 2:5-8 and 1 Peter 5:5-6 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these humility verses?

You can read all of these verses about humility — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.