Arrogance blinds us to our faults and inhibits growth and humility. The Bible warns against the dangers of pride and arrogance, urging us to cultivate humility and acknowledge our reliance on God’s grace.
Bible Verses About Arrogance
Proverbs 16:18 – Pride leads to downfall
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
James 4:6 – God opposes the proud
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’
Proverbs 11:2 – Humility brings wisdom
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
1 Peter 5:5 – Be humble towards one another
“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.’
Proverbs 29:23 – A proud heart leads to ruin
“Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”
Luke 1:51 – God brings down the arrogant
“He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.”
Proverbs 21:4 – An arrogant heart is sin
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.”
Matthew 23:12 – Humility is the path to elevation
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Isaiah 2:11 – The proud will be humbled
“The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled, and the human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”
Proverbs 18:12 – Before destruction comes pride
“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”
Galatians 6:3 – Thinking too highly of oneself
“If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”
Psalm 131:1 – A humble heart is pleasing to God
“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.”
Proverbs 30:13 – The insidious nature of pride
“There are those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth.”
Proverbs 6:16-17 – God hates a proud look
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Boasting should come from knowing God
“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.”
Proverbs 15:25 – God upholds the humble
“The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.”
Philippians 2:3 – Value others above yourself
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
Colossians 3:12 – Clothe yourself with humility
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Proverbs 27:2 – Let others praise you
“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.”
Ezekiel 28:17 – Pride led to a fall
“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.”
Matthew 5:3 – The humble are blessed
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Romans 12:16 – Live in harmony
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
2 Corinthians 10:12 – Comparing ourselves leads to arrogance
“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.”
Proverbs 8:13 – Fear of the Lord is hatred of pride
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”
1 Timothy 3:6 – Not a recent convert
“He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.”
Lamentations 3:34-36 – God judges pride
“To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, to deny people their rights before the Most High, to deprive them of justice—would not the Lord see such things?”
Revelation 3:17 – Self-sufficiency leads to blindness
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
Psalm 75:4-5 – Speak not with arrogance
“I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns. Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’”
Proverbs 3:34 – God gives grace to the humble
“He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Sisterhood
What Does the Bible Say About Arrogance
The Bible gives us numerous insights into the issue of arrogance, and it’s clear from both the Old and New Testaments that this is a trait viewed negatively by God. From Proverbs to the teachings of Jesus, the message is consistent: arrogance is not in line with God’s will for us.
In Proverbs, we encounter various warnings about the dangers of arrogance. For instance, it states that pride often leads to one’s downfall and precedes destruction. This emphasizes that arrogance blinds us, causing us to make poor decisions and separating us from God’s wisdom.
The New Testament continues to echo these sentiments. Jesus teaches us about humility and servitude, contrasting the behavior expected of believers with the arrogance exhibited by religious leaders of His time. His parables, such as the one about the Pharisee and the tax collector, illustrate how humility finds favor with God, while arrogance does the opposite.
Moreover, the letters of Paul provide guidance on how to live humbly. Paul reminds us that our achievements and strengths are not our own but are gifts from God. This calls us to a life of humility, recognizing our dependence on God rather than boasting in our abilities or status.
James succinctly captures this when he says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. It’s a direct statement highlighting that arrogance is not merely a moral failing but a rebellion against God’s grace.
In conclusion, the Bible’s stance on arrogance is profoundly clear: it’s a barrier to living a life aligned with God’s desires. By embracing humility, we open ourselves to genuine relationships with others and, more importantly, a deeper connection with God.