40+Bible Verses About Pride

“Pride is a dangerous trap, but humility leads to honor and grace.”

Pride is a feeling of superiority or self-importance, often leading individuals to disregard God’s will. The Bible has numerous verses warning against the dangers of pride and encouraging humility. Pride can blind us to our need for God and can result in downfall, while humility brings wisdom and honor. In this article, we explore various Bible verses that highlight the consequences of pride and the blessings of humility.

1. Pride Goes Before Destruction

Explanation: The Bible teaches that pride often leads to destruction and downfall. Those who are proud will eventually face consequences for their arrogance.

Scripture:
Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Prayer:
Lord, help us to stay humble and guard our hearts against pride. Teach us to walk in Your wisdom and avoid the destruction that pride brings.

2. Humility is the Key to Honor

Explanation: The Bible teaches that honor is a result of humility. When we humble ourselves, God exalts us.

Scripture:
Proverbs 15:33 – “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.”

Prayer:
Father, help us to live humbly and honorably, trusting that You will lift us up in due time.

3. Pride Exalts Oneself Against God

Explanation: Pride is essentially putting ourselves above God, and it can lead to rebellion against His authority.

Scripture:
Isaiah 2:11 – “The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”

Prayer:
Lord, we recognize that You alone deserve all honor and praise. Help us to keep our pride in check and acknowledge Your sovereignty over our lives.

4. God Resists the Proud

Explanation: God does not bless prideful people, and He actively resists the proud, making it hard for them to succeed.

Scripture:
James 4:6 – “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”

Prayer:
Father, may we live in humility and receive Your grace. Help us to avoid the pride that blocks Your favor and blessing in our lives.

5. The Proud Are Humbled by God

Explanation: Even the proud will eventually be humbled by God, who cannot tolerate arrogance and self-sufficiency.

Scripture:
Daniel 4:37 – “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

Prayer:
Lord, we praise You for Your justice. Teach us to walk humbly before You so that we are not humbled through adversity.

6. The Lord Hates Pride

Explanation: Pride is considered one of the things that the Lord detests, as it fosters arrogance and self-reliance rather than dependence on Him.

Scripture:
Proverbs 6:16-17 – “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood…”

Prayer:
Lord, we come before You and ask that You purify our hearts. Help us to recognize pride in our lives and remove it.

7. Pride Leads to Conflict

Explanation: Pride often causes conflicts between individuals, as it leads to arguments, misunderstandings, and strife.

Scripture:
Proverbs 13:10 – “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”

Prayer:
Father, grant us wisdom and peace in our relationships. Help us to resolve conflicts with humility and love, avoiding the destructive force of pride.

8. Jesus Teaches Humility

Explanation: Jesus Himself demonstrated perfect humility. He is our ultimate example, showing us that true greatness comes through serving others.

Scripture:
Matthew 23:12 – “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Prayer:
Lord, we seek to follow Your example of humility. Help us to serve others with a humble heart, knowing that true greatness comes from You.

9. Pride Comes from the Heart

Explanation: Pride often starts in the heart and can manifest in various ways in a person’s behavior. It is important to examine our hearts for signs of pride.

Scripture:
Matthew 15:18 – “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”

Prayer:
Father, we ask You to search our hearts. Reveal any pride that may be hidden within us, and help us to live in humility and love.

10. The Humble Will Inherit the Earth

Explanation: God promises that those who are humble and meek will receive the rewards of His kingdom, including inheriting the earth.

Scripture:
Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your promise to the humble. Help us to live meekly and to trust that You will reward our humility in Your perfect timing.

11. Pride Leads to a Fall

Explanation: Pride often sets people up for failure, as it blinds them to their weaknesses and makes them think they are invincible.

Scripture:
Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Prayer:
Lord, protect us from falling into the trap of pride. Keep our hearts humble and grounded in You.

12. Humble Yourself Before the Lord

Explanation: Humility before God leads to spiritual growth and elevation. When we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up in His time.

Scripture:
James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Prayer:
Father, help us to humble ourselves before You in all things. We trust that You will lift us up according to Your will.

13. God Lifts Up the Humble

Explanation: When we humble ourselves before God, He promises to elevate us. Pride, on the other hand, leads to a fall.

Scripture:
1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Prayer:
Lord, help us to trust in Your timing. May we remain humble, knowing that You will lift us up when the time is right.

14. A Proud Heart Leads to Strife

Explanation: A proud heart is often the source of division and strife in relationships, as pride pushes others away and fosters conflict.

Scripture:
Proverbs 28:25 – “The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.”

Prayer:
Lord, guard our hearts from greed and pride. Help us to foster peace and unity in our relationships.

15. Pride is an Abomination to God

Explanation: Pride is not just undesirable; it is abominable to God. He values humility and sees pride as a major hindrance to a relationship with Him.

Scripture:
Proverbs 16:5 – “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”

Prayer:
Lord, we come before You in humility, recognizing that pride has no place in our hearts. Cleanse us and help us walk in humility before You.

16. Pride Leads to Contempt

Explanation: Pride makes us view others with disdain, causing division and dishonor in relationships.

Scripture:
Proverbs 21:24 – “The proud and arrogant person—‘Mocker’ is his name—behaves with insolent fury.”

Prayer:
Lord, help us to treat others with respect and kindness, avoiding the arrogance that leads to contempt and division.

17. God Resists the Proud but Gives Grace to the Humble

Explanation: God’s grace is poured out on the humble, but He resists those who are proud in their own strength.

Scripture:
1 Peter 5:5 – “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.”

Prayer:
Father, clothe us in humility and help us live in a way that honors You and receives Your grace.

18. Humility Brings Wisdom

Explanation: Wisdom comes through humility, not through self-exaltation or pride.

Scripture:
Proverbs 11:2 – “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Prayer:
Lord, grant us wisdom through humility. Help us to seek Your guidance and rely on You, not our own understanding.

19. The Heart of a Proud Person is Hindered

Explanation: A prideful heart is closed off to wisdom and truth, making it difficult for God to work in such a person.

Scripture:
Proverbs 18:12 – “Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”

Prayer:
Father, open our hearts to Your wisdom. Teach us to remain humble, acknowledging You in all our ways.

20. Pride Causes People to Be Blind to Their Sin

Explanation: Pride prevents individuals from seeing their own faults and can lead to self-deception.

Scripture:
Revelation 3:17 – “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.”

Prayer:
Lord, help us to see our sin clearly and come to You in repentance, with humble hearts.

21. Pride Promotes Strife

Explanation: Pride causes division and conflict, often preventing reconciliation in relationships.

Scripture:
Proverbs 28:25 – “The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.”

Prayer:
Father, help us to live in peace and avoid the conflicts that arise from pride. May our hearts be full of love and humility.

22. Humble Yourself Before the Lord

Explanation: Humbling ourselves before God is the pathway to His favor and blessings.

Scripture:
James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Prayer:
Lord, we humble ourselves before You, asking for Your strength and guidance. Lift us up according to Your will.

23. Pride Promotes a False Sense of Security

Explanation: Pride often leads people to trust in their own abilities rather than depending on God, which can bring about a downfall.

Scripture:
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – “This 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, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me.'”

Prayer:
Lord, help us not to trust in our own abilities, but to find security in You alone.

24. Pride Cannot Stand Before God’s Justice

Explanation: Pride cannot withstand God’s judgment, and the proud will eventually be humbled by His justice.

Scripture:
Isaiah 2:12 – “The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled).”

Prayer:
Father, we surrender our pride before Your justice. Help us to walk in humility and submit to Your righteous ways.

25. The Lord Will Tear Down the House of the Proud

Explanation: Pride in a person’s life will lead to destruction, both in their relationships and in their legacy.

Scripture:
Proverbs 15:25 – “The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.”

Prayer:
Lord, keep us from building our lives on pride. Help us to build on humility, and let Your will prevail in our lives.

26. Pride Brings Only Ruin

Explanation: The pursuit of pride leads to disaster and ruin. Humility, however, brings life and favor from God.

Scripture:
Proverbs 16:5 – “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”

Prayer:
Father, protect us from the ruin of pride. Help us to humble ourselves before You and seek Your forgiveness and grace.

27. Pride Elevates Self Above Others

Explanation: Pride causes individuals to think of themselves more highly than others, leading to selfishness and conflict.

Scripture:
Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

Prayer:
Lord, help us to value others above ourselves, and may we serve them with humility and love.

28. God Brings Down the Proud

Explanation: God brings low the proud and exalts the humble. His justice humbles the arrogant.

Scripture:
Luke 1:51-52 – “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.”

Prayer:
Lord, may we never grow proud but stay humble before You, knowing that You lift up the lowly.

29. Pride Hurts Others

Explanation: Pride does not only affect the person who is proud; it also harms others by creating an environment of disrespect and selfishness.

Scripture:
Proverbs 16:19 – “Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”

Prayer:
Father, teach us to live humbly and avoid hurting others with our pride. Help us to serve and lift others up with love.

30. Pride Disrespects God’s Plan

Explanation: Pride can cause us to disregard God’s plan for our lives, thinking we know better than Him.

Scripture:
Isaiah 14:13-15 – “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God… But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.’”

Prayer:
Lord, help us to surrender to Your plan and avoid the pride that leads us to act outside Your will.

The Power of Forgiveness in Scripture

31. Pride Leads to Disrespecting Others

Explanation: Pride often causes us to look down on others, disregarding their worth and value in God’s eyes.

Scripture:
Proverbs 6:16-17 – “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood…”

Prayer:
Lord, help us to honor and respect others, seeing them as You do, and avoid the pride that leads to contempt.

32. Pride Increases the Risk of Falling

Explanation: Those who are proud are often unaware of the dangers around them and can fall into temptation more easily.

Scripture:
Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Prayer:
Father, help us to recognize the dangers of pride and to walk in humility, relying on Your strength to keep us safe.

33. Pride Prevents Us From Seeking God’s Wisdom

Explanation: When we are proud, we tend to rely on our own understanding rather than seeking God’s wisdom.

Scripture:
Proverbs 3:7 – “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

Prayer:
Lord, humble our hearts so that we may seek Your wisdom in all things and depend on Your guidance.

34. Pride Blocks Reconciliation

Explanation: Pride stands in the way of reconciliation, causing division instead of promoting peace.

Scripture:
Matthew 5:23-24 – “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Prayer:
Lord, remove any pride in our hearts that prevents reconciliation with others. Help us to be peacemakers.

35. Pride Is a Root of Strife

Explanation: Pride leads to quarrels and disputes, because it makes people unwilling to humble themselves or listen to others.

Scripture:
James 4:1-2 – “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

Prayer:
Father, please help us to humble ourselves and let go of pride to avoid conflicts in our relationships.

36. Pride Often Prevents Repentance

Explanation: Those who are proud are often unwilling to repent or acknowledge their wrongdoing.

Scripture:
Isaiah 9:9-10 – “All the people will know it—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—who say with pride and arrogance of heart, ‘The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.'”

Prayer:
Lord, soften our hearts and help us to humbly repent when we have gone astray.

37. Pride Is Foolish

Explanation: The proud often believe they are wise, but their arrogance leads them to make foolish decisions.

Scripture:
Romans 12:16 – “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

Prayer:
Lord, teach us to live in harmony and to avoid the foolishness of pride. Help us to walk humbly with others.

38. Pride Hinders True Worship

Explanation: When we are filled with pride, we cannot truly worship God, as our hearts are focused on ourselves instead of on Him.

Scripture:
Psalm 10:4 – “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

Prayer:
Father, help us to worship You in spirit and in truth, putting aside any pride that hinders our relationship with You.

39. Pride Makes Us Blind to Our Need for God

Explanation: Pride causes us to think we don’t need God’s help, leading to spiritual blindness.

Scripture:
Hosea 13:6 – “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”

Prayer:
Lord, open our eyes to see our daily dependence on You. Humble us, so we never forget our need for Your grace.

40. Pride Leads to Overestimation of Self

Explanation: Pride causes individuals to think more highly of themselves than they ought, disregarding God’s sovereignty.

Scripture:
Romans 12:3 – “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.”

Prayer:
Lord, help us to think of ourselves with humility and to remember that all we have is by Your grace.

41. Pride Makes Us Forget God’s Provision

Explanation: Pride makes us forget that everything we have is a gift from God, leading to an attitude of entitlement.

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…”

Prayer:
Father, remind us that every blessing we have is from You. Help us to stay humble and grateful for Your provision.

42. Pride Causes Rebellion Against God’s Will

Explanation: A proud heart often leads to rebellion against God’s commands, as individuals rely on their own understanding.

Scripture:
Isaiah 14:13-14 – “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God… I will make myself like the Most High.’”

Prayer:
Lord, protect us from the temptation to rebel against Your will. Help us to submit to Your authority in all things.

43. The Proud Will Be Humbled by God

Explanation: No one can remain proud in the face of God’s power and judgment. Ultimately, God will humble the proud.

Scripture:
Matthew 23:12 – “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Prayer:
Lord, we humble ourselves before You, knowing that true honor comes from You alone. Lift us up according to Your will.

44. Pride Distorts Our Perspective of Others

Explanation: Pride causes us to look down on others, distorting our understanding of them and causing division.

Scripture:
Luke 18:9-14 – The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector highlights how pride distorts our view of others, with the Pharisee looking down on the tax collector.

Prayer:
Lord, help us to see others through Your eyes, not through the lens of pride. Teach us to love and accept all people.

45. Pride Often Leads to Arrogant Speech

Explanation: Proud individuals often speak arrogantly, boasting of their accomplishments and looking down on others.

Scripture:
Proverbs 27:2 – “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.”

Prayer:
Father, guard our mouths and help us to speak with humility, avoiding arrogance in our words.

Conclusion

Pride, as the Bible teaches, is a dangerous and destructive force. It leads to conflict, strife, and even separation from God. However, when we embrace humility and follow the example of Jesus, we can experience God’s favor and blessings. By surrendering our pride and submitting to God’s will, we open the door to wisdom, honor, and eternal life. May we seek to live humble lives, always acknowledging that everything we have comes from God and that He is the source of our strength and success.

Key Question

1. What is pride according to the Bible?
Answer: Pride is an inflated sense of self-importance that often leads to rebellion against God’s authority. It is one of the things God despises, as it fosters arrogance and spiritual blindness.

2. Why does God hate pride?
Answer: God hates pride because it leads people to exalt themselves above Him. Pride separates us from God and prevents us from fully relying on His grace and wisdom.

3. How can I overcome pride?
Answer: Overcoming pride requires humility. We need to recognize that everything we have comes from God and seek to serve others rather than elevate ourselves.

4. How does humility benefit us?
Answer: Humility opens the door for God to bless and exalt us. It also promotes peace in relationships and helps us grow spiritually by depending on God.

5. What does the Bible say about the consequences of pride?
Answer: The Bible teaches that pride leads to destruction, a fall, and God’s opposition. It is a hindrance to receiving God’s favor and can lead to spiritual decay if unchecked.