What does the Bible say about pride?

Signs of pride

You can’t admit you were wrong. You need credit. You compare yourself to others. You get defensive at correction. You don’t pray, because you don’t really think you need to. You look down on certain people.

Pride vs. confidence

Confidence in God and the gifts He gave you is good. Being glad about a job well done is fine (Galatians 6:4). Pride takes the credit God deserves and uses it to look down on others.

How to grow in humility

Look at Jesus, who washed feet and went to the cross (Philippians 2:5–8). Thank God out loud for what you have. Ask people you trust where you’re proud, and listen. Serve in ways no one sees. Confess quickly.

What the Bible says

1. 01

   Grace to the humble.

   “But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

   James 4:6–10
2. 02

   Before a fall.

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

   Proverbs 16:18
3. 03

   Two men praying.

   “To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.””

   Luke 18:9–14
4. 04

   The mind of Christ.

   “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.”

   Philippians 2:3–8
5. 05

   Clothe yourselves with humility.

   “Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.”

   1 Peter 5:5–6
6. 06

   Walk humbly with your God.

   “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

   Micah 6:8

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.