Humility is an essential characteristic for followers of Christ. The Bible defines humility as “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 22:4). Its etymological root is in the Latin word "humus" meaning "of the earth." To be humble is to be face down in the dirt, submitting to the authority of another, without personal pride. This is the Christian's proper position before the Lord.
The Bible has tons of verses about humility, teaching us what it really means to be a servant of God, and why it’s such an important character trait to develop. Let’s take a look at some of these powerful Bible verses on humility to learn how we can set aside our pridefulness as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Humble Yourself Before the Lord
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
2 Chronicles 7:14
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.
Psalm 131:1
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.
Romans 12:3
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.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Matthew 23:8-12
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Live Humbly
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing from rivalry 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.
Colossians 3:12-13
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.
1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
James 3:13
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
God Blesses the Humble
Proverbs 22:4
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
Psalm 149:4
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
Proverbs 3:34
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
Isaiah 57:15
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.”
Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
God Exalts the Humble
Luke 1:52
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.
Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
1 Corinthians 1:28-29
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.
Psalm 147:6
The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.
The Wisdom of Humility
Psalm 25:9
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 16:18-19
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 29:23
One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Psalm 138:6
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
James 1:9-10
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 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
The Humility of Jesus
Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Philippians 2:5-8
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 made himself nothing, 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.
Zechariah 9:9
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.
Examples of Humility in the Bible
Genesis 18:27
Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.”
Numbers 12:3
Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3
And you [the Israelites] 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.
1 Kings 21:29
Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house.
2 Chronicles 34:27
Because your [King Josiah’s] heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.
Daniel 4:37
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.
Matthew 18:4
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 9:35
And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
John 3:29-30
“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John the Baptist
2 Corinthians 11:30
“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” - Paul
Quotes to Foster a Heart of Humility
Humility orients us rightly toward our bodies, emotions, and intellect. It orients us rightly toward our possessions, desires, and circ*mstances. It orients us rightly toward the cross. And nurtured carefully in the fertile soil of grace, humility grants us a harvest of true rest. - Jen Wilkin
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. - C.S. Lewis
Humility is nothing else but a right judgment of ourselves. - William Law
Additional Resources
Humility the Path to Holiness by Andrew Murray
Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul by Hannah Anderson
