Bible Verses About Humility
The Bible presents humility as the heart-posture God blesses: Scripture says God gives grace to the humble while resisting pride, calls believers to value others above themselves, and points to Jesus — gentle and lowly — as the perfect example. Walking humbly with God brings wisdom, honor, and His lifting up in due time. These verses gather the Bible's clearest teaching on living humbly.
Philippians 2:3-4
doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
Paul's call to set aside selfish ambition and honor others above yourself is the New Testament's clearest definition of humble living.
James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
This verse reveals the stakes of pride: God actively resists it, while humility opens the way for His grace.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
Peter ties humility to trust, promising that God lifts up in His timing those who bow low and hand Him their worries.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
The prophet distills everything God asks of us into three things, and walking humbly with Him crowns the list.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
This proverb draws the sharp contrast: pride ends in disgrace, but humility is where wisdom begins.
Matthew 23:12
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Jesus states the kingdom's great reversal: self-promotion leads downward, while lowering yourself is the path God raises.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
A short, direct promise that bowing before the Lord is never a loss, because He Himself does the lifting.
Philippians 2:5-8
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.
Christ's willing descent from heaven's glory to a servant's death is the ultimate portrait of the humility believers are called to imitate.
Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
Paul pictures humility as clothing God's chosen people deliberately put on each day, alongside compassion, kindness, and patience.
Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
Jesus points to His own gentle heart as the model, inviting the weary to take His yoke and learn humility directly from Him.
Ephesians 4:2
with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Humility heads Paul's list of the qualities that keep believers patient, gentle, and united with one another in love.
Proverbs 22:4
The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
This proverb links humility with reverence for the Lord and promises that honor and true life follow it.
Scripture text is in the public domain. (World English Bible)
A guided prayer for this topic →
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Bible say about humility?
- Scripture consistently honors the lowly heart: God gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud (James 4:6), calls believers to value others above themselves (Philippians 2:3-4), and promises to lift up those who humble themselves before Him (James 4:10).
- What is the most famous Bible verse about humility?
- Philippians 2:3-4 is likely the best known, with Micah 6:8 and James 4:6 close behind — together they define humility as valuing others, walking humbly with God, and receiving His grace.
- How was Jesus an example of humility?
- Jesus described His own heart as gentle and humble (Matthew 11:29), and Philippians 2:5-8 traces His willing descent from divine glory to a servant's obedience, even to death on a cross.
- Why does God value humility so highly?
- Humility admits our dependence on God rather than ourselves. Proverbs 11:2 says wisdom comes with it, and 1 Peter 5:6 promises God exalts the humble in His own timing.
- How can I grow in humility?
- Practice it deliberately: Colossians 3:12 says to clothe yourself with humility daily, Romans 12:3 urges sober self-judgment, and serving others in prayer and action trains the heart to put itself second.
A verse every morning, in your language
Bosko brings you a verse every morning with a short reflection, in any of 30 translations — and lets you bookmark the ones that land, alongside your tradition's daily readings and the full Bible. One verse can become a daily habit.
