Encouraging Bible Verses About Humility and Being Humble

What does the Bible say about living with humility and does it really matter? This ultimate list of Bible verses about humility will help you uncover how being humble is a reflection of a life surrendered to the Lord.

From the beginning of time, people have been exalting themselves. We are perhaps more efficient at it these days, able to broadcast ourselves instantly over social media with a few taps on the keyboard. 

Our human nature wants us to make sure that people know how good, smart, or wonderful we are. This tendency isn’t what God has designed for our walk with Him.

Bible verses about humility and godly confidence tell a different story of a life lived to glorify God and not ourselves. We can learn so much in God’s Word about living a life with a humble heart.

What does it mean to be humble in the Bible?

Being humble in today’s culture is not generally a sought-after trait. Arguments, fights, and even wars have been started over the damage done to someone’s pride. But God calls us to be humble.

What does the Bible say about humility?

Being humble in the Bible is about making yourself low or remaining low as to leave room for the exaltation of God. The place of honor or glory is not for you; it is for God. 

We struggle with this quite naturally as we try to depend on our own strength, our own resources, our own talents. The Lord often lets us experience humble circumstances so that we can learn to depend on Him instead of ourselves.

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Biblical examples of humility in the Bible

While circumstances are much different for us than biblical times, there are so many ways that life is still the same. 

We struggle to make sure that people know just how fantastic we are, and that we will get what we think are our much-deserved accolades. 

Three examples in the Bible stand out as people who did not look to be honored. Rather, their humility made room for God to be exalted in their lives.

All the following Bible verses are in the English Standard Version (ESV) translation.

Moses: Let God Stand Up for You

Numbers 12:3

“Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.”

Numbers chapters 11 and 12 paint an interesting picture of Moses as he was being criticized. Matthew Henry’s commentary on this passage points out that Moses certainly was capable of defense – after all, hadn’t he stood up on behalf of God when the Israelites had formed the golden calf? 

But Moses did not respond to the criticism from Miriam and Aaron for marrying the Cushite woman. Instead, God stood up for Moses and was angry at them for speaking against them.

One of our most vulnerable times for giving into the temptation of pride is when we are criticized. We want everyone to understand our words, thoughts, and actions. 

Moses did not listen to them. Perhaps he learned from observing the pitfalls of pleasing people, like when Aaron appeased the people by forming the golden calf (Exodus 32). Instead, Moses let the criticism slide, and God stood up for Him in a mighty way.

Mary: A Servant of the Lord

Mary, about to become the mother of Jesus, had just been given a mind-boggling assignment from an angel: to give birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She asked for a brief explanation in Luke 1:34: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Her response to that clarification in verse 38 was ““Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Imagine your response to this. It would be natural to demand more information or to argue that this isn’t what you wanted to do. Or to take it into another direction, you might say, “Well, of course, I have been selected for this because of how wonderful I am.”

Mary’s response was to say, “I am the servant of the Lord.” Being a servant in Bible times was much different than most people’s experience today of being an employee. They lived their lives wholly devoted to their master’s will. 

This servant position that Mary takes on willingly, knowing that she will be misunderstood by others, even those close to her, reflects a humble heart.

Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Being Humble

The very best example of humility is in Jesus Christ, and is summarized well in this passage.

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 emptied himself, by 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.”

Even though Jesus, as part of the Trinity, is by very nature God, He laid that aside to take human form. He became our Savior, paying the price for our sins.

Did Jesus deserve to be served? Absolutely yes! But what did He do instead? He took on the very nature of the servant, and he obeyed the Lord.

Matthew 20:28

”Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

When we consider the example of Jesus Christ, our only response can be to live a life of service to Him. Sometimes this will take us to lofty places, but more often than not, it takes us to quiet, unrecognized places.

Dive more into what it really means to be humble with Morning Prayer Time on YouTube. It’s the perfect way to read Scripture and pray together as a community of believers praying for godly character.

23 Encouraging Bible verses about Humility

From these examples of humility in the Bible, we know that being humble is important to God. Take a look at these encouraging Bible verses about humility to see the best ways to grow a humble heart.

To have a humble heart, we first must have a reverent view of the Lord.

Proverbs 15:16

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.”

Fear of the Lord, simply put, is a reverent view of how large and powerful the Lord is, and how small we are. This pairs best with a humble heart, one that is more likely to depend on the Lord.

A person with a proud heart often exalts herself and does not have room for the fear of the Lord, depending on her own strength to get her through. 

This proverb reminds us that it is better to fear the Lord than to gather our treasures here on earth.

Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Having a humble heart that fears the Lord brings wisdom and knowledge. The opposite of this, being a fool, is hating instruction and wisdom.

We do this today when we ignore God’s Word, or something we know in our heart to be wrong, and do what we want to do anyway, often without praying about it.

Another form this might take today could be not listening to godly people with relevant experience, who want to offer constructive feedback.

Exodus 3:5

“Then he said, ‘Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’”

Dedicated sacred space was needed more in the Old Testament as it was one of the only ways to experience the Lord for most people.

With Jesus Christ in our hearts today, we carry that sacred space with us, able to come into His presence at any time. But a humble heart that fears the Lord is prepared to approach God in prayer.

Psalm 8:4

“What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” 

This verse from the psalmist David expresses what our attitude should be before the Lord. We need to live lives of gratitude for God’s love and mercy for us.

1 Corinthians 10:31

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Having a humble heart that fears the Lord means living an intentional life for His glory. In this context, the Apostle Paul was talking about whether or not people should eat food that had been sacrificed to idols.

This passage guides us to honor God in all our decisions, both for our own hearts and for the sake of those who may be influenced by our actions.

The freedom we have in Christ should also be balanced by a humble heart that does not seek just its own good, but also the good of his neighbor (v. 24.)

Being humble does not mean that we are weak or helpless, but rather that we place our pride and find our strength in the Lord. 

Take a look at these Bible verses about being humble that emphasize our confidence in the Lord.

Psalm 44:8

“In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.”

Our world is full of boasts. Some of them have true facts within, but are full of sinful pride. Other boasts aren’t true, and mislead those who hear them.

But if we boast in the Lord, of His goodness and His deliverance in our lives, we are giving credit where it is due. 

It’s not an opportunity to sneak in bragging. “Look what God did through me!” can be good or bad, depending on your heart. 

It’s a chance to share your gratitude to the Lord for what He has done, and to share the hope of Jesus Christ with others.

Psalm 34:2

“My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.”

The psalmist David was in a situation where he needed God’s deliverance. The Lord gave it to him, and he celebrated by giving credit to the Lord. 

David calls to those who are in humble conditions to see this and be encouraged by it. We can be heartened by this example of God’s provision for David in his time of need.

Galatians 6:14

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The Apostle Paul mentions this at the end of Galatians 6, when speaking of those who wanted to require those who were not circumcised to be circumcised. This was not required to be a follower of Christ, but some wanted to say that it was.

At the time, for some people, this was another benchmark to show how good of a Christian you were. The Apostle Paul, before he started following Christ, was very religious and would have hit most of those requirements people desired without actually following Christ.

So Paul, though he could have bragged of those “accomplishments,” instead found the only thing worth boasting about was Jesus Christ. 

We do well to reflect on what accomplishments we might consider make us a good Christian, and look to set them aside as Paul did.

So how do we go about being humble? These Bible verses about being humble point us towards ways we can show humility and fear of the Lord.

1 Peter 5:6

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,.” 

In this passage, the Apostle Paul was addressing the leadership of the early Christian church, and exhorting them to serve the flock of God honorably. 

Being a godly leader should not be done to acquire power to benefit yourself, but rather, to serve the Lord. In due time, serving under God’s mighty hand, He will put you where He wants you to be.

Philippians 2:3-4

“Do nothing from selfish ambition 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.” 

Our natural tendencies lean towards vain conceit rather than lowliness of mind. We should instead, in humility, value others as more important than ourselves. 

Who are we to claim we are better or deserve more than another person? We should look to honor God and edify others instead of just building ourselves up.

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.”

This was said by the Lord when the temple that Solomon built was being consecrated. We can still learn from the principle here. The Lord cares about us as a people honoring Him, and part of that is honor is humility before Him. 

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?”

This Bible verse about humility does a great job of simplifying what the Christian walk should be: being just, kind, and humble. 

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.”

Our view of ourselves is often not accurate. If we think we are worth nothing, we forget that we are created in the image of God, and that Jesus loves us so much that He made the sacrifice for our sins.

If we think we are the best thing around, we think higher of ourselves than we ought to think, and are more likely to put others down to raise ourselves up.

This Bible verse about humility reminds us to think of ourselves realistically, and to steward the gifts that God has given us. 

Maybe some of your gifts haven’t been developed yet and you don’t feel ready; or maybe you are too confident in your gifts and attribute them to yourself, not God. God gave Jesus all the gifts, and yet Jesus is the perfect example of humility. (Matthew Henry)

Matthew 18:3 

“And said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”

If it’s been a number of years since you were a little child, it’s easy to forget the trust you had to put in other people to live your life. As you grow, you become more independent and have to develop your own strengths so that you can “adult” successfully.

But as a child, especially when you were very young, you just had to trust that you would be provided for, that someone would see that you had what you needed. Ideally, you would be greatly loved and would feel secure in that love.

This dependence is a humbling place, easy to accept as a child, but harder to accept as an adult. This is the way to come to the Lord, in this dependence for salvation, strength, provision, and much more. 

Accepting God’s gift of salvation in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ does require a lack of pride in our own resources, and a humble dependence on God to provide the forgiveness we so desperately need, but cannot earn on our own.

James 4:10

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Trying to exalt ourselves is such a burden. You must always worry about what people think of you, refining an image and a schedule that shows off just how good you are. 

What a relief it can be to give that over to the Lord! Be faithful to what God has called you to do, and He will lift you up at the proper time. 

You may never hear accolades from the people you strive to please, but how much better to hear from our Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

Jeremiah 9:23-24 

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” 

It doesn’t matter if you are the wisest, strongest, or richest; it only matters that you know the Lord. Every person on earth should be humbled because the Lord is all those things beyond what we could even imagine. 

2 Corinthians 4:18

“As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 

Our prideful pursuits usually are connected to what we are building up for ourselves here on earth. If we are thinking eternally, it can develop a more humble spirit in us, building up our treasure in heaven. 

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.” 

The source of conflict between people can often stem from issues of pride. We think we are too important, too knowledgeable, too busy to be bothered with other people. This can create hurt feelings and resentment.

The world does have some hierarchies in place. We need leaders – think governments, bosses, or chairpersons. But it does not mean that “people of low position” (or “lowly”) are not worthy of your time.

It doesn’t mean that everyone gets to have the same expectation of you in terms of attention. But do not wall yourself off from others because you think you are better than them in some way.

Proverbs 16:18

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

This proverb lays out a warning to be humble. Being full of pride can lead to your own destruction, one that could be celebrated by the enemies you have made while you have built yourself up at their expense.

Colossians 3:12

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

How should we act as Christians? The fact that two of these five traits mentioned relate back to a humble attitude is telling. 

We are to clothe ourselves with humility and meekness to be an appropriate representative of Christ’s kingdom.

Deuteronomy 8:2

“And you 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.”

Deuteronomy contains sermons by Moses to the Israelites. This Bible verse about humility was meant to be a reminder to the people of Israel to be humble. But we can also learn from it today.

What have you been through that has humbled you? Have you taken that lesson to heart? Reflect on your experiences, and let those lessons humble your heart.

Proverbs 3:34

“Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.” 

Though the wicked sometimes will prosper (Psalm 73:3), these proud mockers will not triumph in the long run (Psalm 73:18-19). 

The Lord sees you and knows your humble faithfulness. Let Him show His favor in your life when it is His will.

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Whether you are a new Christian or an experienced one, you’ve most likely made an evaluation in your head if you are “good enough.” You might be deciding if you are good enough to go to heaven, good enough to serve, good enough to be called a Christian.

The honest truth is, that none of us are good enough for any of that. It is only by our faith in Jesus Christ that we are able to accept the free gift of salvation. We cannot be proud of our accomplishments bringing us to Christ. We can only be proud of Christ.

Your next steps to living out these Bible verses about humility

Being humble for some might seem easy, but for others, it’s a true struggle. How can we fight against every instinct of exalting ourselves and instead live a life of humility? Here are three trips for cultivating an attitude of humility.

1. Look to Jesus as the perfect example of humility. The meaning for the word Christian is “follower of Christ.” We are to follow Jesus, in His examples in love and compassion but also humility. This does not always seem like the most exciting way to follow Christ, but our humble steps of faith are often quiet.
2. Live for God’s approval. Don’t try to prove yourself to others and set up a trap for yourself to be tempted to boast. We often fail at being humble when we want others to praise us. Live to please God, not man.
3. Learn more about having a humble heart. There are even more Bible verses about humility than listed in this article. Study the Bible to unlock what it means to have God character and live with humility.

We have a FREE 31-day Scripture reading plan about humility. Spend time reading and praying through these Bible verses about humility.

Download your free Scripture reading plan, here. 

Thanks to Juliana from Hope-Filled Faith for this beautiful Scripture plan!

“And because Christ had thus humbled himself before God, and God was ever before Him, He found it possible to humble Himself before men, too, and to be the Servant of all. His humility was simply the surrender of Himself to God, to allow Him to do in Him what He pleased, whatever men around might say of Him, or do to Him.”

Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness.

If Jesus Christ humbled Himself in order to do the will of God, why should we not do the same? Taking these scriptures to heart, and living life with a humble heart is a beautiful way to serve the Lord.

If you liked “Bible Verses About Being Humble,” you’ll love more of our Growth and Grace: Becoming a Virtuous Woman series. It’s the perfect way to explore what the Bible says about living with godly character.