8276 humility

An attitude of lowliness and obedience, grounded in the recognition of one’s status before God as his creatures.

God commands humility

Mic 6:8; Jas 4:10; 1Pe 3:8 See also Ex 10:3; Pr 16:19; Isa 57:15; Isa 58:5; Zep 2:3; Lk 14:9-11; Ro 12:3 sober assessment of oneself; 1Co 1:28; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12; Tit 3:2; Jas 3:13; 1Pe 5:5

God exalts the humble

Lk 1:52 See also 2Sa 7:8; 1Ki 14:7

Believers should humble themselves before God

2Ch 7:14; 1Pe 5:6 See also 2Sa 22:28 Humility linked with repentance: 1Ki 21:29; 2Ki 22:19; 2Ch 12:6-7,12; 2Ch 30:11; 2Ch 33:12,19; 2Ch 34:27 Humility linked with God’s favour: Ps 18:27; Ps 25:9; Ps 138:6; Ps 147:6; Ps 149:4; Pr 3:34; Pr 18:12; Jas 4:6; Isa 29:19; Isa 38:15; Isa 57:15; Pr 15:33; Pr 22:4
Ps 35:13; Jer 44:10 lack of humility linked with disobedience

God humbles his people to renew and restore them

Ps 44:9 See also Lev 26:41; Dt 8:2,16; 1Ki 11:39; 2Ch 28:19; Ps 107:39; Isa 9:1; 2Co 12:21

God humbles the proud

Lk 18:14 See also 1Sa 2:7; Isa 2:11,17; Isa 5:15; Isa 13:11; Isa 23:9; Isa 25:11; Isa 26:5; Da 4:37

Examples of humble people

Outstanding individuals Ge 32:10 Jacob; Ge 41:16 Joseph; Nu 12:3 Moses; 1Sa 9:21 Saul David: 1Sa 18:18; 2Sa 7:18
1Ki 3:7 Solomon; Da 2:30 Daniel; Mt 3:14 John the Baptist; Lk 1:43 Elizabeth; Lk 1:48 Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ Paul: 1Ti 1:15; Ac 20:19

Other examples 2Sa 16:4; Pr 6:3; Pr 11:2; Pr 16:19; Pr 29:23; Da 5:22; Mt 8:8; Mt 15:27; Mt 18:4

The example of Jesus Christ

Php 2:5-8 The humility of Jesus Christ foretold: Isa 53:3-5,7-8; Zec 9:9 pp Mt 21:5 pp Jn 12:15
Mt 11:29; Mt 20:28; Lk 22:26-27; Jn 13:4; 2Co 8:9

See also