26 Bible Verses About Humility

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?

Micah 6:8 ESV

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Micah 6:8 KJV

In the same chapter someone asks what would be enough to bring before God, imagining burnt offerings, thousands of rams, even a firstborn child. The answer is far simpler and far harder: do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. Humility here is not a mood or a habit of self-criticism. It is a way of walking, alongside God, that shows up in how you treat other people.

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. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Psalm 131:1-2 ESV

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

Psalm 131:1-2 KJV

The psalm describes a heart that is not lifted up, eyes not raised too high, and a person who has stopped reaching for matters too great to grasp. The picture that follows is a weaned child resting with its mother, calm rather than demanding. Humility here looks like rest: the relief of not having to understand or control everything. For an anxious, striving mind, it reads almost like permission to put something down.

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.

Romans 12:3 ESV

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Romans 12:3 KJV

Paul warns each reader not to think of themselves more highly than they ought, but to think with sober judgment. The word sober matters. He does not ask anyone to think less of themselves than is true, only to think accurately, measuring by what God has given rather than by self-promotion. Humility in this verse is honesty about yourself, which rules out both inflated pride and the false modesty that refuses to admit any gift at all.

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

1 Corinthians 4:7 KJV

Paul writes to a church divided over which teachers to follow, with some members puffed up in favour of one against another. His questions cut through it: who sees anything different in you, what do you have that you did not receive, and if you received it, why boast as if you had not? Talent, opportunity, upbringing and health all arrive as gifts. Read that way, gratitude and humility turn out to be close relatives.

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.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 KJV

The wise are told not to boast in their wisdom, the mighty not in their might, the rich not in their riches. Those three cover most of what people are proud of. The one thing worth boasting about is understanding and knowing the LORD, who practises steadfast love, justice and righteousness on the earth. Humility does not leave a person with nothing to celebrate. It moves the celebration off themselves and onto who God is.

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.

Philippians 2:5-8 ESV

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:5-8 KJV

Paul asks his readers to have the same mind as Christ Jesus, who did not hold on to equality with God but emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself to the point of death on a cross. Many readers find here the fullest picture of humility in the New Testament, and it is not weakness. It is power choosing to serve, offered not only as doctrine but as a pattern for how believers treat one another.

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.

Matthew 11:29 ESV

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:29 KJV

Jesus invites the weary to take his yoke and learn from him, describing himself as gentle and lowly in heart, where the KJV has meek and lowly. It is a striking self-description from someone who, in the same passage, says all things have been handed over to him by his Father. The humility here is not a technique to master but a person to learn from, and Jesus attaches a promise to it: rest for the soul.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

John 13:14-15 ESV

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

John 13:14-15 KJV

At supper Jesus washes his disciples' feet, a task usually associated with servants, and Peter at first refuses to let him. Then Jesus explains: if their Lord and Teacher has washed their feet, they ought to wash one another's, because he has given them an example. Humility in this passage is not an attitude kept private. It is a towel and a basin, practical service done for people who may never think to return it.

and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3-4 ESV

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3-4 KJV

The disciples ask who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus calls a child into the middle of them and says that unless they turn and become like children they will not enter it, and whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest. A child depends on others and cannot claim standing by achievement. Greatness, on this account, starts with admitting that kind of dependence rather than hiding it.

The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:11-12 ESV

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Matthew 23:11-12 KJV

This comes in a chapter where Jesus criticises religious leaders who love the best seats, public greetings and honoured titles. Against that, he says the greatest among his followers will be their servant, and that whoever exalts himself will be humbled while whoever humbles himself will be exalted. The warning is aimed at people respected for their religion, which makes it uncomfortable reading for anyone who holds a position in a church.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:10-11 ESV

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:10-11 KJV

Jesus notices guests at a meal choosing the places of honour and gives them practical advice: sit in the lowest place and let the host invite you higher, rather than risk being asked to move down in front of everyone. Then he widens it into a principle about who is humbled and who is exalted. The setting is dinner seating, but it reaches every room where people jockey for recognition, from meetings to group chats.

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

Proverbs 16:18 ESV

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18 KJV

The proverb sets pride before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is so often quoted that it can sound like a cliché, but the sequence is the point. Pride rarely looks dangerous in the moment; it looks like confidence. The proverb says it comes first, before the collapse, which means the warning is most useful precisely when things are going well and nobody seems to need it.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2 ESV

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2 KJV

When pride comes, disgrace comes with it, but with the humble is wisdom. The pairing is worth noticing. The opposite of pride here is not shame but wisdom, which suggests humility is partly a matter of being teachable. A proud person struggles to learn, because learning means admitting there was something they did not know. The humble person can take correction, ask a question and change their mind without feeling diminished.

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:6 ESV

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:6 KJV

James draws on Proverbs 3:34: God opposes the proud, where the KJV says resisteth, but gives grace to the humble. He writes into a situation of quarrels and fights among believers, which he traces to desires at war within them. Pride, in this reading, is not only a private flaw. It sets a person against God and against neighbours at once, while humility leaves room for grace to come in.

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:13-14 ESV

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18:13-14 KJV

Jesus tells this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt. The tax collector stands far off, will not lift his eyes, and asks only for mercy as a sinner. Jesus says he went home justified rather than the Pharisee who prayed about his own virtues. The parable warns that comparison can turn even prayer into self-congratulation, and that God hears the honest plea.

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:3 ESV

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Galatians 6:3 KJV

Paul says that anyone who thinks they are something when they are nothing deceives themselves. He says it in a passage about gently restoring someone caught in wrongdoing and bearing one another's burdens. The setting matters: pride is most tempting exactly when someone else has fallen and you have not. The verse warns against using another person's failure as a mirror that flatters you, and calls for gentleness and a careful look at yourself.

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.

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Philippians 2:3-4 KJV

Paul tells his readers to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility to count others more significant than themselves, looking to the interests of others as well as their own. The ESV says not only, the KJV says also, and neither asks anyone to neglect their own needs. What Paul rules out is treating your own needs as the only ones that count, a demanding and freeing standard for any household, workplace or friendship.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Romans 12:16 ESV

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 12:16 KJV

Paul urges his readers to live in harmony, not to be haughty, to associate with the lowly, and never to be wise in their own sight. The KJV's condescend to men of low estate uses condescend in an older sense, closer to stepping down to stand alongside than to looking down on someone. Humility here is social. It shows in whose company you keep, whose opinion you listen to, and who you notice in a room.

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Ephesians 4:2 ESV

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Ephesians 4:2 KJV

Writing as a prisoner for the Lord, Paul urges his readers to walk with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. The KJV has lowliness and meekness. Humility appears in a list that is entirely about living with other people, alongside patience and forbearance. Bearing with someone is hard to do from a height. It tends to come more easily to a person who knows how often others have borne with them.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Colossians 3:12 ESV

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:12 KJV

Paul tells his readers to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, and in the same instruction he addresses them as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved. It is a clothing image, and the identity comes with the clothing. Humility here grows out of being loved, not out of being made to feel small. People secure in God's love have less need to prove themselves, and more freedom to serve.

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Proverbs 27:2 ESV

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Proverbs 27:2 KJV

Praise is better coming from another person, even a stranger, than from your own mouth. This is one of the most practical proverbs on the subject. It does not say good work should go unrecognised. It says recognition means more when someone else offers it. In a culture of personal branding and constant self-promotion, it raises an honest question about how much of our talk is spent making sure people know what we have done.

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

James 4:10 ESV

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 4:10 KJV

James tells his readers to humble themselves before the Lord, with the promise that he will exalt them. He writes this in a passage calling for repentance: drawing near to God, cleansing hands, even mourning over sin. Humility here is something a person chooses to do, not only something that happens to them. The lifting up is left to God. The verse does not say when or how, only that the one who stops exalting themselves is not left on the ground.

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

1 Peter 5:5-6 ESV

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

1 Peter 5:5-6 KJV

The letter tells all its readers, younger and older, to clothe themselves with humility toward one another, repeats that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble, and urges them to humble themselves under God's mighty hand so that he may exalt them at the proper time. In the same passage it invites them to cast their anxieties on him. Humility and anxiety turn out to be connected: letting go of control is part of both.

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.

Isaiah 57:15 ESV

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 57:15 KJV

God is described as the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, and who dwells in the high and holy place. Yet the same verse says he also dwells with the contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive their spirit and their heart. The contrast is startling. The God above everything chooses to live close to people who know they are low, not to those who imagine themselves high.

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Psalm 25:9 ESV

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psalm 25:9 KJV

The ESV says God leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way; the KJV speaks of the meek being guided in judgment. The psalm is a prayer for guidance and forgiveness from someone surrounded by trouble. The promise suggests a link between humility and being guided: a person convinced they already know the way is hard to lead anywhere. Teachability, once again, sits close to the heart of humility.

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.

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

God speaks to Solomon at night after the temple is dedicated, promising that if his people who are called by his name humble themselves, pray, seek his face and turn from their wicked ways, he will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. The promise was first given to Israel, and readers differ on how directly it applies to nations today. Either way, humility belongs to what returning to God looks like, alongside prayer, seeking and turning.