God hates pride: 25 Bible Verses about Pride

Pride is the root of all evil. It is the first and most severe sin ever committed in history. We cannot love God and be proud at the same time. He hates those who want to be higher than anyone or above Him.

Moreover, pride is turning away from God and believing we can do everything independently. Besides, human pride thinks lives would be much better without God.

But where does pride come from?

Understanding the Origin of Pride

Satan‘s pride had caused him to desire to be higher than God. He rebelled against God because he was not happy with the position God had entrusted to him. He wanted to raise his throne above the stars of God and become the Highest. (Isaiah 14:12-14)

He was regarded as the most beautiful of all of God’s creations. The Scripture describes Satan as the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. God anointed him as a guardian cherub. He was blameless in his ways from the day he was created until pride got in his way. (Ezekiel 28:12-15)

With this, God exiled him and the other angels with him from Heaven. 

Yet, Satan did not stop his ambitions and tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It was the beginning of having pride in humans. It started with thinking we could be better than God.

Bible Verses about Pride

However, because of God’s unconditional love, He wanted to reunite with us and bring us back to our purpose. Jesus Christ came down from heaven, died, and was resurrected to redeem us from the prideful acts of satan. 

Now that Christ has paid the price of pride. We must be alert because satan is like a devouring lion, ready to attack us. He will instill pride in us to destroy the relationship that God has already restored. 

So, to keep us away from pride, here are some helpful Bible Verses to remember.

1. “This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches.” - Jeremiah 9:23

2. “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” - Proverbs 16:5

3. “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” - Proverbs 8:13

4. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” - Philippians 2:3

5. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”- James 4:10

6. “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” - James 4:6

7. “The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.” - Isaiah 23:9

8. “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” - Galatians 6:4

9. “The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled)” - Isaiah 2:12

10. “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” - Proverbs 11:2

11. “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” - Proverbs 13:10

12. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” -Proverbs 16:18

13. “Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” - Proverbs 16:19

14. “Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” - Proverbs 19:12

15. “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” - Psalms 10:4

16. “Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.” - Proverbs 21:4

17. “The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury.” - Proverbs 21:24

18. “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” - Proverbs 27:2

19. “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” - Proverbs 29:23

20. “Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.” - Psalms 138:6

21. “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” - Romans 12:3

22. “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” - Romans 12:16

23. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” - 1 Corinthian 13:4

24. “But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.” - Daniel 5:20

25. “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Luke 14:11

What can we get from being humble?

Pride will only harm us and steal the wonderful things God has prepared for us. In fact, there are more than 73 Bible verses about humility and 51 verses about pride in the Bible. 

In other words, being humble before the Lord has more benefits than allowing satan to instill pride in us. 

Humility spares us from God’s wrath

As our Heavenly Father, God hates His prideful children, yet He disciplines us because He loves us. However, when God sees our humility, He mercifully forgives us and spares us from disobedience. 

2 Chronicles 32:36 says, “Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore, the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.”

Because of Hezekiah’s humility, a whole city was spared from God’s anger.

Humility allows God to hear our prayers

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God is not demanding too much but only desires to see our humble hearts before Him. As a loving father, He longs to see us need Him and want Him to become a part of our lives. He listens to those who are humble in spirit.

Humility is the key to genuine happiness

When we humble ourselves before the Lord and not let pride come our way, we will experience real happiness. It is the kind of satisfaction that only God can give. The kind of happiness that nothing in this world could ever offer.

As mature Christians, we need to practice humility instead of pride to open the windows of heaven and experience God’s abundant love. Besides, humility will not only please God but will help you rejoice amidst trials. 

More so, you will be a blessing to others when you choose to be humble. It could strengthen your connection with your family and to other people.