bible verses about humility

Bible Verses About Humility: 15 Scriptures

Bible verses about humility: 15 Scriptures on lowliness of mind, valuing others above yourself, and Christ who humbled himself—with plain notes and links.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 28, 2026Updated October 26, 20265 min readPhilippians 2:3 (NIV)

A person kneels to gather spilled grain back into a basket.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

— Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about humility want Scripture for lowliness of mind — not weakness, love that values others above self, and Christ who emptied himself first. This page is a numbered list of fifteen passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. The wider essay sits under Love and humility. Related lists: Bible verses about serving others, Bible verses about sacrifice, Bible verses about mercy, and Bible verses about God's love. Humility here is lowliness of mind — distinct from the everyday service focus in Bible verses about serving others and the costly offering focus in Bible verses about sacrifice. Scripture often pairs humbling yourself with going without food; see Bible verses about fasting. Colossians 3:12 pairs humility with compassion, listed in Bible verses about compassion. Jesus called himself gentle and humble in heart, and Ephesians 4:2 pairs humility with gentleness; see Bible verses about gentleness.

Word study (lead verse). In Philippians 2:3 Paul calls for tapeinophrosynē — humility of mind / lowliness — from Greek ταπεινοφροσύνη (Strong's G5012): not self-hatred, but a settled low estimate of self that esteems others higher. Old Testament near-kin is Hebrew עָנָו anav (Strong's H6035) — meek / humble before God. See also Bible Hub G5012 and Bible Hub H6035.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philippians 2 presses that lowliness as the path of peace: "Christ came to humble us, let there not be among us a spirit of pride. We must be severe upon our own faults, and quick in observing our own defects, but ready to make favourable allowances for others… Neither inward nor outward peace can be enjoyed, without lowliness of mind" (Bible Hub commentaries on Philippians 2:3; fuller MHC on the chapter at Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Philippians 2 and Bible Hub MHC Philippians 2).

15 Bible verses about humility

  1. Philippians 2:3. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Humility is a way of valuing, not a pose of weakness.

  2. Micah 6:8. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Walking humbly is required, not optional. See Bible verses about mercy.

  3. Proverbs 22:4. "Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life." True humility begins with reverence for God.

  4. James 4:6. "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'" Pride meets opposition; humility meets grace.

  5. 1 Peter 5:5-6. "…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." Humility is clothing you put on — then God does the lifting.

  6. Matthew 23:12. "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." The kingdom reverses status games.

  7. Philippians 2:5-8. "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" Christ's humility is the pattern. See Bible verses about sacrifice and Bible verses about obedience.

  8. Proverbs 11:2. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Humility and wisdom travel together.

  9. Colossians 3:12. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Humility is part of the church's everyday wardrobe. See Bible verses about serving others.

  10. 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 names his own heart as humble — and offers rest.

  11. Romans 12:3. "…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." Humility includes sober self-assessment.

  12. Luke 14:11. "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Banquet etiquette becomes kingdom ethics.

  13. Ephesians 4:2. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Humility shows up as patience with people. See Bible verses about love.

  14. Proverbs 15:33. "Wisdom's instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor." Honor is a result, not a grab.

  15. 1 Corinthians 13:4. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." Love refuses pride — humility is love's posture. See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Love and humility.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a status scramble at work, a pride habit you keep defending, or a hard conversation where you want to win — not fifteen. Read it out loud. If you need the "value others" line, start with Philippians 2:3. If you need Christ's pattern, start with Philippians 2:5-8 or Matthew 11:29. If you need the essay that frames humility inside love, read Love and humility. For serving as a related but different search, see Bible verses about serving others. For the Beatitude's yielded strength (praus), see Bible verses about meekness. For Jesus' meek and lowly heart, see Bible verses about meek and lowly. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about humility?

Philippians 2:3 (value others above yourselves), Micah 6:8 (walk humbly with your God), and Matthew 11:29 (I am gentle and humble in heart) are clear starting places.

What does the Bible mean by humility?

In Philippians 2:3 it is lowliness of mind — esteeming others, not chasing vain glory — patterned on Christ who humbled himself (Philippians 2:5-8). See Love and humility.

How is humility different from serving others or sacrifice?

Humility is the inward posture of lowliness; serving others is the outward act of help; sacrifice is costly self-offering. Link all three: Bible verses about serving others and Bible verses about sacrifice.

What Bible verse helps when pride keeps winning?

James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5-6, and Proverbs 11:2. God opposes the proud and shows favor to the humble. The haughty-spirit list is Bible verses about pride.

Where can I read more about love and humility?

Start with Love and humility, then Bible verses about God's love and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Sources

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