25 Bible Verses About Humility (NIV & KJV)

Humility is one of the most treasured virtues in all of Scripture. While the world often celebrates pride, status, and self-promotion, the Bible teaches a different way: God exalts the lowly and resists the proud. True humility is not weakness or low self-worth; it is rightly understanding who God is and gratefully knowing our place before Him.

These Bible verses about humility reveal how a meek and contrite heart draws near to God. Throughout Scripture, we see that those who humble themselves are lifted up, given grace, and entrusted with honor. The ultimate example is Jesus Christ, who left the glory of heaven to serve and to save.

This collection of Bible Scriptures will encourage you to walk humbly with God, to serve others selflessly, and to find the surprising blessings that come from a lowly spirit.

🙇 God Exalts the Humble

Scripture promises that those who humble themselves before God will be lifted up by Him.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”— James 4:10 (NIV)“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”— James 4:10 (KJV)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”— 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”— 1 Peter 5:6 (KJV)

“Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.”— Proverbs 22:4 (NIV)“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.”— Proverbs 22:4 (KJV)

“Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”— Proverbs 29:23 (NIV)“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”— Proverbs 29:23 (KJV)

“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”— Proverbs 18:12 (NIV)“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”— Proverbs 18:12 (KJV)

🕊️ God Gives Grace to the Humble

God draws near to the lowly and pours out His grace upon them.

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.””— James 4:6 (NIV)“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”— James 4:6 (KJV)

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.””— 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)“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.”— 1 Peter 5:5 (KJV)

“For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”— Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)“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)

“Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”— Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”— Isaiah 66:2 (KJV)

✝️ The Humble Example of Christ

Jesus is the perfect model of humility, lowering Himself for our salvation.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”— Philippians 2:3 (NIV)“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”— Philippians 2:3 (KJV)

“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.”— Matthew 11:29 (NIV)“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)

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”— Philippians 2:5 (NIV)“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”— Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”— Philippians 2:8 (NIV)“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”— Philippians 2:8 (KJV)

“But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”— Matthew 19:30 (NIV)“But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”— Matthew 19:30 (KJV)

👑 The Danger of Pride

Scripture warns repeatedly that pride leads to ruin, while humility preserves us.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”— Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”— Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”— Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”— Proverbs 11:2 (KJV)

“The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”— Proverbs 16:5 (NIV)“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”— Proverbs 16:5 (KJV)

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””— Luke 14:11 (NIV)“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”— Luke 14:11 (KJV)

💛 Walking Humbly Before God

A humble walk with God shapes every part of our lives and relationships.

“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.”— Micah 6:8 (NIV)“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)

“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.”— 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)“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)

“Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.”— Proverbs 15:33 (NIV)“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”— Proverbs 15:33 (KJV)

“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.”— Zephaniah 2:3 (NIV)“Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.”— Zephaniah 2:3 (KJV)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”— Colossians 3:12 (NIV)“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”— Colossians 3:12 (KJV)

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”— Psalm 25:9 (NIV)“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”— Psalm 25:9 (KJV)

“Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.”— Psalm 138:6 (NIV)“Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”— Psalm 138:6 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Humility?

The Bible presents humility as a central trait of those who truly walk with God. Again and again, Scripture declares that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6). Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less and esteeming others above your own interests. It means acknowledging your dependence on God and submitting to His will rather than your own.

The supreme example of humility is Jesus Christ, who "humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8). Because of this, God highly exalted Him. The same principle applies to every believer: "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:11). When we humble ourselves before God, He lifts us up, grants us grace, and entrusts us with lasting honor.

Walking in humility is a daily choice that transforms how we relate to God and to one another. For more on this journey, explore these Bible verses about pride, these Bible verses about grace, and these Bible verses about wisdom.