There are many Bible verses about the sin of pride in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. Here are some Scripture references about pride organized into various topics.
Bible Verses About Pride KJV – Lucifer’s Pride
God never created Satan. Rather, He created a perfect, covering angel who He named Lucifer. But since Lucifer was so beautiful, he thought he should have God’s position, and coveted it. He became infected with the sin of pride, and it was to his downfall. Now he is known as Satan.
Ezekiel 28:14
“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” (KJV)
This verse in Ezekiel talks about Lucifer, an perfect, angelic creation of God, and before he became Satan.
Isaiah 14:12-13
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north” (KJV)
The prophet Isaiah explained how Lucifer became Satan — he became prideful. Just knowing how disastrous pride can be to an angel should be a warning for us humans. Satan, after he lost his exalted status, was filled with anger against God, and he successfully used the tool called “the pride of life” to cause sin to enter into God’s creation as he tempted the human woman, Eve.
Genesis 3:6
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (KJV)
The phrase, “desired to make one wise” refers to “the pride of life,” which is mentioned in 1 John 2:16. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (KJV) Satan successfully used all three of these evils to introduce sin into the human race. Lucifer was corrupted and lost his position through pride, and he utilized pride to cause Eve to sin.
Bible Verses About Pride KJV – Proverbs
Proverbs is a book of instruction written by Solomon to his son. The words of this book are words of wisdom for an individual. This book of the Bible contains the most references to the sin of pride. Here are the Bible verses about pride from the Book of Proverbs in the order that they appear.
Proverbs 6:16-19
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (KJV)
To please God, we need to love what He loves and hate what He hates. This verse is a list of things that He hates, and “a proud look” is first on the list.
Proverbs 8:13
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” (KJV)
Fearing God is being afraid to displease Him. To fear Him, He tells us to hate evil, including pride. He hates pride, and as His children, we are to hate it, too. Hating pride is to hate it in our lives first because we can recognize it and repent of it.
Proverbs 11:2
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (KJV)
Because God hates pride, He will judge and punish those who are prideful. God makes sure that shame will follow those who are proud.
Proverbs 13:10
“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (KJV)
Proud people have strife, arguments, and conflicts. Proud people are not always peaceful people, but those who are “well-advised” have wisdom.
Proverbs 16:5
“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” (KJV)
Being proud can be a secret sin, only found in your heart. But God sees the heart, and He sees pride. He will punish pride, and there is nothing a proud person can do to escape His punishment except to humble themselves and repent before God of this sin.
Proverbs 16:18-19
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” (KJV)
This is one of the most quoted Bible verses about pride. God hates the sin of pride, and He promises destruction to those who indulge in it. God says that it is far better to be humble than to enjoy the spoil (usually known as the goods taken from a defeated army after a military victory) with those who are proud. This verse tells us that there is nothing in this world that is worth the punishment of being proud.
Proverbs 21:2
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” (KJV)
It is prideful for people to do what they think is right, rather than obeying God and His commands in His holy Word.
Proverbs 25:27
“It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.” (KJV)
The word “pride” is not mentioned in this verse, but when people elevate and seek attention for themselves, this is pride, and the attention they do get by self-promotion is not sincere.
Proverbs 26:12
“Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” (KJV)
Being self-conceited is being foolish. A foolish person may sin out of their ignorance, and they may listen and respond to correction, but a self-conceited person will not.
Proverbs 27:2
“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” (KJV)
God says in this verse that we should not seek self-promotion. Seeking attention for ourselves and our accomplishments leads to pride. Others will see what we have done, and when they do praise us, this praise can usually be considered sincere. There is a thing such as flattery, and we shouldn’t fall for that, but praise that will keep us humble is a good thing.
Proverbs 29:23
“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” (KJV)
Sin is destructive and pride even more so. Those who are humble will have honor, even honor that prideful people desire.
Bible Verses About Pride – Nations, World Leaders, and Cities
The sin of pride affects not only individuals, but also large groups of people. Here are some examples mentioned in the KJV of entire masses of people who were collectively prideful. These verses are arranged according to how they appear in the Bible.
2 Chronicles 32:26
“Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.” (KJV)
Hezekiah was a good king of the Israelite Kingdom of Judah, but despite his godliness, he was proud. Being a proud person, the king also influenced the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem, and the rest of his kingdom as well. God corrected King Hezekiah, and Hezekiah repented of his sin of pride before he died and met God personally. Because Hezekiah was sensitive, and even obedient, to the chastisement of God, God suspended His judgment on Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah.
Isaiah 16:6
“We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.” (KJV)
The nation of Moab was an enemy country of Israel. But God would not allow them to attack Israel, and despite their boastings, what they said were lies that would not happen. Jeremiah chapter 48 tells of God’s judgement against the country of Moab.
Jeremiah 48:29
“We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.” (KJV)
The prophet Jeremiah declared the judgment of God on prideful Moab because Moab “magnified himself against the LORD” (Jeremiah 48:26). Pride caused the nation of Moab to hate Israel, and to think they could attack the land of Israel and God would not intervene for His people.
Jeremiah 49:16
“Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.” (KJV)
This prophecy spoken by the prophet Jeremiah was against the proud Edomites, a neighboring country of Israel. Because of their pride, God promised to destroy them completely.
Ezekiel 16:49
“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” (KJV)
God totally destroyed the city of Sodom and its neighboring cities (Genesis 19:24-25). Part of the sins that God saw, and hated, was their pride.
Ezekiel 16:56
“For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride.” (KJV)
The prophet Ezekiel, in his divine prophecy against Jerusalem, reminded them of what God did to the city of Sodom because of their pride. He wanted the people of Jerusalem to remember how God punished Sodom and warned them that God would do the same to them if they did not humble themselves.
Daniel 4:37
“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” (KJV)
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was very prideful. He did much for Babylon and took all the credit for himself. But God punished him. Because of his pride, God transformed him into an animal for seven years. After God was finished with his chastisement, the king was a much humbler man who, instead of worshipping himself, worshiped the one true God.
Obadiah 1:3
“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?” (KJV)
The prophet Obadiah brought this prophecy against the country of Edom. The country of Edom had many mountainous strongholds that they foolishly, and pridefully, thought they could hide against God’s judgment. But God knew both where they were hiding and how to destroy them.
Other Bible Verses About Pride KJV – Old Testament
Other Bible verses about the consequences of pride are found in the Book of Psalms while other Old Testament verses encourage the attitude of humility.
Psalm 10:4
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (KJV)
Proud people are consumed with only themselves and have no regard for God, since they are their own god. This attitude is both sinful and dangerous as God knows how to humble proud people.
Psalm 31:23
“O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.” (KJV)
Although, many times, life may seem unfair, and God may even seem absent, this verse assures us that God cares for His people, even while He will punish those who are proud.
Psalm 59:12
“For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.” (KJV)
The sin of pride may also be accompanied with other sins, such as cursing and lying. All of these sins will be judged and punished by God.
Psalm 101:5
“Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.” (KJV)
The word “suffer” here means to “put up with” to “endure.” God does not have time for people who have a proud heart.
Isaiah 57:15
“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.” (KJV)
A holy God takes care of those who are humble. This fact is something we can rejoice in while cultivating a spirit of humility instead of pride.
Jeremiah 9:23
“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.” (KJV)
God gives wisdom, might, and riches. The humble person knows that all of the good they have is only because God has allowed it. God says they are not to glory or take pride in what they have, but rather, give God the praise and honor because all they have is from Him.
Bible Verses About Pride KJV – New Testament
The New Testament has instructions against being prideful and encouragement to cultivate a humble attitude.
Romans 1:30
“Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents” (KJV)
In this verse, the Apostle Paul is writing about some of the characteristics of those who hate God.
Romans 12:16
“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.” (KJV)
Later, in this same epistle, Paul tells the believers at Rome to be humble in their attitudes instead of prideful.
Philippians 2:3
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (KJV)
This verse shows true humility. It encourages us to “take the lead” in putting the needs of others before our own.
Galatians 6:3
“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” (KJV)
A prideful person deceives themselves since all that we have are only gifts from God. In ourselves, we are nothing.
Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (KJV)
The word “conversation” here means “lifestyle.” In this epistle, the Apostle Paul is reminding his readers that before a person accepts Christ as their Savior, they lived for themselves and did all they could to fulfill the desires of their flesh. This was all a part of their prideful lifestyle.
1 John 2:16
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (KJV)
The “pride of life” is the desire for recognition, honor, glory, and/or dignity of the world. These desires are not of God or from God, but still, they are quite appealing to our sinful flesh.
Bible Verses about Pride KJV – Spoken by Jesus Christ
All of the verses in the Bible are the Word of God. Jesus was and is God. Here are some of the things about pride recorded in the Gospels that Jesus said when He was on Earth.
Mark 7:21-22
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness” (KJV)
Christ Jesus said that pride originated from our wicked hearts. This correlates to the Bible verse in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (KJV)
Luke 11:43
“Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.” (KJV)
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees since He knew they were prideful of their spirituality. This is a lesson to all those who seek to teach God’s Word — be humble! We are simply relaying God’s message, it is His message, not ours. Let Him have the glory.
Luke 18:14
“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.” (KJV)
This verse is part of a parable that Jesus spoke about when praying with pride in the heart. Read the whole story in Luke 18:9-14. He told about two men, both who prayed. One prayed, full of pride in his accomplishments, while the other saw himself a wicked sinner who needed God’s mercy. God heard the prayer of the humble man rather than the other. This is a good reminder when we pray to realize just Who we are praying to. Getting a glimpse of a holy God is a humbling reality, but God hears the prayers of those who humble themselves under Him.
Bible Verses About Pride KJV – The Solution
Pride is part of our human, sinful, fleshly nature, and all Christians are afflicted with it in some way. However, pride is a grievous sin against God. Here are some Scripture references to help to strengthen us as we fight against this particular sin in our lives.
Psalm 119:11
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (KJV)
Memorizing the word of God will remind us of God’s truths and His commands, even those related to our pride.
James 5:16
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (KJV)
Be humble and transparent, and share your faults with others, including your fight against pride. This verse does not say to confess your “sins” to others, just your faults. Confession of your sins is reserved for you to tell God, not others. But as you humbly share your own spiritual struggles with others, ask them to pray for you while you also pray for them with their own struggles against sin.
May these Bible verses about pride both make you more aware of the way God views the sin of pride, and pride in your own life, even as it helps to give you more victory in your life over this particular sin.
Let God give us any honor He will see fit.
Meanwhile, check out 7 Crowns in the Bible verses.
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