Humility — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

A condition of lowliness or affliction in which one experiences a loss of power and prestige. Outside of biblical faith, humility in this sense would not usually be considered a virtue. Within the context of the Judeo-Christian tradition, however, humility is considered the proper attitude of human beings toward their Creator. Humility is a grateful and spontaneous awareness that life is a gift, and it is manifested as an ungrudging and unhypocritical acknowledgment of absolute dependence upon God.

In biblical literature there is not a clear distinction between humility and meekness or patience. In early stages of Israel’s history, the humble were identified as the poor, the afflicted, and the powerless. The Lord delivers the humble but brings down the proud (1 Sm 2:7; 2 Sm 22:28). Before the power and glory of God, the patriarch Abraham confessed that he was but dust and ashes (Gn 18:27). Israel began as a nation subjected to slavery and knew themselves as a people chosen not because of numerical strength or material wealth but because of God’s love (Dt 7:7-8). By attributing the source of all wealth and power to the Lord, those two major sources of human pride and arrogance are brought under control (cf. Jer 9:23-24).

Show passage in OET: SA1 2:7

OET-RV SA1 2:7

7 Yahweh makes poor and makes rich.
⇔ ≈ He humbles, and he also honours.

OET-LV SA1 2:7

7 YHWH is_making _poor and_he_is_making _rich he_is_bringing _low also he_is_exalting.

Show passage in OET: SA2 22:28

OET-RV SA2 22:28

28 You save afflicted people,
⇔ ^ but you dislike the proud—you bring them down.

OET-LV SA2 22:28

28 And_DOM a _people afflicted you _save and_eyes _of_your are_on haughty_ones you _bring_them_low.

Show passage in OET: GEN 18:27

OET-RV GEN 18:27

27 “Listen, I’ve been bold enough to question my master, even though I’m just dust and ashes,” Avraham said again.

OET-LV GEN 18:27

27 And_ ʼAⱱrāhām _he _answered and_he _said HERE please I _have _undertaken to_speak to my_master and_I am_dust and_ash[es].

Show passage in OET: DEU 7:7–8

OET-RV DEU 7:7

7 Yahweh loved you and chose you all, not because you were the most populous nation (in fact, you were the smallest of all the nations),

OET-RV DEU 7:8

8 but because Yahweh loves you all and because he kept the promise that he’d made to your ancestors. Yahweh used his power to rescue you all from the slavery imposed by Mitsrayim’s (Egypt’s) King Par’oh (Pharaoh).

OET-LV DEU 7:7

7 Not because_you_were _numerous from_all the_peoples YHWH he _loved (in)_you(pl) and_he _chose (in)_you(pl) if/because you(pl) were_the_few from_all the_peoples.

OET-LV DEU 7:8

8 If/because from_the _love of_YHWH you(pl) and_because_kept_he DOM the_oath which he _swore to_ancestors _of_your(pl) YHWH he _brought _out you(pl) by_a _hand strong and_he_redeemed _you from_a _house _of slaves from_the _hand _of Parˊoh the _king _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt).

Show passage in OET: JER 9:23–24

OET-RV JER 9:23

23 Yahweh says this:
⇔ Don’t let the wise person boast about their wisdom,
⇔ ≈ and don’t let the warrior boast about his strength.
⇔ ≈ Don’t let the rich person boast about their riches,

OET-RV JER 9:24

24 because if they want to boast, let them boast about this:
⇔ Understanding and knowing me because I’m Yahweh,
⇔ demonstrating loyal commitment, justice, and righteousness on the earth
⇔ because I take pleasure in those things.
§ That is Yahweh’s declaration.

OET-LV JER 9:22

22  Thus YHWH he _says not a _wise_person let _him _boast in_wisdom _of_his and_not the _mighty_person let _him _boast in_might _of_his not a _rich_person let _him _boast in_rich[es]_of_his.

OET-LV JER 9:23

23  If/because (if) in_this the_one_who_boasts let _him _boast he _has _insight and_he _knows me if/because _that I am_YHWH who_does covenant _loyalty justice and_righteousness on _the_earth if/because in_these _things I _delight the _utterance _of YHWH.

Jump to OET SA1 2:7 section.

Jump to OET SA2 22:28 section.

Jump to OET GEN 18:27 section.

Jump to OET DEU 7:7–8 section.

Jump to OET JER 9:23–24 section.

The humble poor are the constant concern of the Lord (Ex 23:6, 11 OET EXO 23:6 · OET EXO 23:11; Dt 15:4, 7 OET DEU 15:4 · OET DEU 15:7). Consequently, the humility of the poor became the symbol of the righteous God-fearer (Nm 12:3). In the development of the concept of humility in the OT, humility is nearly equated with righteousness and is identified, along with justice and mercy, as the requirement of God (Mi 6:8). In the Psalms particularly, “the afflicted” is almost a technical term for the righteous (Pss 22:26; 25:9; 147:6).

Show passage in OET: EXO 23:6; EXO 23:11

OET-RV EXO 23:6

6 You mustn’t deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.

OET-RV EXO 23:11

11 but in the seventh year you must let the harvest drop and just leave it there and allow the poor people to eat it. Then the animals in the countryside can eat the reminder. You must also do that to your vineyards and your olive orchards.

OET-LV EXO 23:6

6 Not you _must _turn _aside the _justice _of your _needy_person in_his _case _of_at _law.

OET-LV EXO 23:11

11 And_the _seventh_year you_will _let _it _rest and_you_will _leave _it _fallow and_ the _needy_people_of your _people _of_your _they _will _eat and_excess _of_their the _animal[s]_of the_field it _will _eat thus you _will _do to_vineyard _of_your to_your _olive _of_grove.

Show passage in OET: DEU 15:4; DEU 15:7

OET-RV DEU 15:4

4 However, there shouldn’t be any poor among you, because your god Yahweh will bless you in the land that he’s giving you to own as an inheritance,

OET-RV DEU 15:7

7 In the towns that your god Yahweh is giving you, if it so happens that any of your fellow Israelis are poor, then don’t just ignore them and refuse to help them,

OET-LV DEU 15:4

4 Nevertheless if/because not he _will _be among_you a _needy_person if/because surely _(bless) he_will _bless _you YHWH on _the_earth which YHWH god _of_your is_about _to _give to/for_yourself(m) an _inheritance to_take_possession _of _it.

OET-LV DEU 15:7

7 If/because he _will _be in_you(ms) a _needy_person any_one _of your(pl)_countrymen _of_your in_one _of your(pl)_gates _of_your in_land _of_your which YHWH god _of_your is_about _to _give to/for_you(fs) not you _will _harden DOM heart _of_your and_not you _will _shut DOM hand _of_your from_countryman _of_your (the)_needy.

Show passage in OET: NUM 12:3

OET-RV NUM 12:3

3 (Now Mosheh was actually a very humble man—more humble than anyone else alive.)

OET-LV NUM 12:3

3 And_the_man Mosheh was_humble very from_all the_humankind who was_on the _surface _of the_soil.

Show passage in OET: MIC 6:8

OET-RV MIC 6:8

8 He has told humanity what is good,
⇔ ≈ and what Yahweh requires from you:
⇔ Act justly,
⇔ love kindness,
⇔ and walk humbly with your god.

OET-LV MIC 6:8

8 He _has _told to/for_yourself(m) Oh _humankind what is_good and_what is_YHWH requiring from_you if/because (if) to _do justice and_the _love _of covenant _loyalty and_to _be _modest to _walk with god _of_your.

Show passage in OET: PSA 22:26

OET-RV PSA 22:26

26 The oppressed people will eat and be satisfied.
⇔ Those who are interested in Yahweh will praise him.
⇔ May you all live forever.

OET-LV PSA 22:27

27  Humble_people they _will _eat and_they _will _be _satisfied those _of_who_seek _him they _will _praise YHWH heart _of_your(pl) may _it _live forever_forever.

Show passage in OET: PSA 25:9

OET-RV PSA 25:9

9 He guides the humble in what is right
⇔ ≈ and he teaches them his way.

OET-LV PSA 25:9

9 He _leads humble_people in_justice and_he _teaches humble_people its_road/course.

Show passage in OET: PSA 147:6

OET-RV PSA 147:6

6 Yahweh helps the oppressed up.
⇔ He brings down the wicked to the ground.

OET-LV PSA 147:6

6 YHWH is_helping _up humble_people he_is_bringing _low wicked_people to the_ground.

Jump to OET EXO 23:6 section. · OET EXO 23:11 section.

Jump to OET DEU 15:4 section. · OET DEU 15:7 section.

Jump to OET NUM 12:3 section.

Jump to OET MIC 6:8 section.

Jump to OET PSA 22:26 section.

Jump to OET PSA 25:9 section.

Jump to OET PSA 147:6 section.

In addition, humility is the appropriate response of the sinner in the presence of the holiness of God. The prophet Isaiah, confronted by the glory of God in the temple, cried, “My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man” (Is 6:5). Thus humility became more of a character trait than a term that reflected a state of material poverty or affliction. It became a concept reflective of the essence of piety and godliness expected of all people who have God as their Lord.

Show passage in OET: ISA 6:5

OET-RV ISA 6:5

5 and I said,
⇔ “This isn’t going to end well for me. Yes, I’m doomed because I am a man with unclean lips,
⇔ and I live among a people with unclean lips,
⇔ and yet my eyes have seen the king: Commander-in-chief Yahweh.”

OET-LV ISA 6:5

5 And_I _said woe to_me if/because I _am _destroyed if/because am_a _man unclean _of lips I and_among _of a _people unclean _of lips I am_dwelling if/because DOM the_king YHWH soldiers/messengers eyes _of_my they _have _seen.

Jump to OET ISA 6:5 section.

Only rarely in the NT does humility refer to an objective condition of poverty, affliction, or oppression.The humility motif is developed in connection with Jesus as Messiah. The religious ideal of humility that the OT attributed to the coming King certainly applied to Jesus (Zec 9:9; cf. Mt 21:4-5). As Son of God, Jesus took no thought for himself but lived a life of obedience and trust in God the Father. The apostle Paul attributed to the incarnate Son of God a self-emptying by which he “humbled himself” and took on the form of a servant (Phil 2:5-8). Jesus’ character exhibited no pride or arrogance.

Show passage in OET: ZEC 9:9

OET-RV ZEC 9:9

9 Shout with a huge celebration, daughter of Tsiyon (Zion).
⇔ ≈ Shout with happiness, Yerushalem’s (Jerusalem’s) daughter.
⇔ Look! Your king is coming to you bringing justice and victory.
⇔ He’s humble and is riding on a donkey, i.e., a donkey’s foal.

OET-LV ZEC 9:9

9 Rejoice exceedingly Oh _daughter _of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) shout _for _joy Oh _daughter _of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) THERE king _of_your he _will _come to/for_you(fs) is_righteous and_victorious he poor and_riding on a _donkey and_on a _male _donkey a _young _one _of female _donkeys.

Show passage in OET: MAT 21:4–5

OET-RV MAT 21:4

4 “All this is happening so that the message that was written by the prophet will come to pass:

OET-RV MAT 21:5

5 ‘Tell the daughter of Tsiyon (Zion):
⇔ “Look, your king is coming,
⇔ gentle, and riding a donkey,
⇔ and a colt, a donkey’s offspring.” ’ ”

OET-LV MAT 21:4

4 And this all has _become, in _order _that the message may _be _fulfilled having _been _spoken by the prophet saying,

OET-LV MAT 21:5

5 Say to _the daughter of _Siōn/(Tsiyyōn):
Behold, the king of _you is _coming to _you, gentle and having _mounted on a_donkey and on a_colt, the_son of_a_donkey.

Show passage in OET: PHP 2:5–8

OET-RV PHP 2:5

5 This is how you all who are also in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) should be thinking:

OET-RV PHP 2:6

6 Yeshua, though he was in the form of God, didn’t take advantage of being considered equal with God,

OET-RV PHP 2:7

7 but emptied himself and becoming like a human, took on the form of a slave. Then in that human form,

OET-RV PHP 2:8

8 he humbled himself and became obedient all the way to death, even death on the stake.

OET-LV PHP 2:5

5 This be _thinking in you _all, which also in chosen _one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) is,

OET-LV PHP 2:6

6 who in the_form of_god being, not advantage considered which to _be equal with_god,

OET-LV PHP 2:7

7 but himself emptied, the_form of_a_slave having _taken, in the_likeness of _humans having _become.
And in _form having _been _found as a_human,

OET-LV PHP 2:8

8 he _humbled himself, having _become obedient unto death, and the_death of_the_stake.

Jump to OET ZEC 9:9 section.

Jump to OET MAT 21:4–5 section.

Jump to OET PHP 2:5–8 section.

Though bold in the face of hypocrisy and unflinching in his repudiation of pretentious religion, Jesus was “gentle and humble in heart” (Mt 11:29). He could, therefore, issue a severe warning against desire for status and openly rebuke the Pharisees for their violence against the poor and oppressed (Lk 14:11; Mt 23:12). At the same time, he was humble before those whose servant and helper he had become (Lk 22:27; Mk 10:45; Mt 20:28). The highest dignity of Jesus and his willingness to accept the cross in submission to the Father’s will are one. So his teaching on poverty of spirit rang true as a testimony of his own life. He ascribed all glory to his Father and lived in total dependence upon him (Jn 5:19; 6:38; 7:15; 8:28, 50 OET JHN 8:28 · OET JHN 8:50; 14:10, 24 OET JHN 14:10 · OET JHN 14:24). By washing his disciples’ feet, he assumed the role of servant with no loss of dignity or self-worth. And he set forth such service as a model of a life that finds happiness in preferring others over one’s self (Jn 13:1-20; Phil 2:1-4).

Show passage in OET: MAT 11:29

OET-RV MAT 11:29

29 You can take on my workload and learn from me, because I’m gentle and humble, and your souls will be able to relax,

OET-LV MAT 11:29

29 Take _up the yoke of _me on you _all, and learn from me, because I _am gentle and humble the in _heart:
and you _all _will _be _finding rest for _the souls of _you _all.

Show passage in OET: LUK 14:11

OET-RV LUK 14:11

11 because the person who thinks a lot of themself will be humbled, and the person who humbles themself will be honoured.”

OET-LV LUK 14:11

11 Because everyone the one elevating himself will _be _being _humbled, and the one humbling himself will _be _being _elevated.

Show passage in OET: MAT 23:12

OET-RV MAT 23:12

12 and anyone who praises themself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles themself will be praised.

OET-LV MAT 23:12

12 And whoever will _be _elevating himself, will _be _being _humbled, and whoever will _be _humbling himself, will _be _being _elevated.

Show passage in OET: LUK 22:27

OET-RV LUK 22:27

27 Because who is greater: the one on the couch, or the one who’s serving? Isn’t it the one on the couch? But among all of you, I’m like the one serving

OET-LV LUK 22:27

27 For/Because who is greater, the one reclining or the one serving?
Not the one reclining?
But in the_midst of _you _all I am as the one serving.

Show passage in OET: MRK 10:45

OET-RV MRK 10:45

45 Even the son of humanity didn’t come to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom to set many people free.”

OET-LV MRK 10:45

45 For/Because even the son of_ the _man came not to _be _served, but to _serve and to _give the life of _him as_a_ransom for many.

Show passage in OET: MAT 20:28

OET-RV MAT 20:28

28 in the same way that the son of humanity didn’t come to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as the cost of freeing many people.”

OET-LV MAT 20:28

28 as the son of_ the _man came not to _be _served, but to _serve and to _give the life of _him a_ransom for many.

Show passage in OET: JHN 5:19

OET-RV JHN 5:19

19 So Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) responded to them, “I want to tell you all something: The son can’t initiate anything by himself. He can only do what he sees his father doing, because whatever his father is doing, he also does things like that.

OET-LV JHN 5:19

19 Therefore the Yaʸsous answered, and was _saying to _them:
Truly, truly, I _am _saying to _you _all, the son is_ not _able to _be _doing nothing of himself, except not/lest anything may _be _seeing the father doing, because/for whatever wishfully that one may _be _doing, these things also the son likewise is _doing.

Show passage in OET: JHN 6:38

OET-RV JHN 6:38

38 because I came down from heaven, not to do what I want, but to do what the one who sent me wants.

OET-LV JHN 6:38

38 Because I _have _came _down from the heaven, not in _order _that I _may _be _doing the my the will, but the will of _the one having _sent me.

Show passage in OET: JHN 7:15

OET-RV JHN 7:15

15 Even the Jewish leaders were surprised, asking, “How can this man know so much when he hasn’t been trained as a teacher?”

OET-LV JHN 7:15

15 Therefore the Youdaiōns were _marvelling saying:
How has_ this one _known letters, not having _learned?

Show passage in OET: JHN 8:28; JHN 8:50

OET-RV JHN 8:28

28 So Yeshua told them, “When you all lift up the son of humanity on a pole, then you will know that I am God, and that I don’t do anything by myself, but I say all this just as the father told me to.

OET-RV JHN 8:50

50 But I’m not searching greatness for myself—my father is the one searching and the one judging.

OET-LV JHN 8:28

28 Therefore the Yaʸsous said to _them:
Whenever you _all _may _elevate the son of_ the _Man, then you _all _will _be _knowing that I am he, and I _am _doing nothing from myself, but as the father taught me, I _am _speaking these things.

OET-LV JHN 8:50

50 But I am_ not _seeking the glory of _me, he _is the one seeking and judging.

Show passage in OET: JHN 14:10; JHN 14:24

OET-RV JHN 14:10

10 You don’t believe that I am in the father and the father is in me. These things that I’ve been telling you all, I don’t just make them up myself, but the father who lives in me is doing what he wants.

OET-RV JHN 14:24

24 But anyone who doesn’t love me, won’t obey my teaching. The words that you hear from me are not my own, but come from the father who sent me.

OET-LV JHN 14:10

10 You _are_ not _believing that I in the father, and the father is in me?
The messages which I am _speaking to _you _all, I _am_ not _speaking from myself, but the the_father remaining in me, is _doing the works of _him.

OET-LV JHN 14:24

24 The one not loving me, is_ not _keeping the messages of _me, and the message that you _all _are _hearing, is not mine, but of _the father having _sent me.

Show passage in OET: PHP 2:1–4

OET-RV PHP 2:1

2 So if you all feel that Messiah is encouraging you on and if his love brings comfort and the spirit brings fellowship, if anyone feels compassion,

OET-RV PHP 2:2

2 then complete my happiness by being in agreement in your thinking and being united in the same love.

OET-RV PHP 2:3

3 Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or in vain conceit, but show humility and consider others to be more important than yourselves,

OET-RV PHP 2:4

4 not just looking out for your own advantage, but for what others need.

OET-LV PHP 2:1

2 If therefore any exhortation in chosen _one /messiah, if any consolation of _love, if any fellowship of_the_spirit, if anyone has compassions and compassions,

OET-LV PHP 2:2

2 fulfill of _me the joy, in _order _that the same thing you _all _may _be _thinking, the same love having, united _in _soul, the one thing thinking.

OET-LV PHP 2:3

3 Nothing do according _to selfish _ambition nor according _to vain _conceit, but the in _humility one _another considering being _above of _themselves,

OET-LV PHP 2:4

4 not the things of _themselves each looking _out, but also the things of _others each.

Jump to OET MAT 11:29 section.

Jump to OET LUK 14:11 section.

Jump to OET MAT 23:12 section.

Jump to OET LUK 22:27 section.

Jump to OET MRK 10:45 section.

Jump to OET MAT 20:28 section.

Jump to OET JHN 5:19 section.

Jump to OET JHN 6:38 section.

Jump to OET JHN 7:15 section.

Jump to OET JHN 8:28 section. · OET JHN 8:50 section.

Jump to OET JHN 14:10 section. · OET JHN 14:24 section.

Jump to OET PHP 2:1–4 section.

Consequently, disciples of Jesus are also summoned to a life of humility. Turning their backs on status, security, and success, Christians seek an opportunity to gain themselves in serving others. Humility, thus, is the all-embracing life principle by which love seeks the good of others, and thus fulfills the law (cf. Rom 12:10; 13:8-10).