Pride — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

A reasonable or justifiable self-respect; or improper and excessive self-esteem known as conceit or arrogance. The apostle Paul expressed a positive kind of pride when speaking of confidence in Christians (2 Cor 7:4) or of strength in the Lord (12:5, 9 OET CO2 12:5 · OET CO2 12:9). However, it is the latter, sinful meaning of “pride” that most frequently appears in the Bible, both in the OT and the NT.

Show passage in OET: CO2 7:4

OET-RV CO2 7:4

4 I feel very bold towards you all and boast a lot about you. I’m filled with encouragement and even in our troubles I’m overflowing with happiness .

OET-LV CO2 7:4

4 Great is to _me boldness toward you _all, great is to _me boasting for you _all, I _have _been _filled the with _exhortation, I _am _being _overflowed the with _joy in all the tribulation of _us.

Show passage in OET: CO2 12:5; CO2 12:9

OET-RV CO2 12:5

5 I’m prepared to boast about that man, but I won’t boast about myself because I won’t boast at all except about my weaknesses,

OET-RV CO2 12:9

9 and he told me, “Is my grace good enough for you? My power reaches its conclusion through weakness.” Therefore I’ll quite gladly boast about my weaknesses so that the messiah’s power can take residence in me.

OET-LV CO2 12:5

5 Concerning the such man, I _will _be _boasting, but concerning myself, not I _will _be _boasting, except not/lest in my weaknesses.

OET-LV CO2 12:9

9 And he _has _said to _me:
Is _sufficing for _you the grace of _me, because/for the power in weakness is _being _finished.
Therefore most _gladly rather I _will _be _boasting in the weaknesses of _me, in _order _that may _take _residence in me the power of _the chosen _one /messiah.

Jump to OET CO2 7:4 section.

Jump to OET CO2 12:5 section. · OET CO2 12:9 section.

The ten Hebrew and two Greek words generally used for pride refer to being high or exalted in attitude, the opposite of the virtue of humility, which is so often praised and rewarded by God. One other Greek word refers to a person’s being puffed up or inflated with pride or egotism. The idea is that one gives the impression of substance but is really filled only with air (see, e.g., 1 Cor 5:2; 8:1; 13:4; Col 2:18).

Show passage in OET: CO1 5:2

OET-RV CO1 5:2

2 Then instead of being upset, you all seem proud of it. This man should have been expelled out of your group,

OET-LV CO1 5:2

2 And you _all having _been _arrogant are, and not rather you _all _mourned, in _order _that may _be _taken _away out _of midst of _you _all the one, the work this having _done.

Show passage in OET: CO1 8:1

OET-RV CO1 8:1

8 Now, concerning food that’s been sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have ‘knowledge’—knowledge breeds conceit but love gives inner strength.

OET-LV CO1 8:1

8 And concerning the idol _sacrificed things, we _have _known that all knowledge we _are _having.
The knowledge is _making _arrogant, but the love is _building.

Show passage in OET: CO1 13:4

OET-RV CO1 13:4

4 Love is patient and kind. It doesn’t envy others, it doesn’t boast, and it isn’t arrogant.

OET-LV CO1 13:4

4 The love is _being _patient, is _being _kind, the love not is _being _jealous, the love not is _bragging, not is _being _arrogant,

Show passage in OET: COL 2:18

OET-RV COL 2:18

18 Don’t let anyone be disqualifying you all with their apparent humility and worshipping the messengers, telling you what they’ve seen and being arrogant and vain about their earthly minds.

OET-LV COL 2:18

18 ˓Let˒_ no _one _be _disqualifying you _all, willing in humility, and the_worship of _the messengers, which he _has _seen detailing, vainly being _arrogant by the mind of _the flesh of _him,

Jump to OET CO1 5:2 section.

Jump to OET CO1 8:1 section.

Jump to OET CO1 13:4 section.

Jump to OET COL 2:18 section.

Pride is basically a sin of attitude and of the heart and spirit. Hence one reads, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin” (Prv 21:4, rsv). Ecclesiastes 7:8 speaks of being proud in spirit and the psalmist declares, “O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty” (Ps 131:1, nasb). Pride is cited in the two lists of the most glaring sins in the Bible. Along with the sins for which God is going to judge the Gentiles, one finds insolence, arrogance, and boasting (Rom 1:30). Included with the sins that will be prevalent in the last days, Paul includes boasting, arrogance, and conceit (2 Tm 3:2-4).

Show passage in OET: PRO 21:4

OET-RV PRO 21:4

4 Arrogance and pride—the lamp of wicked people,
⇔ → is disobeying Yahweh.

OET-LV PRO 21:4

4 Haughtiness _of eyes and_a_person_wide _of heart the_lamp _of wicked_people is_sin.

Show passage in OET: ECC 7:8

OET-RV ECC 7:8

8 Finishing something is better than starting it,
⇔ and being patient is better than being proud.

OET-LV ECC 7:8

8 Is_good the_end _of a _matter more_than _of_its _beginning is_good a_person_long _of spirit more_than _a_person_haughty _of spirit.

Show passage in OET: PSA 131:1

OET-RV PSA 131:1

131 Yahweh, I’m not boastful or full of pride,
⇔ nor do I pretend to understand amazing things that are beyond me.

OET-LV PSA 131:1

131 The _song _of the _ascents of_Dāvid Oh_YHWH not heart _of_my it _has _been _haughty and_not eyes _of_my they _have _been _uplifted and_not I _have _walked in_things _too_great and_in_things _too_difficult for_me.

Show passage in OET: ROM 1:30

OET-RV ROM 1:30

30 slanderers, god-haters, abusers, proud people, braggers, and inventors of evil, unable to be persuaded by their parents,

OET-LV ROM 1:30

30 slanderers, god-hating, abusers, proud, braggers, inventors of _evil, to _parents unpersuadable,

Show passage in OET: TI2 3:2–4

OET-RV TI2 3:2

2 People will become selfish, greedy for money, braggers, proud, slanderous, refusing to listen to sense from their parents, ungrateful, ungodly,

OET-RV TI2 3:3

3 unloving, unwilling to reconcile, diabolical, angry, wild, and without morals.

OET-RV TI2 3:4

4 They will be betrayers, reckless and conceited, loving pleasure instead of loving God,

OET-LV TI2 3:2

2 For/Because the people will _be selfish, money _lovers, braggers, proud, slanderous, unpersuadable to_their_parents, ungrateful, unholy,

OET-LV TI2 3:3

3 unloving, irreconcilable, diabolical, intemperate, untamed, unwholesome,

OET-LV TI2 3:4

4 betrayers, reckless, having _been _conceited, lovers _of _pleasure rather than lovers _of _god,

Jump to OET PRO 21:4 section.

Jump to OET ECC 7:8 section.

Jump to OET PSA 131:1 section.

Jump to OET ROM 1:30 section.

Jump to OET TI2 3:2–4 section.

As so many of the sins of attitude, pride cannot remain internalized. It can infect one’s speech; boasting is one way by which this sin can appear in one’s speaking (see the passages referred to above and also Mal 3:13). Pride can also appear in the way one looks at another person. Hence, the Scriptures speak of “haughty eyes” in Proverbs 6:17, or, as it could also be rendered, “a proud look.” The psalmist speaks of a person with haughty looks and arrogant heart (Ps 101:5; see also Prv 30:13). Pride may also take the ugly form of contemptible treatment of others (Prv 21:24). One of the illustrations of this in the Bible is the way in which the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders treated and spoke of those beneath their social level (e.g., Mt 23:5-12; Jn 9:34). They especially despised tax collectors and sinners.

Show passage in OET: MAL 3:13

OET-RV MAL 3:13

13 “Your words against me have been harsh,” says Yahweh. “But you all say, ‘What have we said among ourselves against you?’

OET-LV MAL 3:13

13 They _have _been _strong on_me words/messages _of_your(pl) YHWH he _says and_you(pl)_say what have _we _spoken _together on_you.

Show passage in OET: PRO 6:17

OET-RV PRO 6:17

17 ₁ arrogant eyes,
⇔ ₂ a lying tongue,
⇔ ₃ hands that shed innocent blood,

OET-LV PRO 6:17

17 Eyes haughty a _tongue _of falsehood and_hands which_shed blood innocent.

Show passage in OET: PSA 101:5

OET-RV PSA 101:5

5 I’ll destroy anyone who slanders their neighbour behind their back.
⇔ I won’t tolerate anyone who has a proud and arrogant attitude.

OET-LV PSA 101:5

5 one _who_slanders _of in_secrecy his/its_neighbour him I _will _destroy a _person_haughty _of eyes and_a _person_wide _of heart DOM_him/it not I _will _be _able.

Show passage in OET: PRO 30:13

OET-RV PRO 30:13

13 There’s a generation with very proud eyes,
⇔ and their eyebrows are also raised.

OET-LV PRO 30:13

13 A _generation how eyes _of_its they _are _raised and_eyelids _of_its they _are _lifted _up.

Show passage in OET: PRO 21:24

OET-RV PRO 21:24

24 A proud and arrogant person is called a mocker,
⇔ → because they act with arrogant presumption.

OET-LV PRO 21:24

24 An _arrogant_person proud is_mocker his/its_name he_is_acting in_the_overflowing _of presumption.

Show passage in OET: MAT 23:5–12

OET-RV MAT 23:5

5 Everything they do do is only done to be a public display in front of the people, so they have big prayer boxes and fancy robes.

OET-RV MAT 23:6

6 They love the best places at dinners and the best seats in the Jewish meeting halls.

OET-RV MAT 23:7

7 They love being greeted in the marketplaces and addressed as ‘my great one’.

OET-RV MAT 23:8

8 But don’t let anyone call you ‘my great one’, because you only have one leader, and you’re all brothers and sisters,

OET-RV MAT 23:9

9 and don’t call anyone here on earth your ‘Father’, because you only have one father—a heavenly one.

OET-RV MAT 23:10

10 Don’t let anyone call you their mentor, because you only have one teacher, and that’s the messiah.

OET-RV MAT 23:11

11 The most important person will be everyone’s servant,

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 23:5

5 But all the works of _them, they _are _doing in _order that to _be _seen by _the people.
For/Because they _are _widening the phylacteries of _them and they _are _magnifying their tassels.

OET-LV MAT 23:6

6 And they _are _loving the best _place at the suppers, and the best _seats in the synagogues,

OET-LV MAT 23:7

7 and the greetings in the marketplaces, and to _be _being _called My _great_one by the people.

OET-LV MAT 23:8

8 But you _all may_ not _be _called My _great_one, because/for one is the instructor of _you _all, and you _all are all brothers.

OET-LV MAT 23:9

9 And you _all _may_ not _call of _you on the earth father, because/for one is the the heavenly father of _you _all.

OET-LV MAT 23:10

10 Nor may _you _all _be _called instructors, because one is the_instructor of _you _all, the chosen _one /messiah.

OET-LV MAT 23:11

11 And the greater of _you _all will _be servant of _you _all.

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: JHN 9:34

OET-RV JHN 9:34

34 They reacted, “You’re just an ignorant sinner, and you think you can teach us!” Then they had him thrown out of the room.

OET-LV JHN 9:34

34 They _answered and said to _him:
You were _born entirely in sins, and you are _teaching us?
And they _throw _out him out.

Jump to OET MAL 3:13 section.

Jump to OET PRO 6:17 section.

Jump to OET PSA 101:5 section.

Jump to OET PRO 30:13 section.

Jump to OET PRO 21:24 section.

Jump to OET MAT 23:5–12 section.

Jump to OET JHN 9:34 section.

Outstanding examples of proud people can be found in both Testaments. Pride was the downfall of King Uzziah, who, because of this sin, dared to offer incense on the altar of incense and was smitten with leprosy as his punishment from God (2 Chr 26:16). Hezekiah, after his healing by the Lord, became proud of heart and brought God’s anger upon himself, Judah, and Jerusalem (32:25-26). The Pharisee praying in the temple, comparing himself with the humble tax collector, is another example (Lk 18:9-14). Herod’s refusal to give God the glory for his greatness brought judgment from God; Herod was eaten by worms and died for his sin of pride (Acts 12:21-23). In fact, Ezekiel 28, which describes the pride of the leader of Tyre, is taken by many biblical scholars to refer, in a deeper sense, to the fall of Satan back in the beginning.

Show passage in OET: CH2 26:16

OET-RV CH2 26:16

16 However, at the peak of his strength, he became very arrogant, and that led to his destruction. He disobeyed his god Yahweh and went into the temple to burn incense on the incense altar.

OET-LV CH2 26:16

16 And_according_to _of_his _strengthening his/its_heart it _was _haughty until (to)_behaved_corruptly and_he _acted _unfaithfully against_YHWH his/its_god and_he _went into the _temple _of YHWH to_make _smoke on the _altar _of (the)_incense.

Show passage in OET: CH2 32:25–26

OET-RV CH2 32:25

25 However, Hizkiyah was very proud and didn’t thank Yahweh, so his anger fell on Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and Yehudah (Judah).

OET-RV CH2 32:26

26 Then Hizkiyah and Yerushalem’s inhabitants humbled themselves, and so Yahweh’s anger didn’t affect them during Hizkiyah’s lifetime.

OET-LV CH2 32:25

25 And_not according_to_the_benefit on/upon/above_him/it Ḩizqiy^yāh he _repaid if/because his/its_heart it _was _haughty and_he/it _was on/upon/above_him/it severe _anger and_towards Yəhūdāh and_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem).

OET-LV CH2 32:26

26 And_he _humbled _himself Ḩizqiy^yāh in_the _haughtiness _of his/its_heart he and_the _inhabitants _of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_not it _came towards_them the _severe _anger _of YHWH in_the _days _of Ḩizqiy^yāh.

Show passage in OET: LUK 18:9–14

OET-RV LUK 18:9

9 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) also told this parable to some who felt that they were guiltless before God because of their own goodness, and so they scorned others:

OET-RV LUK 18:10

10 “Once two men went into the temple to pray—one was a Farisaios party member and the other was a tax-collector.

OET-RV LUK 18:11

11 The Farisaios stood there praying quietly, ‘I thank you, God, that I’m not like the rest of the people: swindlers, sinners, adulterers, and even that tax-collector.

OET-RV LUK 18:12

12 I fast twice a week and I give a tenth of everything I get.’

OET-RV LUK 18:13

13 But the tax-collector stood at a distance, not even willing to raise his head, instead beating his chest and saying, ‘God, I’m a sinner, take away my guilt.’

OET-RV LUK 18:14

14 I’m telling you all that this man went home after being declared guiltless, not the other one, because all those who praise themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be praised.”

OET-LV LUK 18:9

9 And he_ also _spoke the this parable to some which having _trusted in themselves that they _are righteous and scorning the others:

OET-LV LUK 18:10

10 Two men went _up into the temple to _pray, the one was a_Farisaios_party _member, and the other was a_tax _collector.

OET-LV LUK 18:11

11 The Farisaios_party _member having _been _stood was _praying these things to himself:
- god, I _am _giving _thanks to _you that I _am not as the rest of _the people, swindling, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this the tax _collector.

OET-LV LUK 18:12

12 I _am _fasting twice of_ the _a_week, I _am _tithing all things, as _many _as I _am _acquiring.

OET-LV LUK 18:13

13 But the tax _collector having _stood afar, was_ not _willing not _even his eyes to _lift _up to the sky, but was _striking the chest of _him saying:
- god, be _made _atonement for _me, the sinner.

OET-LV LUK 18:14

14 I _am _saying to _you _all, this one came _down to the house of _him having _been _justified, contrary _to that one.
Because everyone which elevating himself will _be _being _humbled, but the one humbling himself will _be _being _elevated.

Show passage in OET: ACT 12:21–23

OET-RV ACT 12:21

21 On the agreed day, Herodes, dressed in his royal garments and seated on his throne, started to address them.

OET-RV ACT 12:22

22 The crowd shouted out, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.”

OET-RV ACT 12:23

23 Because he didn’t attribute the honour to God, one of the Yahweh’s messengers immediately struck him down and he stopped breathing as a result of a worm infestation.

OET-LV ACT 12:21

21 And on_the_appointed day, the Haʸrōdaʸs, having _dressed _in the_royal clothing, having _sat _down on the tribunal, was _publicly _addressing to them.

OET-LV ACT 12:22

22 And the public was _crying _out:
The_voice of_a_god, and not of_a_human.

OET-LV ACT 12:23

23 And immediately a_messenger of_the_master struck him, because/for that he_ not _gave the glory to_ the _god, and having _become worm-infested, he _stopped _breathing.

Jump to OET CH2 26:16 section.

Jump to OET CH2 32:25–26 section.

Jump to OET LUK 18:9–14 section.

Jump to OET ACT 12:21–23 section.

Pride can bring about the downfall not only of individuals but also of nations. This was the sin that is specifically mentioned as leading to other sins and that ultimately brought about the removal of both Israel and Judah from the land of Canaan (Is 3:16; 5:15; Ez 16:50; Hos 13:6; Zep 3:11). It is also the specific sin that brought about the downfall of the king of Assyria (Is 10:12, 33 OET ISA 10:12 · OET ISA 10:33) and of the king of Moab (Jer 48:29). Because of its deadliness, Israel is specifically warned against pride and the tendency to forget God that so often stems from it (Dt 8:14).

Show passage in OET: ISA 3:16

OET-RV ISA 3:16

16 Then Yahweh said:
⇔ “Because Tsiyon’s (Zion’s) daughters are proud,
⇔ and they walk with their chins stuck out and with flirting eyes—
⇔ walking and mincing their steps and tinkling their feet,

OET-LV ISA 3:16

16 And_ YHWH _he/it _said because if/because the _daughters _of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) they _are _haughty and_they _have _walked stretched _out neck and_making _seductive _glances eyes walking and_mincing _along they _walk and_on_feet _of_their they _tinkle _with _anklets.

Show passage in OET: ISA 5:15

OET-RV ISA 5:15

⇔  15 Everyone will be brought into submission and humbled.
⇔ ≈ All the proud people will be humiliated,

OET-LV ISA 5:15

15 And_ everyone _he _has _been _humbled and_ everyone _he _has _become _low and_the_eyes _of proud_people they _will _become _low.

Show passage in OET: EZE 16:50

OET-RV EZE 16:50

50 She was arrogant and performed disgusting actions in front of me, so I took them away, just as you’ve seen.

OET-LV EZE 16:50

50 And_they _were _haughty and_they _did abomination before_me and_I _removed them just_as I _saw.

Show passage in OET: HOS 13:6

OET-RV HOS 13:6

6 When they had their pasture, then they became full.
⇔ They were filled, and their heart became lifted up,
⇔ so they just forgot me.

OET-LV HOS 13:6

6 According_to _of_their _pasture and_they _were _satisfied they _were _satisfied and_ heart _of_their _it _was _exalted therefore yes/correct/thus/so they_forgot _me.

Show passage in OET: ZEP 3:11

OET-RV ZEP 3:11

11 On that day you won’t feel ashamed about all the times you disobeyed me,
⇔ because at that time, I’ll remove those proud people from among you,
⇔ and you won’t continue to be arrogant on my sacred mountain.

OET-LV ZEP 3:11

11 In _the_day (the)_that not you _will _be _ashamed from_all practices _of_your which you _have _transgressed against_me if/because then I _will _remove from_midst _of_your the _exultant_ones_of your _pride _of_your and_not you _will _repeat to_be _haughty again on_the _mountain _of my _holiness _of_my.

Show passage in OET: ISA 10:12; ISA 10:33

OET-RV ISA 10:12

12 In due course, when my master has finished all his work against Mt. Tsiyon (Zion) and against Yerushalem, I’ll deal with the result of the Assyrian king’s proud plans and the arrogant attitude that he displays,

OET-RV ISA 10:33

⇔  33 Listen, my master, Commander-in-chief Yahweh will cut off the branches with a crash,
⇔ and the tallest of the tall will be cut down,
⇔ ≈ and the high and mighty will be brought low.

OET-LV ISA 10:12

12 And_it _was if/because my_master he _will _finish DOM all _of work _of_his on_the _mountain _of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) and_in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) I _will _visit_judgement on the _fruit _of the _greatness _of the _heart _of the _king _of ʼAshshūr and_on the _glory _of the _haughtiness _of his _eyes _of_his.

OET-LV ISA 10:33

33 THERE the_master YHWH soldiers/messengers is_about _to _lop _off bough[s] with_a _crash and_the _exalted_ones_of (the)_height will _be_cut _down and_the _tall_ones they _will _become _low.

Show passage in OET: JER 48:29

OET-RV JER 48:29

29 We’ve heard about Moav’s pride,
⇔ about its arrogance, haughtiness, pride, boastfulness,
⇔ and the conceit in its heart.

OET-LV JER 48:29

29 We _have _heard the _pride _of Mōʼāⱱ proud very haughtiness _of_its and_pride _of_its and_boastfulness _of_its and_the _haughtiness _of his/its_heart.

Show passage in OET: DEU 8:14

OET-RV DEU 8:14

14 That’s when it would be easy to become proud and forget your god Yahweh who brought you out of slavery in Mitsrayim (Egypt).

OET-LV DEU 8:14

14 And_ heart _of_your _it _will _be _lifted _up and_you _will _forget DOM YHWH god _of_your who_brought_out _of_you from_the _land _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) from_a _house _of slaves.

Jump to OET ISA 3:16 section.

Jump to OET ISA 5:15 section.

Jump to OET EZE 16:50 section.

Jump to OET HOS 13:6 section.

Jump to OET ZEP 3:11 section.

Jump to OET ISA 10:12 section. · OET ISA 10:33 section.

Jump to OET JER 48:29 section.

Jump to OET DEU 8:14 section.

In the light of the preceding discussion, it is no surprise to read in the Bible that pride is one of the seven things that the Lord hates (Prv 6:17). It is also said by two different writers that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (see Jas 4:6 and 1 Pt 5:5; see also Prv 3:34 and 18:12, to which James and Peter may be referring). The words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in her hymn of praise to God may summarize the attitude of God and the Bible toward pride: “His mighty arm does tremendous things! How he scatters the proud and haughty ones! He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly” (Lk 1:51-52, NLT).