Arrogance

Proud and unpleasant behaviour towards other people, based on a belief in one's own superiority or greater importance.

Arrogance characterises the wicked person

As an attitude of the heart

Mark 7:21–22 See also Job 35:12; Psalm 10:2–11, Psalm 73:3–12, Psalm 86:14, Psalm 94:3–7; Malachi 3:15; Romans 1:28–31

For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

Arising from self-confidence

Isaiah 9:9–10; Daniel 4:29–30; Revelation 18:7 See also Exodus 15:9; 1 Kings 20:11; 2 Kings 14:10 parallel 2 Chronicles 25:19; Isaiah 28:15; Ezekiel 16:49; Hosea 12:8; Habakkuk 2:4–5; Luke 18:9; Acts 8:9–10; 2 Peter 2:10–12

All the people will know it — Ephraim and the dwellers of Samaria. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say: “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”

Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’

Issuing in words

Psalm 17:10, Psalm 119:51; James 3:5 See also 1 Samuel 2:3; Psalm 31:18, Psalm 119:69, Psalm 123:4; Proverbs 17:7, Proverbs 21:24; Jeremiah 43:1–2

They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.

The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn from Your law.

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

Arrogance is essentially rebellion against God

Deuteronomy 1:43; 1 Samuel 15:23 See also Nehemiah 9:16–17, Nehemiah 9:29; Job 36:8–9; Psalm 5:5, Psalm 119:85; Hosea 5:4–5, Hosea 7:10; Zephaniah 3:1–4

So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country.

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

Arrogance may even be found in the church

2 Corinthians 12:20 See also 1 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Timothy 6:17

For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

The godly should reject arrogance

Proverbs 8:13; Jeremiah 9:23–24 See also Jeremiah 13:15; Romans 11:20; 1 Corinthians 1:28–31, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Corinthians 13:4; Ephesians 2:8–9

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth — for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

God punishes the arrogant

Isaiah 2:17–18 See also Exodus 18:11; 1 Samuel 15:23 The LORD rejects Saul as king; 2 Chronicles 36:15–16; Nehemiah 9:10 the arrogance of Egypt punished; Psalm 75:2–4, Psalm 119:21, Psalm 119:78; Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 5:15, Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 48:29–30, Jeremiah 50:31–32; Ezekiel 7:8–10; Daniel 5:20 Nebuchadnezzar deposed; Zechariah 10:11

So the pride of man will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will vanish completely.