Humility

An attitude of lowliness and obedience, grounded in the recognition of one's status before God as his creatures.

God commands humility

Micah 6:8; James 4:10; 1 Peter 3:8 See also Exodus 10:3; Proverbs 16:19; Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 58:5; Zephaniah 2:3; Luke 14:9–11; Romans 12:3 sober assessment of oneself; 1 Corinthians 1:28; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:2; James 3:13; 1 Peter 5:5

He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

God exalts the humble

Luke 1:52 See also 2 Samuel 7:8; 1 Kings 14:7

He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

Believers should humble themselves before God

2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Peter 5:6 See also 2SA 22:281KI 2 Samuel 21:29; 2 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 12:6–7, 2 Chronicles 12:12, 2 Chronicles 30:11, 2 Chronicles 33:12, 2 Chronicles 33:19, 2 Chronicles 34:27PSA 2 Chronicles 18:27, Psalm 25:9, Psalm 138:6, Psalm 147:6, Psalm 149:4; Proverbs 3:34, Proverbs 18:12; James 4:6; Isaiah 29:19, Isaiah 38:15, Isaiah 57:15; Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 22:4 Psalm 35:13; Jeremiah 44:10 lack of humility linked with disobedience

and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

God humbles his people to renew and restore them

Psalm 44:9 See also Leviticus 26:41; Deuteronomy 8:2, Deuteronomy 8:16; 1 Kings 11:39; 2 Chronicles 28:19; Psalm 107:39; Isaiah 9:1; 2 Corinthians 12:21

But You have rejected and humbled us; You no longer go forth with our armies.

God humbles the proud

Luke 18:14 See also 1 Samuel 2:7; Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 2:17, Isaiah 5:15, Isaiah 13:11, Isaiah 23:9, Isaiah 25:11, Isaiah 26:5; Daniel 4:37

I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Examples of humble people

Outstanding individuals

Genesis 32:10 Jacob; Genesis 41:16 Joseph; Numbers 12:3 Moses; 1 Samuel 9:21 Saul; 1 Samuel 18:18; 2 Samuel 7:18; 1 Kings 3:7 Solomon; Daniel 2:30 Daniel; Matthew 3:14 John the Baptist; Luke 1:43 Elizabeth; Luke 1:48 Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ; 1 Timothy 1:15; Acts 20:19

Other examples

2 Samuel 16:4; Proverbs 6:3, Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 16:19, Proverbs 29:23; Daniel 5:22; Matthew 8:8, Matthew 15:27, Matthew 18:4

The example of Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:5–8 Isaiah 53:3–5, Isaiah 53:7–8; Zechariah 9:9 parallels Matthew 21:5, John 12:15; Matthew 11:29, Matthew 20:28; Luke 22:26–27; John 13:4; 2 Corinthians 8:9

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross.