Modesty

An attitude of humility, avoiding improper self-exaltation or excessive flamboyance. Scripture urges modesty in personal behaviour, forms of dress and forms of behaviour.

Modesty as an attitude of humility

Romans 12:3 See also Proverbs 25:6–7, Proverbs 29:23; Luke 22:25–27 parallels Matthew 20:25–28, Mark 10:42–45; Romans 11:20–21; 2 Corinthians 10:13–16, 2 Corinthians 12:5–6; Philippians 2:5–8; 1 Peter 5:5

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.

Believers should dress modestly

1 Timothy 2:9–10 See also Isaiah 3:16–24; 1 Peter 3:3

Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.

Examples of those who acted with modesty

Genesis 32:9–10 Jacob; Genesis 41:15–16 Joseph; Judges 6:15 Gideon; 1 Samuel 9:19–21 Saul; 2 Samuel 7:18 David; Jeremiah 1:6 Jeremiah; Daniel 2:27–30 Daniel; Matthew 8:5–9 parallel Luke 7:6–8 a centurion