The ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome believed in a multitude of immortal gods and goddesses who interacted with mortal men and women. The gods and goddesses had expectations for human behavior, and they punished those who broke the rules. One common theme throughout Greek and Roman mythology describes the punishments given to those who committed the worst offense – excessive pride or hubris (Edgar 2).
Hundreds of years before the Greek and Roman civilizations, God’s inspired penmen addressed the human condition of excessive pride. “For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty [prideful] looks” (Psalm 18:27 NKJV). “The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground” (Psalm 147:6). “Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility” (Proverbs 18:12). God considers excessive pride an abomination (Proverbs 6:16-17).
Notice in the verses above that pride is contrasted with humility. The Old and New testaments praise those who are humble (Proverbs 15:33; 22:4; Matthew 18:4; Luke 14:11). Multiple verses command God’s servants to demonstrate humility (Colossians 3:12; Romans 12:16; James 4:10).
Humility Defined
Several Hebrew words in the Old Testament and several Greek words in the New Testament translate into our English words “humility” or “humble.” These words can also be translated into the English words “meekness,” “gentleness” and “subdue” in addition to phrases like “bring down” or “bring into subjection” (Strong’s). The general idea of humility or humbleness is an attitude of self-control, submission and an awareness of one’s place in this world. Time after time, God reminded the world that He is supreme. The attitude of humility is the responsibility of mankind, while the privilege of exaltation belongs to God (2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 149:4; Daniel 10:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).
Biblical Examples
The account of God dealing with the Pharaoh of Egypt regarding the deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery begins in Exodus 5:1. Moses repeatedly asked Pharaoh to let God’s people leave the land. Even after seven plagues, Pharaoh refused to grant the request, demonstrating an unwillingness to submit to Jehovah God. Exodus 10:3 reads, “So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” In contrast, Numbers 12:3 declares Moses as a most humble man. “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.”
Many of the kings of Israel and Judah did evil in God’s sight. One such man was Manasseh, King of Judah. Second Chronicles 33:10 states that God spoke to this evil king and his people, but they would not listen. Manasseh did not acknowledge his place as inferior to the Almighty. Notice the result.
Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. (2 Chronicles 33:11-13)
Manasseh learned humility the hard way.
Josiah became king of Judah when he was eight years old (2 Chronicles 34:1). At age sixteen, he began to “seek the God of his father David” (34:3), which led to drastic changes in Judah (34:3-35:18). God rewarded Josiah for his humble attitude.
But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Concerning the words which you have heard – because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, says the LORD. Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.” So they brought back word to the king. (2 Chronicles 34:26-28)
Acts 12:1-4 describes the persecution of the church by King Herod. The end of the chapter describes this arrogant man’s violent death. Herod appeared before the people dressed in a fine manner. The historian Josephus described his garments as made of silver that shone brightly in the sun (New Unger’s). When the people saw the splendor, they shouted, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” (v. 22). Herod did not deny the claim and God punished him. “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died” (v. 23). God humbled this man in most painful manner.
Christian Responsibility
First Peter 5:5-6 reads, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” James records a similar statement. “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (4:6-7). Christians must submit to God and to each other. When God’s children are “clothed with humility,” they wear an attitude of service to others. Incidentally, both of these passages quote the Septuagint version of Proverbs 3:34 (Barnes’).
Consider the disposition of humility as commanded in the following verses.
- “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
- “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2).
- “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).
- “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13).
- “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
- “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
- “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:1-2).
Final Thoughts
The world around us frequently does the opposite of what God commands, to their eternal detriment (Isaiah 5:20). Though many in the world praise the haughty and malign the humble, the ways of Almighty God remain the only path to Heaven (Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:6). “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).
Works Cited
Barnes’ Notes. Electronic Database. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1997.
Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Seattle: Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, 1994.
Edgar, Frank. Greek and Roman Mythology. Quincy, Illinois: Mark Twain Media, 1994.
New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, The. Chicago: Moody P., 1988.