What does the Bible say about pride?

THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

1. QUESTION

What does the Bible say about pride?

2. PRIMARY TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

The retrieved texts present a consistent portrayal of pride across wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and pastoral epistles:

Wisdom Literature (Proverbs):

• "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18, KJV)
• "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2, KJV)
• "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." (Proverbs 29:23, KJV)
• "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom." (Proverbs 13:10, KJV)
• "Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath." (Proverbs 21:24, KJV)

Prophetic Denunciations:

• "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee..." (Obadiah 1:3, KJV)
• "We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart." (Jeremiah 48:29, KJV)
• "The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth." (Isaiah 23:9, KJV)
• "Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem." (Jeremiah 13:9, KJV)

Psalms:

• "Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment." (Psalms 73:6, KJV)

New Testament:

• "He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings." (1 Timothy 6:4, KJV)

2. LINGUISTIC/HISTORICAL DATA

From the texts provided:

• Pride is consistently paired with related terms: "haughty," "loftiness," "arrogancy," "haughtiness of heart" (Jeremiah 48:29; Proverbs 21:24)
• The prophetic texts apply pride particularly to nations (Moab, Edom, Judah, Jerusalem), suggesting pride as a collective as well as individual fault
• Pride is described metaphorically as something that "compasseth them about as a chain" (Psalms 73:6), indicating bondage or entrapment

3. SCHOLARLY POSITIONS

Based strictly on the textual evidence provided, several thematic observations emerge:

1. Pride as Self-Deception: "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee" (Obadiah 1:3)
2. Pride as Precursor to Destruction: A causal relationship is repeatedly asserted—pride leads to fall, shame, and being brought low (Proverbs 16:18; 11:2; 29:23)
3. Pride Contrasted with Wisdom/Humility: The texts juxtapose pride with "the lowly," "the humble in spirit," and "the well advised" (Proverbs 11:2; 29:23; 13:10)
4. Pride as Source of Conflict: "Only by pride cometh contention" (Proverbs 13:10); pride produces "strife, railings, evil surmisings" (1 Timothy 6:4)
5. Divine Opposition to Pride: God actively purposes to "stain the pride of all glory" (Isaiah 23:9) and to "mar" the pride of His own people (Jeremiah 13:9)

4. SOURCES

All citations from the King James Version (KJV):

• Proverbs 16:18; 11:2; 29:23; 13:10; 21:24
• Jeremiah 48:29; 13:9
• Isaiah 16:6; 23

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE: retrieved texts do not resolve this question explicitly.