Narcissism is a trait that leads people to become self-absorbed, prideful, and lacking in empathy for others. The Bible warns against arrogance, self-exaltation, and a heart that is only concerned with its own desires. True greatness, according to the teachings of Christ, comes from humility and service to others. Scripture repeatedly cautions against pride, which often leads to destruction and separation from God.
In contrast, the Word of God calls believers to a life of love, humility, and submission to His will. Instead of seeking personal glory, Christians are encouraged to serve others with kindness and selflessness. Jesus Himself demonstrated humility by washing His disciples’ feet, showing that leadership in God’s kingdom comes through serving rather than demanding honor. A heart surrendered to God finds true fulfillment, not in pride, but in obedience and love.
Pride leads to downfall, while humility brings grace and blessing. The Bible makes it clear that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, urging all to walk in humility and dependence on Him. Below are Bible verses that highlight the dangers of narcissism and the call to humility. These scriptures serve as reminders to turn away from pride and embrace the character of Christ. By meditating on God’s Word and seeking His guidance, believers can cultivate a heart that reflects His love, mercy, and humility in all things.
Preachers Quotes
“Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.” – Andrew Murray
“God created us to live for His glory, not our own.” – John Piper
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” – C.S. Lewis
“Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility.” – Jonathan Edwards
“The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.” – Charles Spurgeon
“If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped.” – Elizabeth Elliot
“The moment you think you have a right to something, you lose the heart of gratitude.” – Tim Keller
You might also be interested in: Bible verses about The Wicked
Bible Verses About Narcissism
Proverbs 16:18 – Pride leads to destruction.
“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18
James 4:6 – God resists the proud.
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’” – James 4:6
Philippians 2:3 – Avoid selfish ambition.
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” – Philippians 2:3
2 Timothy 3:1-2 – Self-love is a sign of the last days.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-2
Matthew 23:12 – The humble will be exalted.
“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:12
Proverbs 27:2 – Let others praise you, not yourself.
“Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.” – Proverbs 27:2
Luke 14:11 – God brings down the proud.
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 14:11
Romans 12:3 – Think soberly of yourself.
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” – Romans 12:3
Proverbs 8:13 – The Lord hates pride.
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.” – Proverbs 8:13
Isaiah 2:12 – The Lord will humble the proud.
“For the day of the Lord of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up— And it shall be brought low.” – Isaiah 2:12
Galatians 6:3 – Self-deception in arrogance.
“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” – Galatians 6:3
Obadiah 1:3 – Pride deceives the heart.
“The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’” – Obadiah 1:3
1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love is not boastful.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Do not boast in yourself.
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me.’” – Jeremiah 9:23-24
Psalm 10:4 – The proud reject God.
“The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” – Psalm 10:4
1 Peter 5:5 – Submit to humility.
“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.’” – 1 Peter 5:5
Proverbs 29:23 – Pride brings a person low.
“A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.” – Proverbs 29:23
Isaiah 13:11 – God punishes the arrogant.
“I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” – Isaiah 13:11
Psalm 101:5 – God will cut off the proud.
“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.” – Psalm 101:5
Proverbs 6:16-17 – God hates a proud look.
“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood.” – Proverbs 6:16-17
Romans 1:30 – The proud are enemies of God.
“Backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.” – Romans 1:30
Mark 7:21-22 – Pride defiles a person.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.” – Mark 7:21-22
Psalm 138:6 – God keeps His distance from the proud.
“Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.” – Psalm 138:6
1 Samuel 2:3 – The Lord weighs actions.
“Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.” – 1 Samuel 2:3
Jeremiah 50:31-32 – Pride leads to destruction.
“‘Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!’ says the Lord God of hosts; ‘For your day has come, The time that I will punish you. The most proud shall stumble and fall, And no one will raise him up.’” – Jeremiah 50:31-32
Job 40:11-12 – God humbles the proud.
“Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.” – Job 40:11-12
2 Chronicles 26:16 – Pride leads to downfall.
“But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” – 2 Chronicles 26:16
Psalm 31:23 – The Lord repays the proud.
“Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person.” – Psalm 31:23
Habakkuk 2:4 – The proud do not live by faith.
“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.” – Habakkuk 2:4
Psalm 119:21 – The proud are cursed.
“You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments.” – Psalm 119:21
Zephaniah 3:11 – God removes the prideful.
“In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain.” – Zephaniah 3:11
Daniel 4:37 – God humbles the proud.
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” – Daniel 4:37
Isaiah 5:21 – Woe to the self-wise.
“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” – Isaiah 5:21
1 Corinthians 8:1 – Knowledge puffs up.
“Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” – 1 Corinthians 8:1
James 3:14-16 – Selfish ambition leads to disorder.
“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” – James 3:14-16
Proverbs 18:12 – Humility comes before honor.
“Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.” – Proverbs 18:12
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 – The Lord’s approval matters, not self-praise.
“But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’ For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18
Psalm 75:4-5 – Do not lift yourself up.
“I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.’” – Psalm 75:4-5
Romans 12:16 – Do not be wise in your own opinion.
“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” – Romans 12:16
Psalm 147:6 – The Lord lifts the humble.
“The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.” – Psalm 147:6
If you’re interested, here’s another article on: Bible verses about Arguing
What Does The Bible Say About Narcissism
The Bible does not use the word “narcissism,” but it talks a lot about pride, selfishness, and arrogance. Narcissism is when a person loves themselves too much, thinking they are better than others. They seek attention, want to be praised, and often do not care about other people’s feelings. The Bible warns against this kind of attitude and teaches humility, love, and kindness.
One of the biggest examples of pride in the Bible is Satan. Isaiah 14:12-15 describes how he wanted to be like God and was cast out of heaven because of his arrogance. This shows that God opposes the proud but lifts up the humble (James 4:6). Jesus also taught that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted (Matthew 23:12).
Narcissistic people often lack love and think only about themselves. But 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 teaches that love is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, and is not proud. It does not seek its own way or keep a record of wrongs. This means true love is not selfish. A narcissistic person, on the other hand, often wants things to be about them and does not care how others feel.
The Bible also warns about people who are lovers of themselves. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul describes people in the last days who will be “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, and without love.” He warns believers to stay away from such people. This passage clearly describes the dangers of narcissism and how it goes against God’s will.
Jesus is the best example of humility. Though He was God, He humbled Himself, served others, and even washed His disciples’ feet (Philippians 2:5-8; John 13:14-15). He taught that the greatest in God’s kingdom is the one who serves others (Matthew 20:26-28). This is the opposite of a narcissist, who wants to be served and admired.
The Bible teaches us to love others, be humble, and not think too highly of ourselves (Romans 12:3). It warns against pride and arrogance, showing that these attitudes lead to destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Instead, we should follow Christ’s example of humility, putting others before ourselves and seeking to please God rather than people (Galatians 1:10).