Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Self Esteem?
17 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Self Esteem in the Bible
What does the Bible say about self esteem? Browse 20 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Self Esteem
- 1
- 2Psalms 147:10
“He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.”
KJV - 3Proverbs 8:13
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
KJV - 4
- 5Proverbs 16:5
“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. unpunished: Heb. held innocent”
KJV - 6
- 7Proverbs 21:4
“An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. An: Heb. Haughtiness of eyes the plowing: or, the light”
KJV - 8
- 9Isaiah 2:17
“And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.”
KJV - 10Jeremiah 9:23
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:”
KJV
Subtopics of Self Esteem
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Self Esteem? (10 Verses)
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.”
“He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.”
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. unpunished: Heb. held innocent”
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”
“An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. An: Heb. Haughtiness of eyes the plowing: or, the light”
“A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
“And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.”
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Self Esteem? (7 Verses)
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
“And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly , according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. soberly: Gr. to sobriety”
“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Self Esteem
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about self esteem. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about self esteem and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about self esteem is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on self esteem needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about self esteem with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about self esteem, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Self Esteem?
You have studied 17 verses about self esteem. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.