What Does the Bible Say About Self Esteem?

Romans 12:3 ESV / 65 helpful votes

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Galatians 6:3 ESV / 54 helpful votes

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

2 Corinthians 10:18 ESV / 48 helpful votes

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Luke 16:15 ESV / 45 helpful votes

And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Proverbs 21:4 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

Isaiah 2:17 ESV / 42 helpful votes

And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

Proverbs 16:5 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 11:2-13 ESV / 34 helpful votes

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. ...

Luke 14:11 ESV / 33 helpful votes

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

James 4:6 ESV / 31 helpful votes

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 11:2 ESV / 31 helpful votes

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 8:13 ESV / 30 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Proverbs 29:23 ESV / 23 helpful votes

One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Proverbs 18:12 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Psalm 147:10-11 ESV / 21 helpful votes

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Matthew 16:24-25 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Psalm 139:13-14 ESV / 16 helpful votes

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Philippians 2:3-15 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ...

1 John 3:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 14 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 8:1-2 ESV / 12 helpful votes

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Genesis 1:26-27 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Romans 8:35-39 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 7:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Mark 8:34 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

James 4:9-10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Ephesians 3:17-21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

John 14:3-4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

2 Corinthians 10:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

Romans 7:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Romans 6:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 22:39 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Revelation 3:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Acts 8:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.

Psalm 139:23-24 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Proverbs 16:13-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain. How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. ...

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

45 Bible Verses about Self Esteem

Romans 12:3 ESV / 65 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 6:3 ESV / 54 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 10:18 ESV / 48 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 16:15 ESV / 45 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:4 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 2:17 ESV / 42 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:5 ESV / 39 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:2-13 ESV / 34 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 14:11 ESV / 33 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:6 ESV / 31 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:2 ESV / 31 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 8:13 ESV / 30 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:23 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:12 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 147:10-11 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:24-25 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 139:13-14 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 2:3-15 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:1-2 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:26-27 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:35-39 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 7:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 8:34 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:9-10 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 3:17-21 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:3-4 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 10:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 7:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:39 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 3:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 8:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 139:23-24 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:13-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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