Humility
Humility is the attitude of the heart that puts others before oneself and acknowledges dependence on God. Jesus is the ultimate example - he who was God took the form of a servant. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Jesus' Example
Jesus showed the greatest humility by becoming human and a servant.
5Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus,
τοῦτο ⸀φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ,
6who, existing in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped,
ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ,
7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man,
ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος· καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος
8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.
ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ·
28Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Δεῦτε πρός με πάντες οἱ κοπιῶντες καὶ πεφορτισμένοι, κἀγὼ ἀναπαύσω ὑμᾶς.
29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς καὶ μάθετε ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πραΰς εἰμι καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ εὑρήσετε ἀνάπαυσιν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν·
12When he had washed their feet, he put on his garments again, took his place at the table, and said to them, "Do you understand what I have done for you?
Ὅτε οὖν ἔνιψεν τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν ⸀καὶ ἔλαβεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ⸂καὶ ἀνέπεσεν⸃, πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Γινώσκετε τί πεποίηκα ὑμῖν;
14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
εἰ οὖν ἐγὼ ἔνιψα ὑμῶν τοὺς πόδας ὁ κύριος καὶ ὁ διδάσκαλος, καὶ ὑμεῖς ὀφείλετε ἀλλήλων νίπτειν τοὺς πόδας·
15I have given you an example, so that you also should do as I have done for you.
ὑπόδειγμα γὰρ ἔδωκα ὑμῖν ἵνα καθὼς ἐγὼ ἐποίησα ὑμῖν καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιῆτε.
God Exalts the Humble
Whoever humbles themselves will be exalted by God.
6But he gives greater grace. That is why it says: "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν· διὸ λέγει· Ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
ταπεινώθητε ἐνώπιον ⸀κυρίου, καὶ ὑψώσει ὑμᾶς.
5In the same way, you who are younger, submit to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
ὁμοίως, νεώτεροι, ὑποτάγητε πρεσβυτέροις. πάντες δὲ ⸀ἀλλήλοις τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ἐγκομβώσασθε, ὅτι Ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.
6Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he may lift you up in due time,
Ταπεινώθητε οὖν ὑπὸ τὴν κραταιὰν χεῖρα τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα ὑμᾶς ὑψώσῃ ἐν καιρῷ,
12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
ὅστις δὲ ὑψώσει ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, καὶ ὅστις ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ⸀ὑψωθήσεται.
Humility Toward Others
We are called to value others above ourselves.
3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider one another better than yourselves.
μηδὲν κατʼ ἐριθείαν ⸂μηδὲ κατὰ⸃ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν,
4Let none of you look only to your own interests, but each of you also to the interests of others.
μὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ⸀ἕκαστοι ⸀σκοποῦντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἑτέρων ⸁ἕκαστοι.
3For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has assigned to each of you.
Λέγω γὰρ διὰ τῆς χάριτος τῆς δοθείσης μοι παντὶ τῷ ὄντι ἐν ὑμῖν μὴ ὑπερφρονεῖν παρʼ ὃ δεῖ φρονεῖν, ἀλλὰ φρονεῖν εἰς τὸ σωφρονεῖν, ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ θεὸς ἐμέρισεν μέτρον πίστεως.
10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.
τῇ φιλαδελφίᾳ εἰς ἀλλήλους φιλόστοργοι, τῇ τιμῇ ἀλλήλους προηγούμενοι,
16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own eyes.
τὸ αὐτὸ εἰς ἀλλήλους φρονοῦντες, μὴ τὰ ὑψηλὰ φρονοῦντες ἀλλὰ τοῖς ταπεινοῖς συναπαγόμενοι. μὴ γίνεσθε φρόνιμοι παρʼ ἑαυτοῖς.
2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ πραΰτητος, μετὰ μακροθυμίας, ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων ἐν ἀγάπῃ,
Humility in Service
The greatest among you must be everyone's servant.
26It shall not be so among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,
οὐχ οὕτως ⸀ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν· ἀλλʼ ὃς ⸀ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν μέγας γενέσθαι ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος,
27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—
καὶ ὃς ⸀ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος ⸀ἔσται ὑμῶν δοῦλος·
28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
ὥσπερ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθεν διακονηθῆναι ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.
35Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
καὶ καθίσας ἐφώνησεν τοὺς δώδεκα καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἴ τις θέλει πρῶτος εἶναι ἔσται πάντων ἔσχατος καὶ πάντων διάκονος.
26It is not to be that way with you. Instead, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the one who leads be as the one who serves.
ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐχ οὕτως, ἀλλʼ ὁ μείζων ἐν ὑμῖν ⸀γινέσθω ὡς ὁ νεώτερος, καὶ ὁ ἡγούμενος ὡς ὁ διακονῶν·
27For who is greater, the one reclining at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? Yet I am among you as one who serves.
τίς γὰρ μείζων, ὁ ἀνακείμενος ἢ ὁ διακονῶν; οὐχὶ ὁ ἀνακείμενος; ἐγὼ δὲ ⸂ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν εἰμι⸃ ὡς ὁ διακονῶν.
Blessings of Humility
Humility leads to wisdom, honor, and life.
4Humility and the fear of the LORD bring their reward: riches and honor and life.
עֵ֣קֶב עֲ֭נָוָה יִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה עֹ֖שֶׁר וְכָב֣וֹד וְחַיִּֽים׃
2When pride comes, disgrace comes with it, but wisdom is with the humble.
בָּֽא־זָ֭דוֹן וַיָּבֹ֣א קָל֑וֹן וְֽאֶת־צְנוּעִ֥ים חָכְמָֽה׃
11On that day you will no longer be put to shame for all the deeds by which you rebelled against me. For then I will remove from your midst your proud boasters, and never again will you be haughty on my holy mountain.
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא לֹ֤א תֵב֙וֹשִׁי֙ מִכֹּ֣ל עֲלִילֹתַ֔יִךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר פָּשַׁ֖עַתְּ בִּ֑י כִּי־אָ֣ז ׀ אָסִ֣יר מִקִּרְבֵּ֗ךְ עַלִּיזֵי֙ גַּאֲוָתֵ֔ךְ וְלֹֽא־תוֹסִ֧פִי לְגָבְהָ֛ה ע֖וֹד בְּהַ֥ר קָדְשִֽׁי׃
12But I will leave within you a people humble and lowly, and they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.
וְהִשְׁאַרְתִּ֣י בְקִרְבֵּ֔ךְ עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י וָדָ֑ל וְחָס֖וּ בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃