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Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:10 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
  • BSB Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
  • ESV Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
  • NKJV Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
  • NASB Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
  • NLT Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. God exalts those who lower themselves before him.

Overview

This verse caps the call to repentance: self-humbling before God is met with God's gracious exaltation. It restates the principle of verse 6 as a promise and command, reversing the world's pursuit of self-promotion. The pattern is fulfilled in Christ, who humbled himself and was exalted by God, and who promises the same to his followers (Philippians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 5:6).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • Ps 147:6Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
  • Matt 23:12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
  • 1 Pet 5:6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
  • Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
  • Jas 4:6–7But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
  • Job 22:29When they cast down, you shall say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.
  • Ps 113:7He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap;
  • Luke 1:52He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
  • 1 Sam 2:9He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength.
  • Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
  • Ps 30:1A Psalm. A Song for the Dedication of the Temple. By David. I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
  • Ps 27:6Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.
  • Ps 28:9Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — James videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on James 4:10YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JamesMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.

How James 4:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.