For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
- KJV For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
- NKJV For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- NASB For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- NLT For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
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
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. This is a settled principle of God's kingdom.
Overview
Jesus states the governing law behind the parable: God opposes the proud and lifts up the lowly. This reverses worldly values and reflects God's character. It supremely points to Christ, who humbled Himself to death and was exalted by the Father, the pattern for all who follow Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Matt 23:12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Prov 29:23A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
- Jas 4:6But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Ps 138:6Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
- 1 Pet 5:5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Prov 18:12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
- Jas 4:10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
- Isa 2:17So the pride of man will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,
- Ps 18:27For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.
- Prov 15:33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
- Isa 2:11The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
- Job 22:29When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
- Isa 57:15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
- 1 Sam 15:17And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel
- Job 40:10–12Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
- Luke 1:51He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 14:11 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.