For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Parallel translations
- WEB For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
- BSB For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will 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 23:12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
- Prov 29:23A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
- Jas 4:6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
- Ps 138:6Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
- 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
- Prov 18:12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
- Jas 4:10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
- Isa 2:17And 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.
- Ps 18:27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
- Prov 15:33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
- Isa 2:11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
- Job 22:29When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
- Isa 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
- 1 Sam 15:17And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
- Job 40:10–12Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
- Luke 1:51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.