Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5888 inferiority

A discouraging sense of being of less importance or value in comparison with others.

Inferiority as a depressing lack of self-worth

Judges 6:15; Psalm 22:6; 1 Corinthians 2:3 See also 1 Samuel 18:23; Nehemiah 4:4; Nehemiah 6:9; Psalm 31:9-10; Psalm 70:5; Psalm 74:21; Psalm 86:1; Psalm 109:22; Psalm 119:25,141; Ecclesiastes 9:16; Isaiah 33:8; Jeremiah 22:28; Lamentations 1:11; Malachi 2:9

Inferiority as a healthy sense of unworthiness

Isaiah 6:5; Matthew 5:3; Luke 5:8 See also 2 Samuel 12:13; Job 42:6; Psalm 38:1-22; Psalm 51:3-5; Revelation 1:17; Revelation 3:17

God's judgment will bring inferiority on on proud nations

Ob 2 See also Isaiah 16:14; Jeremiah 49:15; Ezekiel 29:15

Refusing to be intimidated by a sense of inferiority

Job 12:3; 1 Timothy 4:12 See also Job 13:2; 2 Corinthians 11:5; Corinthians 12:11; Titus 2:15

God values those regarded as inferior and uses them

Deuteronomy 7:7-8; 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 See also 1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 12:5; Psalm 34:6; Psalm 35:10; Psalm 36:7; Psalm 40:17; Psalm 72:13; Psalm 136:23; Psalm 140:12; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 25:4; Isaiah 29:19; Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Hosea 11:1-4

Jesus Christ valued those traditionally regarded as inferior

Matthew 8:2-4 the diseased and ritually unclean; Matthew 9:10-13 the morally unacceptable; Matthew 15:21-29 non-Jews; Matthew 19:13-14 children; Luke 18:13 those who are ashamed of their sins; John 4:9 women

Believers are to help and encourage those who feel inferior

Luke 14:13; Romans 12:16 See also Psalm 82:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Hebrews 12:12-13

See also

4050  dust
5916  pessimism
5961  superiority
6151  dirt
8276  humility
8305  meekness
8340  self-respect
8357  weakness
8713  discouragement
8741  failure