Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5793 arrogance

Proud and unpleasant behaviour towards other people, based on a belief in one's own superiority or greater importance.

Arrogance characterises the wicked person

As an attitude of the heart

Mark 7:21-22 See also Job 35:12; Psalm 10:2-11; Psalm 73:3-12; Psalm 86:14; Psalm 94:3-7; Malachi 3:15; Romans 1:28-31

Arising from self-confidence

Isaiah 9:9-10; Daniel 4:29-30; Revelation 18:7 See also Exodus 15:9; 1 Kings 20:11; 2 Kings 14:10 pp 2 Chronicles 25:19; Isaiah 28:15; Ezekiel 16:49; Hosea 12:8; Habakkuk 2:4-5; Luke 18:9; Acts 8:9-10; 2 Peter 2:10-12

Issuing in words

Psalm 17:10; Psalm 119:51; James 3:5 See also 1 Samuel 2:3; Psalm 31:18; Psalm 119:69; Psalm 123:4; Proverbs 17:7; Proverbs 21:24; Jeremiah 43:1-2

Arrogance is essentially rebellion against God

Deuteronomy 1:43; 1 Samuel 15:23 See also Nehemiah 9:16-17,29; Job 36:8-9; Psalm 5:5; Psalm 119:85; Hosea 5:4-5; Hosea 7:10; Zephaniah 3:1-4

Arrogance may even be found in the church

2 Corinthians 12:20 See also 1 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Timothy 6:17

The godly should reject arrogance

Proverbs 8:13; Jeremiah 9:23-24 See also Jeremiah 13:15; Romans 11:20; 1 Corinthians 1:28-31; Corinthians 4:7; Corinthians 13:4; Ephesians 2:8-9

God punishes the arrogant

Isaiah 2:17-18 See also Exodus 18:11; 1 Samuel 15:23 The LORD rejects Saul as king; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Nehemiah 9:10 the arrogance of Egypt punished; Psalm 75:2-4; Psalm 119:21,78; Isaiah 2:11; Isaiah 5:15; Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 48:29-30; Jeremiah 50:31-32; Ezekiel 7:8-10; Daniel 5:20 Nebuchadnezzar deposed; Zechariah 10:11

See also

5546  speech
5813  conceit
5956  strength, human
5961  superiority
6121  boasting
6221  rebellion
8276  humility
8782  mockery
8801  presumption
8802  pride
8815  ridicule
8819  scoffing