James 4:10 kjv
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James 4:10 nkjv
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
James 4:10 niv
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:10 esv
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:10 nlt
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
James 4 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 3:34 | "He scoffs at the scoffers but gives grace to the humble." | God opposes the proud but favors the humble. |
| Prov 15:33 | "...humility comes before honor." | Humility is a prerequisite for honor. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Consequences of pride. |
| Prov 18:12 | "Before destruction a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor." | Pride precedes ruin, humility precedes honor. |
| Prov 22:4 | "The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life." | Blessings associated with humility and reverence. |
| Prov 29:23 | "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor." | Pride leads to humbling, lowliness to honor. |
| Ps 147:6 | "The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground." | God's action of exalting the humble. |
| Ps 149:4 | "For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory." | God finds joy in and blesses the humble. |
| Job 5:11 | "...he sets the lowly on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety." | God's act of elevating the lowly. |
| Isa 2:11 | "The haughty eyes of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low..." | God's humbling of the proud. |
| Ezek 21:26 | "...Exalt the lowly and abase the high." | Divine principle of reversing human status. |
| Matt 5:3-5 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit... blessed are those who mourn... blessed are the meek..." | Beatitudes connecting spiritual humility to blessing. |
| Matt 20:26 | "...whoever would be great among you must be your servant..." | Humility (service) as a path to greatness. |
| Matt 23:12 | "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." | Direct teaching of Jesus on humility and exaltation. |
| Luke 14:11 | "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Identical teaching to Matthew 23:12. |
| Luke 18:14 | "...everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." | Again, emphasizing divine principle through parable. |
| James 4:6 | "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." | Immediate context, underlying principle for v. 10. |
| James 4:7 | "Submit yourselves therefore to God..." | Humility as an act of submission. |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | "...Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another..." | Command to humility within community. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you..." | Strong parallel, emphasizing God's timing. |
| Phil 2:8-9 | "...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death... Therefore God has highly exalted him..." | Christ's ultimate example of humility and divine exaltation. |
| Col 3:12 | "...clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience..." | Humility as a virtue to be put on by believers. |
James 4 verses
James 4 10 Meaning
James 4:10 is a powerful exhortation to intentionally adopt a posture of profound humility and submission before God. It promises that such voluntary abasement will result in God's divine elevation of the individual. This "lifting up" by God signifies His favor, spiritual honor, and true spiritual growth, rather than worldly status, thereby reversing the natural human inclination towards pride and self-exaltation.
James 4 10 Context
James chapter 4 vividly describes the origin of conflicts and strife within the Christian community, tracing them back to selfish desires, covetousness, and spiritual "friendship with the world." These worldly attachments are depicted as spiritual adultery against God (v. 4), leading to God's zealous jealousy (v. 5). In contrast to human pride that provokes God's opposition, James affirms that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (v. 6), a pivotal verse immediately preceding our text.
Verse 10 functions as the summation and culminating command in a series of direct calls to action that illustrate what humility and drawing near to God practically entail (vv. 7-9). These commands include submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, cleansing hands and hearts, and lamenting sin. Therefore, "humble yourselves before the Lord" is presented as the essential spiritual posture that enables a believer to obey these previous commands and receive God's promised grace and exaltation, offering the antidote to the pride and worldliness exposed at the chapter's beginning.
James 4 10 Word analysis
"Humble yourselves" (ταπεινόω - tapeinoō): This is a direct command in the imperative mood, calling for an active, intentional, and volitional act. The reflexive nature ("yourselves") indicates that believers are to take the initiative to bring themselves low. It signifies a profound abasement of one's ego, pride, and self-reliance, a relinquishing of any claim to personal merit or self-sufficiency before God. It's a deliberate choice to adopt a lowly posture, acknowledging one's absolute dependence on God. This act counters the natural human inclination to exalt oneself.
"before" (ἐνώπιον - enōpion): Meaning "in the sight of," "in the presence of," or "in the estimation of." This word emphasizes the public and personal nature of this humility. It is not merely an internal feeling, but an outward posture and an inward heart condition consciously maintained in the awareness of God's omnipresence and divine scrutiny. It underscores accountability and submission directly to God, the supreme Spectator and Judge.
"the Lord" (Κυρίου - Kyriou): Refers to God, the sovereign and authoritative master. In the New Testament, Kyrios designates the divine ruler, Jesus Christ, and God the Father, emphasizing His ultimate authority and supreme power. Humbling oneself "before the Lord" signifies an act of reverence, worship, and absolute surrender to His will and authority. It directs the humility away from human opinion and towards divine approval.
"and he will lift you up" (ὑψώσει ὑμᾶς - hypsōsei hymas): This is a future active indicative verb, presenting a divine promise. Hypsōō means to raise up, exalt, elevate, or promote. This "lifting up" is God's response to genuine humility. It is not a worldly elevation or material gain but encompasses divine favor, spiritual honor, renewed closeness to God, answered prayers, divine wisdom, inner peace, and ultimately, eschatological vindication and glory in the Kingdom. It emphasizes that true promotion comes from God alone and in His perfect timing.
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up": This entire phrase encapsulates a fundamental theological principle often echoed by Jesus and the apostles. It presents a divine equation: human volition in choosing humility (active voice, command) leads directly to divine action in bestowing exaltation (future tense, promise). It directly contrasts self-exaltation which God resists (James 4:6) with self-abasement that God blesses, showcasing God's gracious character in lifting those who yield to His sovereignty. The sequence is crucial: humbling precedes exaltation.
James 4 10 Bonus section
- The phrase "humble yourselves" stands in direct contrast to the pride mentioned in James 4:6, making verse 10 the concrete action required to experience the "grace" God gives to the humble.
- This verse directly applies a principle taught repeatedly by Jesus in the Gospels (e.g., Matt 23:12, Lk 14:11, Lk 18:14), emphasizing its centrality in the New Testament understanding of spiritual advancement.
- Peter echoes this precise command and promise in 1 Pet 5:6, adding "in due time," which clarifies that God's elevation occurs according to His perfect timing, not necessarily instantly or according to human expectation.
- The nature of "lifting up" is rooted in God's character as the one who brings low the proud and elevates the meek (1 Sam 2:7; Job 5:11).
- Genuine humility before the Lord cultivates a receptive heart for His Word and His work, moving a believer from opposition to intimacy with God.
James 4 10 Commentary
James 4:10 offers a concise, profound pathway to receiving God's grace and experiencing His true blessing. At its core, it challenges the pervasive human tendency towards pride, which James identifies as the source of conflict and enmity against God. The command "humble yourselves" is active and volitional; it is not a passive waiting for humiliation but a conscious, deliberate choice to abandon self-assertion, self-sufficiency, and the pursuit of worldly acclaim. This humbling is performed "before the Lord," emphasizing a posture of deep reverence, submission, and absolute dependence on God alone. It acknowledges His supreme authority and wisdom, recognizing one's own limitations and sinfulness.
In response to this authentic humility, God provides a sure promise: "he will lift you up." This divine exaltation is the counterpoint to human self-exaltation. It assures believers that God, the just and benevolent Judge, will be their vindicator and promoter. This "lifting up" primarily signifies spiritual exaltation: divine favor, spiritual peace, inner joy, deepened relationship with God, access to divine wisdom (echoing James 1:5 and 3:17), and ultimate honor in His sight. It may manifest in answered prayer, God's protection, or empowerment for service. While it does not guarantee worldly success or material gain, it promises a profound spiritual upliftment and affirmation from the ultimate source of all authority. This verse provides hope and a practical strategy for peace and unity in the Christian community by fostering individual brokenness before God.