Proverbs 18:12 kjv

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 18:12 nkjv

Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

Proverbs 18:12 niv

Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12 esv

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12 nlt

Haughtiness goes before destruction;
humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 18 verses

Proverbs 18 12 Meaning

Proverbs 18:12 communicates a fundamental principle of divine order: a heart that is proud and arrogant (haughty) inevitably precedes a state of destruction, ruin, or downfall. Conversely, a spirit marked by lowliness and a proper assessment of oneself (humility) always precedes honor, respect, and exaltation. The verse establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship, indicating that pride is a precursor to disaster, and humility is the pathway to true and lasting honor.

Proverbs 18 12 Context

Proverbs is primarily a collection of divinely inspired wisdom sayings designed to instruct people in the practical art of living righteously. Chapter 18 belongs to the larger section of Solomon's proverbs (chapters 10-22:16) which commonly employs antithetical parallelism – contrasting two opposing ideas or actions to highlight their different outcomes. Verse 18:12 serves as a timeless, universal principle that describes a consistent moral pattern in God's ordered world: pride is an inward attitude leading to an inevitable outward ruin, while humility is the contrasting inward state that results in true honor. This proverb stands as a counter-cultural truth to any philosophy that advocates for self-exaltation as the path to success, rooting the principle deeply in the divine justice system.

Proverbs 18 12 Word analysis

• Before destruction (לִפְנֵי שֶׁבֶר, lifneiy sheber):

  • Lifneiy (לִפְנֵי): A preposition meaning "in the face of," "before," "in front of," or "prior to." It indicates temporal precedence, suggesting that the pride occurs before the destruction.
  • Sheber (שֶׁבֶר): This Hebrew noun means "breaking," "fracture," "ruin," "calamity," or "destruction." It implies a crushing or shattering, referring to total collapse or catastrophe. In the context of the proverb, it denotes the disastrous consequences that pride ultimately brings upon an individual's life, reputation, or relationship with God.

• the heart of man (לֵב אָדָם, lev adam):

  • Lev (לֵב): In biblical Hebrew, "heart" signifies the whole inner person: the intellect, emotions, will, moral character, and conscience. It is the seat of motivation and the deepest part of one's being.
  • Adam (אָדָם): Refers to humanity, "a man" or "human being." The use of adam indicates the universal applicability of this proverb to all people.
  • This phrase emphasizes that the origin of the prideful state resides deeply within a person's core being and innermost disposition.

• is haughty (יִגְבָּהּ, yigbah):

  • Derived from the verb גָּבַהּ (gavah), meaning "to be high," "to be exalted," "to rise up." When applied to the heart, it means "to be proud," "arrogant," or "lofty." This refers to an attitude of inflated self-importance, a belief in one's superiority, and an often contemptuous view of others or disregard for God. It is a spiritual disposition of self-exaltation beyond its rightful place.

• but before honor (וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד, velifneiy kavod):

  • Ve- (וְ): The Hebrew conjunction "and" or "but," here serving to introduce a contrasting idea.
  • Lifneiy (לִפְנֵי): "Before," as explained previously, maintaining the parallel structure and sequence.
  • Kavod (כָּבוֹד): This noun means "weight," "glory," "honor," "dignity," "respect," "reputation." It denotes a recognized and esteemed state, often bestowed by others or by God, rather than being self-claimed. It is a state of acknowledged value or prominence.

• is humility (עֲנָוָה, anavah):

  • Anavah (עֲנָוָה): This noun means "humility," "meekness," "lowliness," or "gentleness." It signifies a proper and realistic estimation of oneself, particularly in relation to God and others. It is characterized by a lack of arrogance, a willingness to learn, teachability, and often involves acknowledging dependence on God and serving others. It is the spiritual antithesis of haughtiness.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty": This clause vividly depicts the consequence of an arrogant internal disposition. The order of words in Hebrew and English both highlight the temporal sequence: haughtiness is the prior state, and destruction is the ensuing outcome. The focus is on the heart as the seat of pride, which actively brings about its own undoing.
  • "but before honor is humility": This clause serves as a powerful antithetical parallel. While it translates directly as "before honor is humility," the Hebrew structure places "humility" (עֲנָוָה, anavah) as the concluding word, creating a strong emphasis that honor is attained through or following the cultivation of humility. The phrase indicates that humility is the necessary prerequisite and pathway to true and lasting honor and recognition, not self-exaltation.

Proverbs 18 12 Bonus section

This proverb's sharp contrast reveals a spiritual law as dependable as any natural law: God actively opposes the proud, but He exalts the humble. The "destruction" (שֶׁבֶר) encompasses a broad range of negative outcomes, from social disgrace and isolation to profound personal failure and divine judgment, indicating that the consequences of pride are comprehensive. The "honor" (כָּבוֹד) is not mere human applause but implies true weight, dignity, and recognition, which often comes as a direct or indirect blessing from God. The verse thereby directly confronts secular and worldly viewpoints that often celebrate self-assertion and aggressive ambition as keys to success, affirming a counter-cultural truth: true and enduring elevation stems from a life lived in humble deference to God and genuine regard for others. The deep moral order of the cosmos, revealed through Scripture, ensures that these principles of pride/destruction and humility/honor will always hold true.

Proverbs 18 12 Commentary

Proverbs 18:12 is a concise yet profound articulation of a universal truth ingrained in God's moral universe. It asserts that human pride, rooted in an elevated self-perception that disregards divine authority or others' worth, is fundamentally self-destructive, leading inevitably to ruin. Conversely, cultivating humility – an accurate and modest assessment of oneself, coupled with a humble reliance on God and respect for others – is the divinely appointed path to true and lasting honor and exaltation. This proverb underscores that honor is typically not found by striving for it directly through arrogance, but is rather bestowed as a natural outcome or a divine blessing upon a humble heart. It functions as a warning against self-reliance and self-promotion and an encouragement towards a posture of humility and God-dependence.

• Examples:
  • An individual who proudly dismisses advice and refuses correction often makes disastrous mistakes, leading to personal ruin. In contrast, one who humbly seeks wisdom and learns from others often rises in skill and respect.
  • A nation that boasts in its strength and exploits weaker nations often eventually collapses under its own pride, whereas nations that act with justice and humility may experience lasting peace and influence.