Bible references

Key NT Scriptures

• Colossians 3:12
• Ephesians 4:2
• James 4:10
• Matthew 23:11-12
• Philippians 2:5-8

Key OT Scriptures

• Proverbs 8:13
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 16:18
  Jewish Commentary

Supportive NT Scriptures

• 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
• 2 Corinthians 3:5
• 2 Corinthians 12:7
• Galatians 5:13
• Galatians 5:26
• Galatians 6:3
• James 3:13
• James 4:6
• John 6:38
• John 13:4-5
• John 13:14-16
• Luke 9:48
• Luke 14:7-11
• Luke 18:9-14
  Click to retrieve Luke 18:9-14
• Luke 22:24-27
• Mark 9:35
• Mark 10:43-44
• Matthew 3:13-15
• Matthew 5:3
• Matthew 11:29
• Matthew 18:2-4
• Matthew 20:25-28
• Matthew 21:5
• 1 Peter 3:8
• 1 Peter 5:5-6
• Philippians 2:3
• Philippians 2:6-8
• Romans 11:18
• Romans 12:3
• Romans 12:16

Supportive OT Scriptures

• 2 Chronicles 7:14
  Jewish Commentary
• Ecclesiastes 7:8
  Jewish Commentary
• Isaiah 2:11-12
  Jewish Commentary
• Isaiah 13:11
  Jewish Commentary
• Isaiah 50:6
  Jewish Commentary
• Isaiah 53:7
  Jewish Commentary
• Jeremiah 9:22
  Jewish Commentary
• Micah 6:8
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 3:34
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 11:2
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 15:33
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 16:5
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 16:18-19
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 18:12
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 21:4
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 21:24
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 26:12
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 27:2
  Jewish Commentary
• Proverbs 29:23
  Jewish Commentary
• Psalms 18:28
  Jewish Commentary
• Psalms 22:7-8
  Jewish Commentary
• Psalms 25:8-9
  Jewish Commentary
• Psalms 101:5
  Jewish Commentary
• Psalms 138:6
  Jewish Commentary
• Psalms 147:6
  Jewish Commentary
• Zechariah 9:9
  Jewish Commentary
• Zephaniah 3:11
  Jewish Commentary

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Commentary

Rabbi Michael Rudolph

There are some words in the Scriptures supporting this Mitzvah that are sufficiently similar as to warrant explanation. "Humility" and "humbleness" are the same, and refer to persons who do not elevate themselves in their own eyes. "Pride" is the opposite, in that a prideful person attributes self-value, abilities, qualities, and virtues to himself, whereas, even if they truly exist, they are not something he should be bragging about because they were given to him by God. "Haughtiness" and "arrogance" are similar, except that they refer to one's outward manifestation of pride, whereas pride is largely internal. The reason that humility is lauded and pride is hated by God, is that pride is essentially a rejection of God, and is the sin that was behind Satan's fall from grace. The sin of pride can manifest in several ways, the most obvious of which results in brash boasting. Motivating such a person is often the delusion that he is a "self-made man", forgetting or denying that God is the one who made him, and made him what he is. The opposite, humility, gives credit to God and also to others that have contributed to who we are, and what we have become. There is a more subtle way that pride can manifest. We sometimes come across it in a person that has a sour and complaining disposition, even bordering on self-deprecation. When we encounter it, we sometimes conclude that the person has a low opinion of his self-worth, whereas it is exactly the opposite. Instead of being boastful of his self-worth, such a person turns inward and resents that others do not adequately see it. "I deserved to get that job over my competitor" he might say to himself, or "they never give me credit for how valuable I really am." He may withdraw from social interactions by assuming in advance that he will be rejected, and may justify it by saying to himself something like: "I'm worth more than the way they treat me, so I won't give them the benefit and pleasure of what I have to offer them." Perhaps I should not have to say this, but there is a way that we can experience pride that is not sinful. It is when pleasure is evoked in us by something of quality or by someone doing well, in which we have an interest. An example would be expressing pride in one's son or daughter who is doing well in school, or in one's hometown sports team that is winning most of its games. We need to be careful, however, because even such innocuous excursions into pride can cross the line of holy propriety if we begin thinking that our child's or team's successes are mainly due to us.

Classical commentators

This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the Jewish classical commentators.

Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2

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Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.

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Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2

Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2