Humility

How Nave’s arranged it

• General scriptures concerningDeuteronomy 9:4–29Deuteronomy 15:15Deuteronomy 32:7Job 5:11Job 22:29Job 25:5Job 25:6Psalms 9:12Psalms 10:17Psalms 22:6Psalms 22:26Psalms 25:9Psalms 37:11Psalms 69:32Psalms 86:1Psalms 131:1Psalms 131:2Psalms 138:6Psalms 147:6Proverbs 3:34
• EXEMPLIFIEDGenesis 18:27Genesis 18:32Genesis 32:10Genesis 41:16Exodus 3:11Exodus 4:102 Samuel 7:182 Samuel 7:191 Kings 3:71 Chronicles 17:171 Chronicles 29:142 Chronicles 1:102 Chronicles 2:6Ezra 9:13Job 7:17Job 7:18Job 9:14Job 9:15Job 10:15Job 33:6
• INSTANCES OF
• JosephGenesis 41:16
• David1 Samuel 18:18–231 Samuel 24:141 Samuel 26:202 Samuel 7:18–291 Chronicles 17:16–27
• Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9:8
• Ahab1 Kings 21:29
• Josiah2 Chronicles 34:27
• ElihuJob 32:4–7
• IsaiahIsaiah 6:5
• ElisabethLuke 1:43
• John the BaptistMark 1:7Luke 3:16

The passages, in Bible order (165)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 18:27

   Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

   ›Commentary on Genesis 18:271 voice

   “Which am but dust and ashes - עפר ואפר aphar vaepher, words very similar in sound, as they refer to matters which so much resemble each other. Dust - the lightest particles of earth. Ashes - the residuum of consumed substances. By these expressions he shows how deeply his soul was humbled in the presence of God. He who has high thoughts of himself must have low thoughts of the dignity of the Divine nature, of the majesty of God, and the sinfulness of sin.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 18:27→

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2. Genesis 18:32

   Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 18:322 voices

   “(Verse 32) And he said, 'Is it, Lord, if I speak?' Which is written in Greek, μήτι, Κύριε, ἐὰν λαλήσω. Secondly, Abraham spoke to the Lord, which does not seem to clearly indicate what he is saying. Therefore, in Hebrew it is written more explicitly: 'Please do not be angry, Lord, if I have spoken.' For since he seemed to be questioning, he qualifies what he seeks by beginning with a plea.

   “Peradventure ten shall be found there - Knowing that in the family of his nephew the true religion was professed and practiced, he could not suppose there could be less than ten righteous persons in the city, he did not think it necessary to urge his supplication farther; he therefore left off his entreaties, and the Lord departed from him. It is highly worthy of observation, that while he continued to pray the presence of God was continued; and when Abraham ended, “the glory of the Lord was lifted up,” as the Targum expresses it.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 18:32→

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3. Genesis 32:10

   I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 32:102 voices

   "With only his staff he crossed the Jordan." It was a wondrous symbol Jacob held in his hand in anticipation—the sign of the cross of the great prophet. He lifted up his feet on to the land of the people of the east, because it was from there that "a light shone out to the peoples."

   “(Verse 9 and 10.) And Jacob said, O God of my father Isaac, Lord, who said to me, Return to your land and I will bless you: I am less than all your mercies, and all your truth, which you have shown to your servant. For because of what we have done, I am less, something else I do not know, which disturbs the meaning, is contained in the Greek and Latin codices.

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4. Genesis 41:16

   “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 41:162 voices

   “(Verse 16) And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: Without God, salvation will not be given to Pharaoh. In Hebrew, it is different: Without me, God will answer peace to Pharaoh. Finally, Symmachus translated more openly in his own way: Not I, but God will answer peace to Pharaoh.

   “It is not in me, etc. - בלעדי biladai, without or independently of me - I am not essential to thy comfort, God himself has thee under his care. And he will send thee, or answer thee, peace; thou shalt have prosperity (שלום shelom) howsoever ominous thy dreams may appear. By this answer he not only conciliated the mind of the king, but led him to expect his help from that God from whom alone all comfort, protection, and prosperity, must proceed.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 41:16→

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5. Exodus 3:11

   But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

   ›Commentary on Exodus 3:111 voice

   “Who am I - These words indicate humility (compare Num 12:3), not fear. He feared failure, owing to incompetency, especially in the power of expression.

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6. Exodus 4:10

   “Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

   ›Commentary on Exodus 4:102 voices

   “Moses himself once said: "I am alogos"("wordless"). The Latin version uses a different expression, but we can translate the word alogos exactly as "without words and reason." After he said this, he received reason and speech, which he admitted that he did not have before. When the people of Israel were in Egypt, before they had received the law, they too were without words and reason and thus in a sense mute. Then they received the Word; Moses was the image of it.

   “I am not eloquent - לא איש דברים lo ish debarim, I am not a man of words; a periphrasis common in the Scriptures. So Job 11:2, איש שפתים ish sephathayim, a man of lips, signifies one that is talkative. Psa 140:11, איש לשון ish lashon, a man of tongue, signifies a prattler. But how could it be said that Moses was not eloquent, when St. Stephen asserts, Act 7:22, that he was mighty in words as well as in deeds? There are three ways of solving this difficulty:

   Everything gathered on Exodus 4:10→

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7. Deuteronomy 9:4–29

   When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.” Rather, the LORD is driving out these nations before you because of their wickedness.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 9:4–291 voice

   “I ask, what could be said more clearly against that pernicious opinion and presumption of ours, by which we want to attribute everything that we do to our free will and to our own effort? "Do not say in your heart, when the Lord your God has destroyed them in your sight: Because of my righteousness the Lord has led me in to possess this land." Did he not express himself clearly to those whose souls' eyes are open and whose ears hear?

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 9:4–29→

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8. Deuteronomy 15:15

   Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 15:151 voice

   “The commands here are repeated from Exo 21:2-6, with amplifications relative to the maidservant Deu 15:12 and to the making (Deu 15:13 ff) liberal provision for launching the freedman on an independent course of life. The release of the servant is connected with the sabbatical principle though not with the sabbatical year. It is noteworthy also that the prospect of a gift of this sort, the amount of which was left to the master’s discretion, would be likely to encourage diligence and faithfulness during the years of servitude.

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9. Deuteronomy 32:7

   Remember the days of old; consider the years long past. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will inform you.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:71 voice

   Who then would be so presumptuous and blind as to dare to trust in his own judgment and discretion when the vessel of election testifies that he needed to confer with his fellow apostles? From this it is clearly proven that the Lord shows the way of perfection to no one who has the means of being educated but who disdains the teaching and the instruction of the elders and who considers as insignificant that saying which ought to be diligently observed: "Ask your father, and he will declare it to you, your elders, and they will tell you."

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 32:7→

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10. 1 Samuel 18:18–23

    And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 18:18–232 voices

    “What is my life - How little is my life worth, that by the exposing of that to some hazard, I should purchase a king's daughter! In these expressions David sheweth not only his humility, but also his wisdom, in discovering so deep a sense of his own meanness, that Saul might see how far he was from aspiring at the kingdom.

    “As [David] looks on the greatness of God's lovingkindness, he is struck with amazement. He considers himself with all his soul to be unworthy of the vision of such goodness and does not wish to look closely at them or fully understand them. He is …

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 18:18–23→

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11. 1 Samuel 24:14

    Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:141 voice

    “After a dead dog - A term used among the Hebrews to signify the most sovereign contempt; see 2Sa 16:9. One utterly incapable of making the least resistance against Saul, and the troops of Israel. The same idea is expressed in the term flea. The Targum properly expresses both thus: one who is weak, one who is contemptible.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 24:14→

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12. 1 Samuel 26:20

    So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:201 voice

    “As when one doth hunt a partridge - It is worthy of remark that the Arabs, observing that partridges, being put up several times, soon become so weary as not to be able to fly; they in this manner hunt them upon the mountains, till at last they can knock them down with their clubs. It was in this manner that Saul hunted David, coming hastily upon him, and putting him up from time to time, in hopes that he should at length, by frequent repetitions of it, be able to destroy him. See Harmer.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 26:20→

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13. 2 Samuel 7:18

    Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 7:181 voice

    “Then went King David in,.... Into the tabernacle where the ark was, which he had prepared for it, 2Sa 6:17, and sat before the Lord; before the ark, the symbol of his presence, and prayed, and gave thanks, as follows: from whence it appears that a sitting posture was sometimes used in prayer, of which we have other instances, Exo 17:11. It is said (y) that Pythagoras, and also Numa, ordered that worshippers should sit.

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14. 2 Samuel 7:19

    And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD?

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 7:192 voices

    “A great while - For many future ages, and indeed to all eternity. Is this, &c. - Do men use to deal so kindly with their inferiors, as thou hast done with me? No: this is the prerogative of divine grace.

    “Is this the manner of man - Compare 1Ch 17:17. Our passage may be thus understood: But this is the law (or prerogative) of a great man to found dynasties which are to last into the far future. David expresses his astonishment that he, of such humble birth, and one so little in his own eyes, should not only be raised to the throne, but be assured of the perpetuity of the succession in his descendants, as if he were a man of high degree.

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15. 2 Samuel 9:8

    Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 9:81 voice

    “Mephibosheth’s humility of expression, even in the mouth of an Oriental, is painful. It was perhaps in part the result of his helpless lameness, and of the other misfortunes of his life. A dead dog - The wild dogs of the East, which still abound in every town, are the natural objects of contempt and dislike.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 9:8→

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16. 1 Kings 3:7

    And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 3:72 voices

    “Child - So he was in years: not above twenty years old; and withal (which he principally intends) he was raw and unexperienced, as a child, in state affairs.

    “See 1Ki 2:2 note, and on the hyperbole contained in the phrase “little child,” compare Gen 43:8; Exo 33:11. How to go out or come in - This expression is proverbial for the active conduct of affairs. (See the marginal reference.)

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