Narcissism is a character trait broadly discussed in the world today, often negatively associated with self-centeredness, superiority, and a lack of empathy towards others. Looking at the Bible, we find numerous verses that provide insights into this disposition.
What Narcissism represents in the Bible
In the Bible, narcissism is presented as a destructive behavior pattern that drives a wedge between individuals and their relationship with others and God. Those displaying narcissistic behavior are often picture as consumed by pride and arrogance, shunning humility, compassion, and contrition. The Bible, while not specifically communicating the word ‘narcissism’, frequently warns against such egoistic attitudes.
How the Bible portrays those displaying narcissistic behavior
Individuals exhibiting narcissistic traits in the Bible are often portrayed as misguided and selfish, disregarding others for personal gain or validation. They are seen as people who exalt themselves above others and even God. This excessive self-interest often leads them to deceit, manipulation, and in some cases, destruction. The Bible notes that those engulfed in self-adoration tend to neglect the needs and feelings of others, causing harm to their relationships.
Why Narcissism is discouraged in the Bible
The Bible strongly discourages narcissism as it contradicts the teachings of humility, selflessness, and love – qualities highly praised and encouraged. Narcissism goes against the various instructions given in the Bible on how to live a fulfilling and meaningful life—with God and amongst fellow human beings. The Bible continually advocates for putting others before oneself, being modest in all pursuits, and showing compassion and empathy to others, starkly contrasting the nature of narcissistic behavior.
When the Bible underlines the results of narcissism
The Bible indicates numerous outcomes of narcissism, none of which are favorable. It often links narcissistic behavior to downfall—whether moral, relational, or spiritual. Narcissism can lead to isolation, disconnection, and psychological stress, as portrayed in multiple biblical narratives. It emphasizes that such inherent pride and arrogance can blind one from recognizing their faults or understanding the consequences of their actions. The Bible thus underscores the negative aftereffects of being absorbed in one’s self-interest.
Who can help a narcissist according to the Bible
According to the Bible, help for a narcissist is possible, primarily through God’s assistance and intervention. The teachings advocate that narcissistic people can change if they choose to embrace humility, compassion, and empathy. It also infers that reaching out to such individuals with understanding and patience can make a difference. The Bible emphasizes that individuals trapped in the web of narcissism can find a way out by acknowledging their follies, seeking forgiveness, and striving to change their harmful behaviors.
Below is the full list of bible verses on narcissism (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Narcissism
2 Timothy 3:1-17
“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Related Themes: Manipulation Gossip Boasting Pride
Romans 16:17-19
“17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”
Related Themes: Holiness Division Judging Others Church
1 Peter 5:5-6
“5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
Related Themes: Humility Pride Humility Respecting Your Parents Children
Proverbs 18:12
“12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”
Related Themes: Pride Humility Self Destruction
Proverbs 4:16
“16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.”
Titus 1:16
“16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
Related Themes: Abomination Hypocrisy
Proverbs 22:24-25
“24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”
Related Themes: Criticism Dating Frustration Friendship
Proverbs 16:18
“18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Related Themes: Pride Humility Reputation Business
Psalm 36:1-3
“1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.”
Related Themes: Pride
Matthew 7:16
“16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
Related Themes: Reaping Reaping What You Sow Reputation
Ephesians 6:4
“4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Related Themes: Children Education Respecting Your Parents Attitude Morality
Matthew 7:1-5
“1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Related Themes: Judging Others Criticism Judging Others Gossip
Matthew 18:15-17
“15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Criticism Resolving Conflict Gossip
John 3:19
“19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
Related Themes: Light Light Conviction
Jeremiah 17:9
“9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Related Themes: Reaping Lust Heart Reputation Heart
1 Corinthians 5:11-13
“11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
Related Themes: Dating Acceptance Money Tolerance Reputation
Proverbs 17:22
“22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Related Themes: Attitude Complaining Health Joy Healing
Acts 12:21-23
“21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”
Related Themes: Pride
Romans 12:10
“10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Related Themes: Respecting Your Parents Humility Attitude Love Respect
Proverbs 2:16-22
“16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.”
Mark 7:21-23
“21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
1 Corinthians 3:18
“18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.”
Luke 20:46-47
“46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.”
Matthew 10:37
“37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Related Themes: Fear Self Confidence Business Bullying Self-Control
Daniel 4:28-31
“28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.”
John 3:30
“30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Related Themes: Humility Leadership Children Selflessness Surrender
Ezekiel 36:24-27
“24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
2 Chronicles 32:25
“25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.”
Related Themes: Pride
2 Corinthians 12:20-21
“20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
Related Themes: Gossip Bitterness Arguing Strife Sin
