Matthew 23 · Verse 12

Matthew 23:12

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:12, King James Version

Matthew 23:12 in other translations

BSBFor whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
WEBWhoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
ASVAnd whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
YLTand whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
DARBYAnd whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
BBEAnd whoever makes himself high will be made low, and whoever makes himself low will be made high.
WebsterAnd whoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself, shall be exalted.

What does Matthew 23:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased--See on Lu 18:14. What follows was addressed more immediately to the scribes and Pharisees.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Mt 23:11

(a) "And whosoever" Prov 15:33, Jas 4:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Whosoever shall exalt himself, etc. - The way to arrive at the highest degree of dignity, in the sight of God, is by being willing to become the servant of all. Nothing is more hateful in his sight than pride; to bring it into everlasting contempt, God was manifest in the flesh. He who was in the likeness of God took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man, and humbled himself unto death. After this, can God look upon any proud man without abasing him? Spiritual lordship and domination, ecclesiastical luxury, pomp, and pride, must be an abhorrence in the sight of that God who gave the above advices to his followers. Another lesson, which our blessed Lord teaches here, is, that no man is implicitly to receive the sayings, doctrines, and decisions of any man, or number of men, in the things which concern the interests of his immortal soul. Christ, his Spirit, and his word, are the only infallible teachers. Every man who wishes to save his soul must search the Scriptures, by prayer and faith. Reader, take counsel with the pious; hear the discourses of the wise and holy: but let the book of God ultimately fix thy creed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:1-12

The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They made…

Read the full comment on Matthew 23:1-12 →

Matthew 23:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅστιςhostisHe whoG3748
δὲdethenG1161
ὑψώσειhupsōseiwill exaltG5312
ἑαυτὸνhe'autonhimselfG1438
ταπεινωθήσεται,tapeinōthēsetaiwill be humbled,G5013
καὶkaiandG2532
ὅστιςhostiswhoeverG3748
ταπεινώσειtapeinōseiwill humbleG5013
ἑαυτὸνhe'autonhimselfG1438
ὑψωθήσεται.¶hupsōthēsetaiwill be exalted.G5312

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 23:12

  • 1 Peter 5:5

    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.

  • James 4:6

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

  • Luke 14:11

    For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • Proverbs 29:23

    A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

  • Luke 18:14

    I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • Matthew 18:4

    Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

  • Proverbs 15:33

    The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

  • Matthew 5:3

    Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  • Proverbs 16:18-19

    Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

  • Daniel 4:37

    Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

  • Job 22:29

    When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

  • Luke 1:51-52

    He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5:3; 18:4; Job 22:29; Ps 138:6; Pr 15:33; 16:18,19; 29:23; Isa 57:15
Da 4:37; Lu 1:51,52; 14:11; 18:14; Jas 4:6; 1Pe 5:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 23:11

    But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

  • Matthew 23:12

    And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

  • Matthew 23:13

    But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque el que se ensalzare, será humillado; y el que se humillare, será ensalzado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et quiconque s’élèvera sera abaissé; et quiconque s’abaissera sera élevé.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer irgend aber sich selbst erhöhen wird, wird erniedrigt werden; und wer irgend sich selbst erniedrigen wird, wird erhöht werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui autem se exaltaverit, humiliabitur: et qui se humiliaverit, exaltabitur.