Appendix 5. Character Traits that Cluster around Humility and Pride


Audio (3:26)

Free E-mail Bible Study Bible study Faith of Abraham (Genesis 11-25)

I've found it helpful to group English words that cluster around the term "humble" and contrast them with words that orbit around "pride." These charts are suggestive, not exhaustive. In each, words are grayed out to show that, while popular culture may see the humble as non-assertive and servile, that doesn't follow a Bible definition of assertiveness. (See Lessons 1.5, 5.2, and 6.5). Likewise, boldness and ambition are not only in the realm of the proud, but also the truly humble (See Lesson 5.2).


Larger image


Larger image

 

Humility: Disciple's Guide to a Humble Life, by Ralph F. Wilson
Paperback, PDF, and Kindle formats

Text of the charts for accessibility purposes.

Humble

Patient: forbearing, long-suffering

Respectful: courteous, considerate, kind, encouraging, thoughtful, understanding, nonjudgmental

God-Fearing: devout, pious, reverent, repentant, penitent

Compassionate: altruistic, empathetic, gracious, merciful, tender

Generous: serving, welcoming, receiving, hospitable, magnanimous

Gentle: lowly, meek, mild, patient, modest, unpretentious, temperate, self-controlled, cooperative, submissive.

Proud

Willful: stubborn, stiff-necked, unrepentant

Boastful: bragging, ostentatious, vain, immodest

Selfish: narcissistic, arrogant, haughty, conceited, egotistical

Entitled: jealous, envious, covetous, presumptuous

Disrespectful: contemptuous, discourteous, disdainful, rude

Insolent: insulting, mocking, scoffing, belittling, slanderous

Domineering: overbearing, pushy, manipulative, intrusive, threatening

Hypocritical: judgmental, flattering

Contentious: belligerent, combative, defiant, rebellious

Humility: Disciple's Guide to a Humble Life

Copyright © 2025, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.