Proverbs 16:18
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, And haughtiness cometh before a fall. The contrast is לפני כבוד ענוה, Pro 15:33, according to which the "haughtiness comes before a fall" in Pro 18:22 is expanded into the antithetic distich. שׁבר means the fracture of the limbs, destruction of the person. A Latin proverb says, "Magna cadunt, inflata crepant, tumefacta premuntur." (Note: An expression of similar meaning is אחרי דרגא תביר = after Darga (to rise up) comes tebı̂r (breaking = destruction); cf. Zunz, in Geiger's Zeitschrift, vi. 315ff.) Here being dashed in pieces and overthrown correspond. שׁבר means neither bursting (Hitzig) nor shipwreck (Ewald). כשּׁלון (like בּטּחון, זכּרון, etc.), from כּשׁל or נכשׁל, to totter, and hence, as a consequence, to come to ruin, is a ἅπαχ λεγ. This proverb, which stands in the very centre of the Book of Proverbs, is followed by another in praise of humility.
Open source ↗Note, 1. Pride will have a fall. Those that are of a haughty spirit, that think of themselves above what is meet, and look with contempt upon others, that with their pride affront God and disquiet others, will be brought down, either by repentance or by ruin. It is the honour of God to humble the proud, Job 40:11, Job 40:12. It is the act of justice that those who have lifted up themselves should be laid low. Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, were instances of this. Men cannot punish pride, but either admire it or fear it, and therefore God will take the punishing of it into his own hands. Let him alone to deal with proud men. 2. Proud men are frequently most proud, and insolent, and haughty, just before their destruction, so that it is a certain presage that they are upon the brink of it. When proud men set God's judgments at defiance, and think themselves at the greatest distance from them, it is a sign that they are at the door; witness the case of Benhadad and Herod. While the word was in the king's mouth, Dan 4:31. Therefore let us not fear the pride of others, but greatly fear pride in ourselves.
Open source ↗16:18 The pride of those who resist God and stubbornly rely on their own strength (16:5) is self-destructive and foolish because, apart from God’s help, no one has the resources required for life.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king be delighted to honor more than me?”
So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.
But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.