Luke 14:11
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Study Note
Study Note
The aphorism 'whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted' appears four times in the gospels (Luke 14:11; 18:14; Matthew 23:12) and reflects a deep structural conviction about the logic of the kingdom of God. Its Old Testament roots are in Proverbs 3:34 (which Jame 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 both quote), Job 40:12, and the Psalms — the pattern of divine reversal where the proud are scattered and the humble lifted up is pervasive in Israel's wisdom and hymnic traditions. In Luke's banquet context (verses 7-10) Jesus is reworking conventional wisdom about social honor into a parable about the kingdom's inversion of status hierarchies. The divine passive ('shall be exalted') implies that God himself acts as the agent of reversal — humility is not a social strategy but a response to divine initiative.
Other Translations
For every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
because every one who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.'
For every man who gives himself a high place will be put down, but he who takes a low place will be lifted up.
Cross References
And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes …
When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord …