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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Overweening</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/o/overweening.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/proverbs/21-24.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/o/overweening.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Overweening</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/o/overturns.htm" title="Overturns">◄</a> Overweening <a href="/topical/o/overweight.htm" title="Overweight">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#web" title="Webster's Dictionary">Webster's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Definition:</b> <br>The term "overweening" refers to an excessive pride or arrogance, often manifesting as an inflated sense of self-importance or presumptuousness. In a biblical context, overweening is considered a sin as it reflects a heart that is not aligned with humility and submission to God.<br><br><b>Biblical References and Themes:</b><br><br>1. <b>Pride and Arrogance:</b> <br> Overweening is closely associated with pride, which is frequently condemned in Scripture. <a href="/proverbs/16-18.htm">Proverbs 16:18</a> warns, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." This verse highlights the destructive nature of overweening pride, suggesting that it leads to downfall and ruin.<br><br>2. <b>Warnings Against Self-Exaltation:</b> <br> The Bible consistently warns against self-exaltation and the dangers of overestimating one's own abilities or importance. In <a href="/romans/12-3.htm">Romans 12:3</a>, Paul advises, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." This admonition encourages believers to maintain a humble and realistic view of themselves.<br><br>3. <b>Examples of Overweening in Scripture:</b> <br> Several biblical figures exemplify the dangers of overweening pride. King Nebuchadnezzar, for instance, is a notable example. In <a href="/daniel/4-30.htm">Daniel 4:30</a>, he boasts, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" His overweening pride leads to his temporary downfall and madness, demonstrating the consequences of such arrogance.<br><br>4. <b>God's Opposition to the Proud:</b> <br> Scripture makes it clear that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. <a href="/james/4-6.htm">James 4:6</a> states, "But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" This verse underscores the spiritual principle that overweening pride places one in opposition to God, while humility aligns one with His favor.<br><br>5. <b>Humility as a Virtue:</b> <br> In contrast to overweening pride, humility is extolled as a virtue. <a href="/philippians/2-3.htm">Philippians 2:3-4</a> encourages believers, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This passage calls for a selfless attitude that prioritizes others over oneself, countering the self-centeredness of overweening pride.<br><br>6. <b>The Example of Christ:</b> <br> Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of humility, in stark contrast to overweening pride. <a href="/philippians/2-5.htm">Philippians 2:5-8</a> describes how Christ, though being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. Instead, He humbled Himself by taking on human form and becoming obedient to death on a cross. This self-emptying act is the antithesis of overweening pride and serves as a model for believers.<br><br><b>Conclusion:</b> <br>While the Bible does not use the term "overweening" explicitly, the concept is woven throughout Scripture as a caution against pride and arrogance. Believers are called to embrace humility, recognizing their dependence on God and valuing others above themselves.<a name="web" id="web"></a><div class="vheading2">Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary</div>1. (<I>a.</I>) Unduly confident; arrogant; presumptuous; conceited.<p>2. (<I>n.</I>) Conceit; arrogance.<a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/miller/the_yoke/chapter_xvii_the_son_of.htm"><span class="l">The Son of the Murket</span></a> <br><b>...</b> His eyes never left Ta-user for long, and his every word seemed to be inspired by<br> some <b>overweening</b> emotion. Aside from these there were others in the group. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xvii the son of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/miller/the_city_of_delight/chapter_xi_the_house_of.htm"><span class="l">The House of Offense</span></a> <br><b>...</b> I need never be afraid, therefore.". For a moment he was silent, while she sensed<br> that <b>overweening</b> hate and menace which charged the air about him. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter xi the house of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/miller/the_city_of_delight/chapter_xiii_a_new_pretender.htm"><span class="l">A New Pretender</span></a> <br><b>...</b> When she recognized him, she started violently, smote her hands together and gazed<br> at him with such <b>overweening</b> joy written on her face, that he would have <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xiii a new pretender.htm</font><p><a href="/library/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_5_1859/faith_illustrated.htm"><span class="l">Faith Illustrated</span></a> <br><b>...</b> It is the same truth which kept the ancient disciples from <b>overweening</b> pride.<br> It is the sweet persuasion of his interest in Christ. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/faith illustrated.htm</font><p><a href="/library/calvin/the_institutes_of_the_christian_religion/chapter_23_refutation_of_the.htm"><span class="l">Refutation of the Calumnies by which this Doctrine is Always <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Confirmed by passages of Augustine. 12. Objection, that the doctrine of predestination<br> produces <b>overweening</b> confidence and impiety. Different answers. 13. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 23 refutation of the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/calvin/the_institutes_of_the_christian_religion/chapter_4_the_knowledge_of.htm"><span class="l">The Knowledge of God Stifled or Corrupted, Ignorantly or <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Hence it is that their folly, the result not only of vain curiosity, but of licentious<br> desire and <b>overweening</b> confidence in the pursuit of forbidden knowledge <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 the knowledge of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/chrysostom/on_the_priesthood/concerning_lowliness_of_mind.htm"><span class="l">Concerning Lowliness of Mind.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> For this it was that placed the publican before the Pharisee; whereas that, pride<br> I mean and an <b>overweening</b> spirit, surpassed even an incorporeal power, that <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/concerning lowliness of mind.htm</font><p><a href="/library/john/exposition_of_the_orthodox_faith/chapter_xii_concerning_man.htm"><span class="l">Concerning Man.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> sight and to the realm of thought, midway between greatness and lowliness, spirit<br> and flesh: for he is spirit by grace, but flesh by <b>overweening</b> pride: spirit <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xii concerning man.htm</font><p><a href="/library/augustine/homilies_on_the_gospel_of_john/tractate_cxiii_john_chapter_xviii.htm"><span class="l">John Chapter xviii. 13-27.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> its foundations. Where is now all that boldness of the promiser, and his<br> <b>overweening</b> confidence in himself beforehand? What now <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxiii john chapter xviii.htm</font><p><a href="/library/francis/treatise_on_the_love_of_god/chapter_iv_that_our_lawful.htm"><span class="l">That Our Lawful Occupations do not Hinder us from Practicising <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> of their duty; and in that case a man is neither to be so scrupulous as to abandon<br> good and lawful affairs by not going, nor so <b>overweening</b> and presumptuous as <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iv that our lawful.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/o/overweening.htm"><span class="l"><b>Overweening</b> (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Multi-Version Concordance <b>Overweening</b> (3 Occurrences). Proverbs 21:24 A proud and<br> haughty man, scorner is his name, even he that dealeth in overbearing pride. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/o/overweening.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/n/nicanor.htm"><span class="l">Nicanor (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> The battle of Emmaus is not mentioned, but "the thrice-accursed Nicanor," having<br> in <b>overweening</b> pride invited a thousand slavedealers to accompany him to buy <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/n/nicanor.htm - 14k</font><p><a href="/topical/v/vanity.htm"><span class="l">Vanity (100 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 2. (n.) An inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride inspired by an<br><b>overweening</b> conceit of one's personal attainments or decorations; an excessive <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/v/vanity.htm - 39k</font><p><a href="/topical/o/overweight.htm"><span class="l">Overweight (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/o/overweight.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/o/overturns.htm"><span class="l">Overturns (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/o/overturns.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/c/conceit.htm"><span class="l">Conceit (14 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 5. (n.) An <b>overweening</b> idea of one's self; vanity. 6. (n.) Design; pattern. 7.<br> (vt) To conceive; to imagine. 8. (vi) To form an idea; to think. Int. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/c/conceit.htm - 11k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/self-conceit.htm"><span class="l">Self-conceit (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Conceit of one's self; an <b>overweening</b> opinion<br> of one's powers or endowments. Multi-Version Concordance <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/self-conceit.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/elihu.htm"><span class="l">Elihu (11 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> from the whirlwind is: "darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge." Elihu thus<br> has a real function in the story, as honorable as <b>overweening</b> self-confidence <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/elihu.htm - 15k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/person.htm"><span class="l">Person (807 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> He took "the form of a servant," and so was "made in the likeness of men." But His<br> doing this showed that He did not set <b>overweening</b> store by His state of <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/person.htm - 49k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/same-condemnation-devil.html">How can an elder come under the same condemnation as the devil (1 Timothy 3:6)? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://clyx.com/term/overweening.htm">Overweening: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Overweening (3 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/proverbs/21-24.htm">Proverbs 21:24</a></span><br />A proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, even he that dealeth in overbearing pride.<br /><span class="source">(See NIV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/isaiah/16-6.htm">Isaiah 16:6</a></span><br />We have had word of the pride of Moab, how great it is; how he is lifted up in pride and passion: his high words about himself are false.<br /><span class="source">(See NIV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/jeremiah/48-29.htm">Jeremiah 48:29</a></span><br />We have heard of the pride of Moab, that he is very proud; his loftiness, and his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.<br /><span class="source">(See NIV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/o/overweening.htm">Overweening</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/overwhelm.htm">Overwhelm (18 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/overweening.htm">Overweening (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/dirty.htm">Dirty (9 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/behaviour.htm">Behaviour (115 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pride.htm">Pride (277 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/o/overturns.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Overturns"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Overturns" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/o/overweight.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Overweight"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Overweight" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>