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Proverbs 3:34

The New Testament’s use of Proverbs

4 places · 3 kinds of echo

The source

Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

The Greek the author follows

The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.

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Where this passage surfaces again, sorted by the strength of the link. Each kind of reuse — formal quotation, deliberate allusion, faint echo, figural pattern — carries its own mark. Follow any reference to read it in place.

Quotation2

A formal citation — high verbal volume, often introduced by a saying-formula.

1 Pet 5:5-11

'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble' is a near-verbatim citation of Proverbs 3:34 LXX (which reads 'God' for MT 'he'/'the Lord'), introduced with proverbial authority; the same LXX form is quoted at James 4:6.

High confidence
Jas 4:4-6

James cites it with a formula ('therefore it says'): 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble' reproduces the Septuagint of Proverbs 3:34 nearly verbatim (the Greek reads 'the Lord opposes the arrogant'). The same verse is cited at 1 Peter 5:5.

High confidence

Allusion1

A deliberate verbal borrowing without a citation formula.

Luke 18:9-14

The maxim 'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble' underwrites the closing logion that the self-exalting are humbled and the self-humbling exalted. The Pharisee's proud self-display versus the tax collector's lowliness is precisely this proverb's contrast, and the LXX wording was a standard Second-Temple proof text. Strong coherence with Luke's reversal theme.

High confidence

Echo1

A fainter, low-volume reuse, carried by recurrence or thematic coherence.

Rom 12:9-21 ?

'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble' undergirds 'associate with the humble; do not be high-minded' (12:16); the humility motif is the same wisdom orientation James and 1 Peter also draw from this verse.

Low confidence
Elsewhere in Proverbs 3
Proverbs 3:4 3Proverbs 3:7 5Proverbs 3:9 2Proverbs 3:11-12 5