Proverbs 15:33 means that genuine reverence for God provides the discipline and instruction needed for wisdom, and that humility must come before receiving honor. Before God can lift someone up and give them true recognition, they must first learn to walk in humility and submit to His ways.
The book of Proverbs is filled with divine wisdom for daily living, and Proverbs 15:33 stands as one of the most powerful statements about the foundation of true wisdom and the pathway to genuine honor. This verse reveals a spiritual principle that runs counter to everything the world teaches about success and recognition.
Proverbs 15:33 - The Fear of the Lord (KJV)
Proverbs 15:33
"The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."
The New International Version renders it this way: "Wisdom's instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor."
What Does Proverbs 15:33 Mean?
This verse contains two distinct but deeply connected truths that form the foundation of how God works in the lives of His people.
The first part—"The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom"—tells us that all true wisdom begins with a reverent respect for God. The fear of the Lord is not about being terrified of God in the way you might fear an enemy. Rather, it means having such profound respect and reverence for who God is that you take His words seriously. You honor His commandments. You recognize His authority over your life.
This fear of the Lord becomes the very instruction, the training, the discipline that produces wisdom in a person's life. When you revere God, you become teachable. When you honor Him, you start to see life from His perspective rather than your own limited understanding.
The second part—"before honour is humility"—reveals God's established order for how He elevates people. The world says to promote yourself, to make sure everyone knows your accomplishments, to climb over others to get to the top. But God's kingdom operates on an entirely different principle. Before God can truly honor someone and place them in a position of influence and recognition, that person must first learn humility.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself—it is thinking of yourself less. It means recognizing that every gift, every talent, every opportunity comes from God's hand. It means being willing to serve in obscurity before being called to serve in the spotlight. It means submitting to God's timing rather than forcing your own way.
The Fear of the Lord as the Foundation of Wisdom
Throughout Scripture, we see this principle repeated again and again. Proverbs 9:10 declares, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Job 28:28 says, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."
Why does wisdom start with fearing God? Because wisdom is not merely the accumulation of knowledge or information. True wisdom is knowing how to live life according to God's design and purposes. You can be educated and still be foolish. You can have multiple degrees and still make disastrous decisions. But when you fear God—when you reverence Him and take His Word seriously—you have found the starting point for making wise choices.
The fear of the Lord disciplines us. It instructs us. When you genuinely revere God, you do not take sin lightly. You do not ignore His commandments when they become inconvenient. You do not justify behavior that contradicts His character. Instead, you allow His truth to correct you, to guide you, to shape how you think and act.
King Solomon, who wrote most of Proverbs, knew this from personal experience. God appeared to him in a dream and offered to give him anything he asked for. Solomon could have requested wealth, long life, or victory over his enemies. Instead, he asked for wisdom to govern God's people. First Kings 3:9 records his prayer: "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad."
God was pleased with Solomon's request because it showed that Solomon understood what truly mattered. And because Solomon asked for wisdom rather than selfish gain, God gave him not only wisdom but also riches and honor. Solomon learned early that the fear of the Lord—seeking to please God above all else—was the pathway to true wisdom.
The Principle of Humility Before Honor
The second half of Proverbs 15:33 reveals one of the most consistent patterns in Scripture: God exalts the humble and brings down the proud. This is not just a nice sentiment—it is a spiritual law that governs how God operates.
James 4:6 states clearly, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." First Peter 5:6 instructs believers, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." Notice that Peter does not say "if" God will exalt you, but "that" He will—in His time, according to His purposes.
Pride says, "I did this on my own. I deserve recognition. I earned this position." Humility says, "Apart from God, I can do nothing. Whatever I have accomplished is only because of His grace and strength working through me."
The Bible is filled with examples of people who learned this principle. Joseph spent years as a slave and a prisoner before God elevated him to second-in-command of Egypt. Moses spent forty years tending sheep in the wilderness before God called him to lead Israel out of bondage. David was anointed as the future king but then spent years running for his life from King Saul before finally taking the throne.
In each case, the period of obscurity and difficulty was not wasted time. It was the season when God was developing character, teaching humility, and preparing these men for the honor and responsibility that would come later. They had to learn to trust God completely before they could be trusted with great influence.
Jesus, the Ultimate Example of Humility and Honor
The clearest picture of this principle is found in Jesus Christ Himself. Philippians 2:5-11 describes how Jesus, though He was God, did not cling to His divine privileges. Instead, He humbled Himself by taking on human flesh, becoming a servant, and submitting to death on a cross—the most shameful form of execution in the Roman world.
And what was the result of His humility? The passage continues: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus descended to the lowest point—death on a cross. And because of that humility and obedience, God exalted Him to the highest place. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess. The humble Servant became the exalted King.
This is the pattern God has established. If Jesus, the Son of God, walked the path of humility before honor, how much more should we expect to do the same?
What True Humility Looks Like
Humility does not mean having low self-esteem or refusing to acknowledge the gifts God has given you. Moses was called the meekest man on earth (Numbers 12:3), yet he boldly confronted Pharaoh and led millions of people. Humility means recognizing the source of your strength and using your gifts to serve God's purposes rather than your own glory.
True humility shows itself in several ways. A humble person is teachable—they do not assume they already know everything. They are willing to receive correction and learn from others. Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."
A humble person serves others without demanding recognition. They are content to do what needs to be done, even if no one notices or applauds. Jesus said in Matthew 23:11-12, "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
A humble person depends on God rather than their own abilities. They pray, they seek His guidance, they acknowledge their need for His strength. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
How God Honors the Humble
When Scripture says that honor comes after humility, what kind of honor is it talking about? The honor God gives is not always the kind the world recognizes. Sometimes it means being trusted with greater responsibility in His kingdom. Sometimes it means having influence in the lives of others for eternal purposes. Sometimes it means the quiet satisfaction of knowing you pleased God, even if no one else noticed.
But God does honor those who walk humbly before Him. He opens doors that no man can shut. He gives favor that cannot be earned through self-promotion. He places people in positions where they can make a real difference for His glory.
The world's honor is temporary and often hollow. A person can claw their way to the top through pride and manipulation, but what they gain will not last. Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
The honor God gives is lasting because it is rooted in His purposes and built on the foundation of godly character. The person God honors is someone He can trust—someone who will not take credit for what He has done, someone who will use their influence to point others to Him.
Walking in the Fear of the Lord Today
How do we apply Proverbs 15:33 to our lives right now? We start by examining our hearts. Do we genuinely revere God, or do we treat Him casually? Do we take His Word seriously, or do we pick and choose which commands to follow based on our preferences?
The fear of the Lord means that when Scripture speaks, we listen. When God's Word corrects us, we change. When His Spirit convicts us, we repent. We do not harden our hearts or make excuses. We submit to His authority because we trust His character and His love for us.
Walking in humility means we stop striving to build our own kingdoms and instead seek to advance His. We serve where He places us, even if it seems small or unimportant. We trust His timing instead of forcing doors open through our own effort. We give Him credit for every good thing in our lives.
When we combine the fear of the Lord with genuine humility, we position ourselves to receive the wisdom and honor that come from God's hand. Not because we earned them or deserve them, but because we have aligned ourselves with how God operates in the lives of His people.
Conclusion
Proverbs 15:33 gives us the blueprint for a life that pleases God and experiences His blessing. Wisdom begins with reverencing God and allowing His truth to discipline and instruct us. Honor comes to those who first learn to walk in humility, recognizing that every good gift comes from above.
This is not the world's way, but it is God's way. And His way always leads to life, peace, and true fulfillment. The question each of us must answer is whether we will trust His pattern or continue trying to build success on our own terms.
God is looking for men and women who will fear Him and walk humbly before Him. When He finds them, He equips them, He blesses them, and in His perfect timing, He honors them in ways that bring glory to His name.
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