Showing contempt for someone means having a strong dislike for them, disrespecting them, looking down on them or treating them as less than.
In the Bible, the word “contempt” is most often used when someone shows disrespect for God, his Word, his people or his commandments.
A key Bible verse about contempt is Proverbs 14:31 (NIV): “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
What Does Contempt Mean in the Bible?
In the Bible, “contempt” means showing disrespect toward God, his Word, his people or his commandments. More broadly, contempt means having a strong dislike for someone, disrespecting them, looking down on them or treating them as less than.
What Does Contempt Look Like?
Showing contempt towards someone or something can take many forms. For example, you can show contempt with your mouth by calling someone a bad name or talking negatively about others.
You can also show contempt with your actions by ignoring someone when they’re speaking or even by refusing to help someone in need.
Biblical Examples of Showing Contempt
There are plenty of examples of contempt in the Bible we can learn from. Let’s explore two.
Cain’s Hatred for Abel
In Genesis 4, we find two brothers, Cain and Abel, offering sacrifices to God. Cain brought a sacrifice of crops while Abel brought a sacrifice of the firstborn of his flock. While the Lord showed favor for Abel’s sacrifice, he didn’t for Cain’s.
As a result, Cain was overcome with anger and jealousy. His hatred led him to despise his own brother and kill him, showing contempt and complete disregard for him.
The Israelites’ Rebellion
After God freed the Israelites from Egypt, they quickly grew frustrated in the wilderness and began to complain. Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb urged them to remember God’s promise and not rebel, asking them to trust God and follow him.
But anger drowned out faith, and the people even considered stoning their leaders. They despised their circumstances and those guiding them, despite the better future ahead.
In that moment, God spoke to Moses in Numbers 14:11 (NIV), saying, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?”
Their unbelief and rebellion showed contempt for God, replacing the truth of his past deliverance with the lie that he had abandoned them.
Related Read: Faith Definition: What It Means & Inspiring Examples
Contempt Meaning in the Bible: Exploring Proverbs 14:31
One of the clearest examples of contempt and its damaging effects can be found in Proverbs. This verse reads, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31, NIV).
This verse tells us that if we oppress those in need, we show contempt for their Maker. Let’s break this down a bit:
To oppress: This means to treat those in need harshly and in a way that keeps them down. It’s the opposite of helping them. Instead, it’s taking action that might push them further into poverty. For example, for those living in poverty, oppression often looks like being denied essentials like education, being exploited through human trafficking or being treated unfairly.
Their Maker: Proverbs 22:2 (NIV) says, “Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.” “The Maker” refers to the Lord, our God. This means that we’re all God’s children, including those living in poverty.
So when we treat those in need harshly and as if they’re worthless, we show contempt for God. Put simply, if we despise God’s children, we despise him too.
How to Respond: Love Those Living in Poverty
Many children living in poverty around the world are seen as worthless simply because of their circumstances. They’re met with contempt, and they suffer without the love and care they need to overcome the damaging effects of poverty.
As followers of Jesus, it’s up to us to love these little ones who are often disregarded and treated as worthless. For example, at Compassion, we’re doing just that by sharing the good news of the gospel with children in need through child sponsorship.
As we do so, the millions of children we support are learning just how loved by and valuable they are to God. You can join us by sponsoring a child.
Contempt Meaning in the Bible FAQs
What Are Some Other Bible Verses About Contempt?
“Contempt” is used many times in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. Here are some example Scriptures:
When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. — Proverbs 18:3, NIV
Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. — Psalm 119:22, NIV
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. — Daniel 12:2, NIV
He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. — Job 12:21, NIV
Related Read: Kindness in the Bible: 29 Bible Verses About Kindness
What Did Jesus Say About Contempt?
Jesus taught that contempt — especially toward others — reveals a heart that’s far from God. In his Sermon on the Mount, he compared contemptuous anger to murder.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone you says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” — Matthew 5:21-22, NIV
Jesus taught that to treat someone with disrespect in this way is harmful to them and us. He made it clear that contempt like this has no place in our hearts as Christians who follow him.
How Can We Avoid Contempt?
Contempt results from anger, pride and even resentment. To combat those things, we must allow the Spirit to work in us, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, the living water, we can trade anger for self-control. Pride for kindness. Resentment for goodness. And that’s how we avoid contempt.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
The meaning of contempt in the Bible reminds us that looking down on others and showing disrespect dishonors God. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to reject contempt and honor our heavenly Father by valuing those he created.
