'Shame' in the Bible

Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of mockery among their enemies—

Then the five men went on and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, [how they were] living securely in the style of the Sidonians, quiet and peaceful; and there was no oppressive magistrate in the land humiliating them in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.

Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a wayward, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse [over me] to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?

As for me, how could I get rid of my shame and disgrace? And you, you will be considered one of the fools in Israel. So now, just speak to the king [about taking me as your wife], for he will not withhold me from you.”

Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have put all your servants to shame who this day have saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines.

Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been exceedingly guilty; and on account of our wrongdoings we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to complete shame, as it is today.

“Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,And the tents of the wicked will be no longer.”

“I have heard the reproof which insults me,But the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

O sons of men, how long will my honor and glory be [turned into] shame?How long will you [my enemies] love worthless (vain, futile) things and seek deception and lies? Selah.

Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified;Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].

You [evildoers] shamefully plan against the poor,But the Lord is his safe refuge.

O my God, in You I [have unwavering] trust [and I rely on You with steadfast confidence],Do not let me be ashamed or my hope in You be disappointed;Do not let my enemies triumph over me.

Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed;Those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed).

In You, O Lord, I have placed my trust and taken refuge;Let me never be ashamed;In Your righteousness rescue me.

Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call on You;Let the wicked (godless) be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

They looked to Him and were radiant;Their faces will never blush in shame or confusion.

Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;Let those be turned back [in defeat] and humiliated who plot evil against me.

Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who rejoice at my distress;Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.

They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,And in the days of famine they will have plenty and be satisfied.

Let those be ashamed and humiliated togetherWho seek my life to destroy it;Let those be turned back [in defeat] and dishonoredWho delight in my hurt.

Let those be appalled and desolate because of their shameWho say to me, “Aha, aha [rejoicing in my misfortune]!”

But You have saved us from our enemies,And You have put them to shame and humiliated those who hate us.

My dishonor is before me all day long,And humiliation has covered my face,

There they were, in great terror and dread, where there had been no terror or dread;For God scattered the bones of him who besieged you;You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.

He will send from heaven and save me;He calls to account him who tramples me down. Selah.God will send out His lovingkindness and His truth.

Do not let those who wait [confidently] for You be ashamed through me, O Lord God of hosts;Do not let those who seek You [as necessary for life itself] be dishonored through me, O God of Israel,

Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;Confusion and dishonor have covered my face.

You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor [how I am insulted];My adversaries are all before You [each one fully known].

Let those be ashamed and humiliatedWho seek my life;Let them be turned back and humiliatedWho delight in my hurt.

Let them be turned back because of their shame and disgraceWho say, “Aha, aha!”

In you, O Lord, I have put my trust and confidently taken refuge;Let me never be put to shame.

Let those who attack my life be ashamed and consumed;Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor, who seek to injure me.

My tongue also will speak of Your righteousness all day long;For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my injury.

Let not the oppressed return dishonored;Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.

He drove His enemies backward;He subjected them to lasting shame and dishonor.

Fill their faces with shame and disgrace,That they may [persistently] seek Your name, O Lord.

Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever;Yes, let them be humiliated and perish,

Show me a sign of [Your] goodwill,That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,Because You, O Lord, helped and comforted me.

You have shortened the days of his youth;You have covered him with shame. Selah.

Let all those be [deeply] ashamed who serve carved images,Who boast in idols.Worship Him, all you gods!

Let them curse, but You bless.When adversaries arise, let them be ashamed,But let Your servant rejoice.

Let my attackers be clothed with dishonor,And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

Then I will not be ashamedWhen I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide].

I cling tightly to Your testimonies;O Lord, do not put me to shame!

I will also speak of Your testimonies before kingsAnd shall not be ashamed.

Let the arrogant be ashamed and humiliated, for they sabotage me with a lie;But I will meditate on Your precepts.

May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,So that I will not be ashamed.

Uphold me according to Your word [of promise], so that I may live;And do not let me be ashamed of my hope [in Your great goodness].

How blessed [happy and fortunate] is the man whose quiver is filled with them;They will not be ashamedWhen they speak with their enemies [in gatherings] at the [city] gate.

May all who hate ZionBe put to shame and turned backward [in defeat].

“His enemies I will clothe with shame,But upon himself shall his crown shine.”

The wise will inherit honor and glory,But dishonor and shame is conferred on fools.

He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely,But he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

A righteous man hates lies,But a wicked man is loathsome, and he acts shamefully.

Poverty and shame will come to him who refuses instruction and discipline,But he who accepts and learns from reproof or censure is honored.

In the mouth of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God] is a rod for his back,But the lips of the wise [when they speak with godly wisdom] will protect them.

A wise son makes a father glad,But a foolish man despises his mother.

A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family]And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.

When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes,And with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn).

He who answers before he hears [the facts]—It is folly and shame to him.

He who assaults his father and chases away his motherIs a son who brings shame and disgrace.

Do not rush out to argue your case [before magistrates or judges];Otherwise what will you do in the end [when your case is lost and]When your neighbor (opponent) humiliates you?

Or he who hears it will shame youAnd the rumor about you [and your action in court] will have no end.

The rod and reproof (godly instruction) give wisdom,But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

For you will be ashamed [of the degradation] of the oaks in which you took [idolatrous] pleasure,And you will be ashamed of the gardens [of passion] which you have chosen [for pagan worship].

In that day [when foreign armies swarm the land] the Lord will shave with a razor, hired from the regions beyond the Euphrates (that is, with the king of Assyria), [that razor will shave] the head and the hair of the legs; and it will also remove the beard [leaving Judah stripped, shamed and scorned].

in the same way the king of Assyria will lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, young and old, stripped and barefoot, even with buttocks uncovered—to the shame of Egypt.

‘Listen carefully, the Lord is about to hurl you away violently, O man;And He is about to grasp you firmly

“Therefore the safety and protection of Pharaoh will be your shameAnd the refuge in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation and disgrace.

“All will be ashamed because of a people (the Egyptians) who cannot benefit them,Who are not a help or benefit, but a shame and also a disgrace.”

“Indeed, all those who are angry with you will be put to shame and humiliated;Those who strive against you will be as nothing and will perish.

Those who trust in carved idols will be turned back,And utterly put to shame,Who say to cast images,“You are our gods.”

All who make carved idols are nothing. Their precious objects are worthless [to them], and their own witnesses (worshipers) fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.

In fact, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble, let them stand up, let them be terrified, let them together be put to shame.

They will be put to shame and also humiliated, all of them;They who make idols will go away together in humiliation.

Israel has been saved by the LordWith an everlasting salvation;You will not be put to shame or humiliatedfor all eternity.

“Your nakedness will be uncovered,Your shame will also be exposed;I will take vengeance and will spare no man.”

“Kings will be your attendants,And their princesses your nurses.They will bow down to you with their faces to the earthAnd lick the dust of your feet;And you shall know [with an understanding based on personal experience] that I am the Lord;For they shall not be put to shame who wait and hope expectantly for Me.

I turned My back to those who strike Me,And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.

For the Lord God helps Me,Therefore, I have not been ashamed or humiliated.Therefore, I have made My face like flint,And I know that I shall not be put to shame.

“Do not fear, for you will not be put to shame,And do not feel humiliated or ashamed, for you will not be disgraced.For you will forget the shame of your youth,And you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood.

Instead of your [former] shame you will have a double portion;And instead of humiliation your people will shout for joy over their portion.Therefore in their land they will possess double [what they had forfeited];Everlasting joy will be theirs.

Therefore, the Lord God says this,“Listen carefully, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry;Indeed, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty;Indeed, My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.

Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble [with awe-filled reverence] at His word:“Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My Name’s sake,Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.’But they will be put to shame.

“As the thief is shamed when he is caught,So the house of Israel is shamed—They, their kings, their leaders,Their priests, and their prophets—

“Why do you go around and wander so muchChanging your way?Also, you will be shamed by EgyptAs you were shamed by Assyria.

Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor and humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

“Were they ashamed because they had committed disgusting and vile things?No, they were not at all ashamed;They did not even know how to blush [at their idolatry].Therefore they will fall among those who fall;At the time that I punish themThey will be overthrown,” says the Lord.

Do they offend and provoke Me to anger?” says the Lord. “Is it not themselves [they offend], to their own shame?”

“The wise men are shamed,They are dismayed and caught.Behold, they have [manipulated and] rejected the [truth in the] word of the Lord,And what kind of wisdom and insight do they have?

“Were they ashamed because of the extremely disgusting and shamefully vile things they had done?They were not at all ashamed,And they did not know how to blush.Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall;At the time of their punishment they shall be overthrown,”Says the Lord.

“For a sound of wailing is heard [coming] from Zion:‘How we are ruined!We are greatly perplexed and utterly shamed,Because we have left the land,Because they have torn down our dwellings.’”

Every man has become [like a brute] irrational and stupid, without knowledge [of God];Every goldsmith is shamed by his carved idols;For his molten images are frauds and lies,And there is no breath in them.

“So I Myself will throw your skirts up over your face,That your shame may be exposed [publicly].

“Their nobles have sent their servants for water;They have come to the cisterns and found no water.They have returned with empty vessels;They have been shamed and humiliated,And they cover their heads.

“The ground is crackedBecause there has been no rain on the land;The farmers are distressed,And they have covered their heads [in shame].

“She who has borne seven [sons] languishes;She has breathed out her soul.Her sun has set while it was still day;She has been shamed and humiliated.So I will hand over [the rest of] the survivors to the swordBefore their enemies,” says the Lord.

O Lord, the hope of Israel,All who abandon You will be shamed.Those who turn away on earth will be written down,Because they have abandoned the Lord, the fountain of living waters.

Let those who persecute me be shamed, but as for me, protect me from shame;Let them lose courage, but let me be undaunted.Bring on them a day of tragedy,And destroy them with double destruction!